Medway Dinghy Regatta 2013

Medway & Swale Boating Association's Medway Dinghy Regatta was held over the weekend of 13th & 14th July with Wilsonian Sailing Club organising and hosting the event. Locally based MTS Cleaning Services was our main sponsor, supplying tee shirts to all the competitors and helpers while Hyde Sails and Harken provided some goodies, distributed by tally number. Despite light winds being forecast over the weekend there was an excellent entry of 73 boats representing 25 sailing clubs.

Fleet starts for fast, medium and slow handicap, Vortex, 2000 and Wayfarer. The Alto's first nationals were also incorporated.

Competitors were greeted Saturday morning with blue skies, brilliant sunshine and temperatures in the low twenties but no wind. A start was made as a light sea breeze picked up after a short postponement.

However, the light airs proved very fickle and the race was eventually shortened to a downriver finish.

After an extended lunch break the wind appeared to have strengthened but the course had to be shortened downriver for a return to the club line. Sunday morning there was broken cloud cover with a light westerly wind which was likely to be negated by any sea breeze. The scheduled 10.00hrs start was made but the beat back to the line against an ebb tide proved hard going, and once again the course for shortened. The afternoon race started with a westerly force 2, giving excellent downwind conditions and surprisingly was later replaced with a good sea breeze for a downwind return to the line.

The Altos dominated the fast handicap event taking the top four prizes, though the final places were dependant on the last race. A second for Henry Arnold/Matt Mosely secured the Invicta Shield, a barrel of beer and first Alto National Champion, a third gave Simon Conway/Rich Sheridan runners up prize, home based Tim Kift/Jo Wicken picked up third prize with Jonathan/Cameron Tweedle fourth. Simon Allen won the usual International Canoes contest with Mark Goodchild for 5th prize while Tom Lambert/Harriet Bell (RS800) won the final race to lift them outside the prizes to 6th overall.

John Clementson/Nicky Marsh with three bullets to count ensured victory in the medium handicap fleet.

Steven /Lin Worf won the Kestrel contest with Jeremy/Ian Drummond for second and third prizes, but youngster Quentin Bess-Green (Laser) closely matched the Kestrels for 4th place with Stewart Robertson (Blaze) 5th.

David/Sandra Wilson's dominance in their Graduate of the slow handicap was ended by Martin Jessop in his Streaker. Though it was a close fought contest with Peter/Nicolas Wolstenholme (Mirror) and Colin/Maureen Lown (Miracle) influencing the outcome. Going into the final race the Wilsons and Jessop were tied on 5-points, a second for Jessop and a disappointing 4th for the Wilsons ensured Jessop victory. While a win for the Wolstenholmes broke the tie with the Lowns in their favour for third and fourth prizes respectively.

Mike Gower retained the Vortex crown with a couple of firsts and a second to count while Jonathan Carter ensured runners-up prize with a first, second and a third.

Visitor Chris/Gill Jordan proved too strong for the home based 2000 fleet going undefeated. There were several contenders for the other prizes but a second for Jayne Lambert/Paul Thorpe in the final race clinched runners-up spot with Colin Treadwell/Lauren Campbell third.

Brian Lamb/Sam Pygall won the annual contest with Richard Stone/Catherine Gore for the Wayfarer Matkin Trophy but only by a whisker. They ended on 4-points each but Lamb/Pygall won the last race with Stone/Gore in second. John Goudie/Paul Rodgers secured third prize with a 2nd, 3rd & 4th to count.

The Bill Stewart Memorial Cup was presented to Junior Ben Gray.

Wilsonian's Commodore, Christine Godber presented the prizes.

Overall Results & Prizes:

Bill Stewart Memorial Cup:
Ben Gray

Handicap Fleets:

Class Fleets: