Jackson Yacht Services Bay Races 2019 at Royal Channel Islands Yacht Club

Jewel during the Jackson Yacht Services Bay Races 2019 © Bill Harris

Elsa Swetenham and Owen Harper's Yeah Buoy during the Jackson Yacht Services Bay Races 2019 © Bill Harris

With thirty boats entered, things were really looking up for this year's Jackson Yacht Services Bay Races held in St Aubin's Bay on Sunday 22nd September.

Whilst constant reviews of the forecast were not exactly promising there appeared to be a window in the weather just long enough to run this popular Royal Channel Islands Yacht Club event. Despite torrential rain, at first, things brightened up considerably as the morning progressed. However, rather than going west, as expected, the wind remained stubbornly in the south, even going a little to the east as the morning wore on. The unwelcome factors, however, were winds gusting to thirty knots accompanied by a nasty short steep sea rolling in from the south.

This was to provide boisterous but good racing for the cruisers but did little for the day boat and sport catamaran classes with all but one of the dayboat skippers remaining safely tucked up on their moorings.

Racing got under way at nine thirty with the first of two cruiser races over triangular courses that encompassed the Bay. With the committee boat bouncing around at anchor in the north, boats were sent off on the mile beat to the Grune du Port buoy followed by a reach eastwards, to the East Rock buoy in the first race and Baleine buoy in the second. Their reward was to be a fast run back, most boats under spinnaker, to the leeward mark and the final beat to the finish line. Allen Brown and partners' Melges 24, The Dog's........!, revelled in the conditions, putting in the fastest time in the IRC fleet in both races. Jeff Chinn's J105, Jewel, sailed well to win both races in the cruiser class having fought off a strong challenge from David Hall's Farr 727, Fahrenheit, in both races. Andrew Pearce's Sigma 362, Odin's Raven was third in the cruiser class. Roger Atkinson's Soling, Dirty Harry, also ventured out, skippered by Malcolm Hartigan, coming fourth in the overall IRC ranking in the first race.

Mike Jackson's elegant Charity, crewed by Tim Dengate, was the only boat to arrive on the start line in the Dayboat class. With four boats entered and three no shows, Charity was sent on her lonely way to complete just one of the three scheduled races. Although challenging, she seemed to thrive in the lively conditions.

Mike Jackson's Charity during the Jackson Yacht Services Bay Races 2019 - photo © Bill Harris

The Hobie fleet was all rigged and ready with a great buzz on the beach at the Gunsite. Sadly, for the six boats in the RCIYC Dragoon fleet, conditions were deemed to be way beyond their limit and racing was abandoned. The day was, also, disappointing for the six-strong Hobie Wildcat fleet who decided to abandon and save their boats and efforts for the imminent Rosscot Hobie Winter Series. Whilst the formal programme for the sport catamaran classes was abandoned, three Hobie 16s pulled out the stops to have a 'fun' race to the committee boat and back. There is no doubt that they had fun! Elsa Swetenham and Owen Harper, sailing Yeah Buoy was first whilst Aaron Le Cornu and Jack Horton's Top Kat was second and Ollie Voak and Evie James' Rubicat third.

The prize-giving was held that evening when Rear Commodore Kevin Newman thanked Mike Jackson of Jackson Yacht Services for his company's continued support for this popular and long-standing event. Mike Jackson responded by thanking the committee boat and guard boat personnel for running the race, the winners and the competitors.

Overall Results:

Amalgamated IRC Class

Race 1
1 The Dog's........! - Allen Brown & partners - 1.15.17 (Class 0+1)
2 Jewel - Jeff Chinn - 1.20.43 (1st Class 1+2)
3 Fahrenheit - David Hall - 1.22.14
4 Dirty Harry - Malcolm Hartigan - 1.24.48
5 Odin's Raven - Andrew Pearce - 1.35.29

Race 2
1 The Dog's........! - 43.08
2 Jewel - 47.16
3 Fahrenheit - 48.57
4 Dirty Harry - Malcolm Hartigan - DNS
5 Odin's Raven - Andrew Pearce - DNS

Overall
1 The Dog's........! (2)
2 Jewel (4)
3 Fahrenheit (6)
4 Dirty Harry (10)
5 Odin's Raven (11)

Dayboat Class (one race)
1 Charity - Mike Jackson - 44.12

Sport Catamaran Class 6 (one race)
1 Yeah Buoy - Elsa Swetenham & Owen Harper
2 Top Kat - Aaron Le Cornu & Jack Horton
3 Rubicat - Ollie Voak & Evie James