Please select your home edition
Edition
Hyde Sails 2024 - One Design
Product Feature
Allen 20mm Back To Back Block - A2028
Allen 20mm Back To Back Block - A2028

Bembridge Redwing & One-Design Weekend Club Racing

by Mike Samuelson 13 May 2019 12:21 BST 10-12 May 2019
Racing on 10th May 2019 in the Solent © Mike Samuelson

Nice breezes and sunshine made for some champagne sailing over the weekend. With only two Redwings and two One-Designs turning up to race on Friday evening, it was decided to start them together from a laid inflatable to the south of Janson.

All made good starts with Philip Bown helming No 21 Redwing just to windward of Jim Conybeare-Cross helming No 37 Gannet, and Jos Coad in No 8 One-Design in a similar position to Hugh Doherty (hot foot from having been in the US all week) in No 10.

Both pairs stayed on starboard for five minutes or so before tacking inshore as they made for Tara. Redwing was first round a few boats lengths ahead of Gannet, while No 8 was rather further ahead of No 10. On the run to Britten, both Redwing & No 8 extended their leads so it became a bit of a procession; however it was such a nice evening it was decided to let the Redwings complete the full course (Under Tyne, Footprint, Under Tyne) but to finish the One-Designs as they rounded Under Tyne first time. Philip in Redwing crossed the line four minutes ahead, with Jos three minutes ahead of Hugh.

A pleasant NNW'erly F3 (12-15 knots) breeze on Saturday afternoon promised good racing in the sunshine for six Redwings and four One-Designs. The start line was at Under Tyne with Drum as the windward mark and Tara as a leeward mark for the Redwings, and an inflatable for the One-Designs to give them a slightly shorter run, twice round for both classes, finishing at Under Tyne.

A very competitive start saw four Redwings over the line, allowing clean starters Andrew Eddy in Plover and Mike Toogood in Tara to get away somewhat. The beat up to Drum saw those who chose the right side of the course benefit from some west-going tide. Positions were maintained on the run, but with the wind fading, the RO team shortened to one round. Andrew in Plover was first home, followed by Colin Samuelson in Toucan and Mike in Tara.

The four One-Designs split into two pairs at their start, with Mark Grzgorczyk in No 9 leading Ollie Joy in No 10 on starboard inshore towards the harbour and Jos Coad in No 8 and new One-Design sailors Tim & Nics Cotterell in No 11 heading offshore on port. The latter choice paid off, and Jos led at Drum by a large margin and was never caught. Ollie passed Mark (who only had his tiny storm jib aboard) for second place. At the end of race 1 the wind veered almost 180 degrees and dropped to 2 knots, and with no signs of improvement the decision was made to call it a day. Naturally enough, 5 minutes later a steady 12 knot breeze from the North reappeared!

Conditions were nearly perfect for the three Redwings that raced on Sunday afternoon. Bright sunshine, and a steady 12 knots from the SSE. Although only one race programmed, everyone agreed that it was too nice not to have two. Both started from Fitzwilliam. The first race was a simple windward/leeward course, up to Cochrane, a run to Janson and back through the line, twice round. Everyone made an excellent start and Jonathan Nainby-Luxmore in Snowgoose led by a whisker from Mike Toogood in Tara and Joe Robertson in Red Gauntlet II at the windward mark. The order remained unchanged on the run and second beat, with Jonathan a minute ahead at the finish of the shortened race. Mike took second from Jo by a boat's length. Enough though to secure Tara the weekend's trophy - 'Lt Col Stanley's Inkwell'.

The second race was a bit of a zig-zag from Fitzwilliam to Tara, Janson, Under Tyne and Derrick, with the finish near the harbour at Garland. Joe in Red Gauntlet II led at the first mark, with all three boats very close to each other for the run and second beat. On the longer run from Under Tyne to Derrick, Jonathan's angles worked well, and he opened up a lead which he maintained for the final beat to Garland. Again Mike took second with Joe snapping on his heels. Sadly, as conditions were so nice, there were no One-Designs racing.

Related Articles

2025 Swallow Nationals at Bembridge
18 teams sail from Itchenor to take part in the event It was great to be able to welcome eighteen Swallows from Itchenor to Bembridge over the weekend for their 2025 National Championship. In fact there were a couple more entries but two boats remained at Itchenor because of the strong wind forecast. Posted on 8 Jul
Curlew Cup at Bembridge
Redwings and One-Designs enjoy the Solent After the arrival of 19 Swallows coming to Bembridge for their National Championships there were only three Redwings wanting to race on Friday evening; two One-Design helms came but felt there was too much wind. Posted on 7 Jul
Bembridge Sailing Club Late June Keelboat Racing
No shortage of wind on Saturday for the Redwings and One Designs Four Redwings and five One Designs (using their smaller mainsails) raced on Saturday. There was no shortage of wind at 15-20kts, but being from the SW the sea state was moderate. Posted on 30 Jun
Bembridge Sailing Club June Keelboat Weekend
An early high water time meant an early start An 08.00 HW meant an early start for the Keelboats on Saturday. Happily, a forecast 10kts from the SE filled in nicely for the four Redwings and two BODs who came out to race. Posted on 23 Jun
Bembridge Sailing Club Mid June Keelboat Weekend
A brisk breeze keeps the fleet ashore on Saturday, but Sunday proves more manageable Although nice and sunny on Saturday, the F5 SW'erly kept even the keenest ashore; fortunately it had dropped to a more manageable F4 for Sunday's early afternoon races. Posted on 16 Jun
Edwardian Bembridge Harbour Trophy for Redwings
This year's crews had failed to read the small print Saturday was of course the Round the Island Race which always makes course setting for the Bembridge keelboats quite challenging. Unusually Saturday's Redwing race was programmed for just one race for the 'Edwardian' Bembridge Harbour Trophy. Posted on 9 Jun
Bembridge Late May Bank Holiday Keelboat Racing
Redwings battle for Gunston Trophy The late May Bank Holiday normally draws pretty good fleets out onto the water, however the windy forecast and commitments by the One-Designs, eight of whom are racing next week in Cowes Classics, resulted in only seven Redwings and no One-Designs racing. Posted on 27 May
Redwing 25th Anniversary Medal at Bembridge
With Bembridge One-Design keelboat racing The forecast was mixed, but a warm 10kts from the south meant perfect sunny sailing for the six Redwings and two One-Designs who went afloat on Saturday. Posted on 19 May
Bembridge Sailing Club Mid-May Keelboat Racing
Glorious sunny sailing in about 15kts of breeze Several days of cool easterlies may have deterred a few crews, but the two Redwings and two One-Designs that raced enjoyed some glorious sunny sailing in about 15kts of breeze. Posted on 12 May
Bembridge Early May Bank Holiday Keelboat Racing
Redwings back out for the Quail Trophy while the One Designs race for the Woodroffe Bowl The first Redwing racing of 2025 (for the Quail Trophy) attracted three boats to the start line, Colin Samuelson in Toucan, Matt Alexander helming Harlequin, and Jockey Wilson in Quail. Posted on 6 May