The inaugural Northumberland Yachting Plate Race

by Clive Griffiths & Kris Burnett 3 Aug 2015 18:34 BST 18 July 2015

We at the Royal Northumberland and Coquet Yacht Clubs were approached by Northumberland County Council last year to host an annual yacht race to celebrate the maritime history of the Northumberland coast in the manner that the Northumberland Plate has represented the North East in horse racing circles for over a century.

Our inaugural NYP event took place on the 18th of July 2015 and we were fortunate in securing the services of Graham Kirkham as race officer for the event.

There was almost no race on the day and many local clubs cancelled their racing that weekend because of 20-30 knot winds. The race committee decided that the conditions were sailable with appropriate reduction in sail and that all boats would " white sail ".

Thirteen boats started the race. The start line was lengthy because of the windy conditions and yacht Schuuper made a flying port start to be first to the windward mark off Amble harbour and led the 2 mile run to the NE Coquet mark off Coquet Island.

This run allowed saw Medmerry II who was last to the windward mark express finally catch up with Pintail, first in the under 30 footers round the windward mark. Yacht Jinny Jenny retired at this stage because of the strong winds.

The next leg was a lengthy 12 mile reach to the weather mast 3 miles east of Blyth harbour entrance.

Schupper held on to the lead for most of this leg but was finally overtaken by Monkey Business who was first to round the weather mast 3 miles east of Blyth Harbour

Medmerry took advantage of the beat from the weather mast to overtake Schuuper and Spurreli to be first boat home over the water and on handicap. The finish line was in the fairway in Blyth harbour.

Amongst the smaller yachts, Pintail was eventually overtaken by Kandula,C Beagle and Fagin's Express before the weather mast however she romped past them again on the 3 mile beat from the weather mast to Meggies and was the first yacht home under 30 feet.

Out of 24 yachts entered,13 crews started the race with 12 finishers. Jinny Jenny retired soon after the start.

The initial Northumberland Plate race was won by Medmerry II from Coquet Yacht Club. The Plate will be displayed in the trophy cabinet there until the Royal Northumberland Yacht Club win it back, hopefully in 2016!

Overall Results:

Position	Yacht	Type	TCF	Finish time (secs)	Corrected time (secs)
1	Medmerry II	Sigma 41	0.9638	10,200	9,830
2	Schuuper	Breehorn 37	0.9176	11,032	10,122
3	Spurreli	Benteau 35	0.9871	10.734	10.595
4	Monkey Business	Beneteau40.7	1.0366	10.385	10.755
5	Pintail	Eyghthene 24	0.8112	13.435	10.878
6	Fagin's Express	Albin Express	0.8464	13.460	11.392
7	Jondalar	Feeling 346	0.8962	12.953	11.608
8	C Beagle	Trapper 28	0.8572	13.645	11.696
9	Kandula	Westerly Fulmar	0.8681	13.746	11.932
10	Off Quay	Sonata	0.8094	15.201	11.934
11	Swallow	HR 29	0.844	14.536	12.268
12	Lillybelle	Moody 31	0.8473	16.568	14,038