Sonata fleet at the Medway Keelboat Regatta 2015
by Steve Ellerby 26 Jul 2015 15:49 BST
10-12 July 2015
Medway Keelboat Regatta © Nickolas Champion /
www.championmarinephotography.co.uk
Day 1 of the Regatta was the long distance race with a reasonable SSW breeze. The course set, sent us down the Medway and out into the Thames Estuary.
On rounding the windward mark the Colourful spinnakers were hoisted for the run out into the Thames. Sea Reach 2 and Sea Reach 4 buoys were taken to port followed by a beat back into the Medway.
Spring Sonata crossed the finish line first, followed by Silver Lining in second and Munchkin in third place.
Day 2 of the Regatta saw 4 windward/leeward races setup perfectly in Long Reach.
The first of 4 races saw a good beat to the windward mark, with several boats tacking early onto port and heading for less tide in shallower water. Other boats maintained a starboard tack for longer, heading for more wind at the expense of more tide.
The start of races 2 and 3 went well, although race 4 saw a general recall through everyone's enthusiasm to get started.
Spring Sonata, Red Dwarf II and Silver Lining managed to dominate the windward/leeward day taking to the podium in all races.
Day 3 of the Regatta was racing 'around the cans'. The weather was overcast with a strong SW breeze.
The course set sent us out to buoy 13, back towards buoy 15 and then out again to buoy 14 before beating back to the finish line at buoy 29. Red Dwarf II had some good upwind speed; holding off Silver Lining and Spring Sonata on the beat back to the finish line for 1st place. Silver lining finished 2nd and Spring Sonata finish in 3rd place.
Presentations and prizes followed back at the club house.
Overall Results:
| Pos | Boat | Sail No | Club | Owner/Helm | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | Pts |
|---|
| 1st | Red Dwarf II | 8087 | MYC | Zoe Hill | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1.5 | 1 | 1 | 10.5 |
| 2nd | Spring Sonata | 69N | MYC | Andrew Baker | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 13 |
| 3rd | Silver Lining | 8421 | MYC | Barry Westphal | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1.5 | 3 | 2 | 13.5 |
| 4th | Ram | 8197 | MYC | S Griffiths | 6 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 8 | 5 | 34 |
| 5th | Munchkin | 8436 | MYC | Steve Ellerby | 3 | DNF | 4 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 41 |
| 6th | Blue Tack | 8189 | MYC | Paul Sharp | DNF | DNF | 5 | 6 | 4 | 8 | 43 |
| 7th | White Noise | 8361 | MYC | Hewat & Stone | DNC | 5 | 7 | 7 | OCS | 4 | 44 |
| 8th | Miss Fortune | 8025 | Upnor | Esther Rubbo | 5 | 6 | 9 | 8 | 6 | DNF | 44 |
| 9th | Duet | 8275 | MYC | Lance Bonner | DNC | 7 | 10 | 4 | 5 | DNC | 48 |
| 10th | Cry Havoc | 48N | MYC | Christopher Lindsey | 7 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 9 | 6 | 48 |