K6 fleet at the Aldeburgh Yacht Club Regatta 2016

K6 fleet at the Aldeburgh Regatta 2016 © Nick Jones

Seven K6s enjoyed a week long series of five races at Aldeburgh from Sunday 14th to Friday 19th in great conditions as part of the club's annual regatta. Racing was well organised with plenty of variety in the courses – sailing both up and down river – and helped also by the fine warm sunny weather and favourable easterly or southerly winds between F2 & F5 all week.

This week was the first opportunity for new class member John Hallas to join the established Aldeburgh fleet (now the largest coastal centre for K6s in the country) and he and son Rory put in a good showing eventually finishing 5th overall. Brothers Steve & Ian Liddell, Alex Cooper and father-in-law, Dan Hilling and John Adcroft & Steve Dewberry all challenged the front of the fleet periodically but by the time the scores were all in and counted at the end of the week occupied the remaining minor positions.

At the front Ian Robson and Sandy Johnson started well and generally mastered the conditions but not without pressure from both Nick & George Jones and Simon Sydenham sailing with a mixed crew drawn from wife Emma, Gavin & Anna Marshall and Chris Ritchie.

Particularly on Wednesday when Ian & Sandy suffered from a number of gear and rigging issues, Simon showed his pace as he did again on Orford day, the windiest day of the week, when the class enjoyed a very fast, seven mile, broad reach and run down river past Orford, round Havergate Island (completed in 45 minutes against the tide) followed by a two mile beat back to finish on Orford Sailing Club's line.

Nick & George saved their best for Friday when they pushed Ian hard all race to finish second but unfortunately it was just not quite enough to get them ahead of Simon overall.

So at the end of the week Ian & Sandy took first place on 4 points with Simon & crew in second on 8 and Nick & George third on 9.

The social side of the week was not ignored either with the class enjoying drinks & nibbles at the invitation of class captain Nick Jones whose home has a rooftop terrace with almost 360 degree views of both the sea and river. There was also a great dinner at the club whilst the week ended with the traditional ball attended by some 200 club members and friends.

All in all everyone agreed that it had been a great week and we hope that the spectacle of seven K6s – now the fastest boat regularly fleet racing on the Alde – will encourage other Aldeburgh members to join the class whilst owners of K6s elsewhere in the country are also most welcome to join us for the 2017 edition which will run from 20-25 August 2017.

Top 3 Results:

1. 162, Cloud Nine, Ian Robson & Sandy Johnson
2. 211, Back in Black, Simon & Emma Sydenham, Gavin & Anna Marshall
3. 213, Galloper, Nick & George Jones