EAORA Ralph Herring and Pattinson Cup races
by Tony Merewether 12 May 2015 08:34 BST
9-10 May 2015
'Amazon' wins the double
The opening two races of the EAORA season took place over the 9th and 10th May with the Ralph Herring Trophy and the Pattinson Cup, both raced over a 50 mile course.
The Ralph Herring Trophy from West Mersea to Burnham on Crouch started in a blustery south-westerly with 18 to 28 knots giving a fast ride down the Wallett with the leaders setting spinnakers, but some of the smaller boats opting for boomed out headsails. Class 3 started first with 'Dark & Stormy' leading the fleet away under spinnaker, until she had to return to Wallett 4 which she had missed. Class 2 was next away with 'Amazon' leading from the start closely followed by 'Titian'. In Class 1 'Oystercatcher XXX' sped away and through the fleet in no time with 'Snatch' and 'Assarain' next on the water. 'Oystercatcher XXX' rounded the NE Gunfleet first followed by 'Amazon', then 'Titian' and 'Snatch'. From there it was a 25 mile hard beat all the way back to Burnham with a building wind and tide leading to some large waves to overcome. 'Snatch' in her first race under new ownership made up ground on the beat and 'Amazon' kept going over the ever increasing seas to win the Ralph Herring Trophy.
Ralph Herring Results: (top three)
Overall
1st Amazon – Sun Fast 3200 Tony and Chuffy Merewether
2nd Snatch – Swan 48 – Adrian Lower and David Smith
3rd Oystercatcher XXX- HH42 – Richard Matthews
Class 1
1st Snatch – Swan 48 – Adrian Lower and David Smith
2nd Oystercatcher XXX- HH42 – Richard Matthews
3rd Assarain IV – J-133 – Angus Bates
Class 2
1st Amazon – Sun Fast 3200 - Tony and Chuffy Merewether
2nd Titian – Elan 40 – Stuart and Richard Galloway
3rd Spirit – Sigma 38 – Paul and Claire Scott
Class 3
1st Cosmic Dancer III –Baltic 37 – Russell Walker
2nd Woozle Hunter – Sigma 33 – Ian and Laura Ivermee
3rd Dark and Stormy – Tartan 10 – Richard Bailey
The Pattinson Cup, the following day, from Burnham on Crouch to West Mersea was a totally different day starting in a light 8 knot breeze from the south south west with a shy reach out of the Crouch. Class 3 was led away by 'Woozle Hunter'. 'Amazon' again led Class 2 with 'Titian' and 'Charlie Don't Surf' in her first EAORA season close behind. In Class 1 'Oystercatcher XXX' was off and away, with 'Assarain IV' reaching well until she missed out the Whitaker buoy and decided to retire, followed by 'Snatch' and 'Brave' close behind. 'Oystercatcher XXX' was round the NE Gunfleet before the tide started to flood and stretched away with the new tide, but the rest of the fleet had a 6 mile run against the building tide before rounding the mark. Next round the NE Gunfleet was 'Snatch' followed by 'Brave' then 'Amazon'. From there it was a reach to the finish with a short beat across the tide to the Gunfleet windfarm, with the wind heading and building towards the finish to a blustery 18 knots. In another quick race of around 7 hours the top 7 yachts all finished within 8 minutes on corrected time with 'Amazon' winning the Pattinson Cup.
Pattinson Cup Results: (top three)
Overall
1st Amazon – Sun Fast 3200 Tony and Chuffy Merewether
2nd Charlie Don't Surf – Everitt 31 – David and Adrian Gibbons
3rd Snatch – Swan 48 – Adrian Lower and David Smith
Class 1
1st Snatch – Swan 48 – Adrian Lower and David Smith
2nd Oystercatcher XXX- HH42 – Richard Matthews
3rd Inn Spirit – Humphreys 11m – Alan Bartlett
Class 2
1st Amazon – Sun Fast 3200 - Tony and Chuffy Merewether
2nd Charlie Don't Surf – Everitt 31 – David and Adrian Gibbons
3rd Titian – Elan 40 – Stuart and Richard Galloway
Class 3
1st Woozle Hunter – Sigma 33 – Ian and Laura Ivermee
2nd Salteezer – Dehler 32 – Duncan Ellis
3rd Dark and Stormy – Tartan 10 – Richard Bailey
Full results can be found on the EAORA website, www.eaora.org.uk/results