Round the Islands Race at Blackwater Sailing Club
by Christine Brown 19 Jun 2018 06:58 BST
17 June 2018
Round the Islands Race at Blackwater Sailing Club © Kate Stewart
Sunday saw the traditional Round the Islands Race held at Blackwater Sailing Club. This race is held annually as a charity event with the proceeds of the entry fee donated to the RNLI.
Conditions were lively and 36 dinghies set off at a cracking pace to race around first Osea and then Northey Island in a figure of eight course. There was a good selection of boats competing in the fleet including Fireballs, Wayfarers, Mirrors, Sprites, Spitfires, Kestrels, Blaze, Hobie Cats and many others.
First home were the father and son team of Brian and Will Sargeant sailing a Fireball. They were very soon followed by two more Fireball crews, Mark Maskell and Nigel Shephard in second place and Charlie Stewart and Stephen Humphrey coming in third. There is a prize for the first Wayfarer home and this year this was won by Steve Perkins and his son George.
In the cruiser class there were three entries and first home was Paul and Evelyn Su.
Seven boats competed in the short course around Northey and Toppers won the day with cadet Theo Aers in first place, followed by cadet mum Tracey Haigh also in a Topper.
The event saw £250 raised for this worthy cause.
For more details about events like this see www.blackwatersailingclub.org.uk