Christmas Cracker Pursuit Race at Paignton Sailing Club
by James Ripley 10 Dec 2020 10:56 GMT
6 December 2020
On Sunday 6th December, Paignton Sailing Club ran the annual Christmas Cracker Pursuit Race. Until a few weeks before, we didn't even know whether we would be able to run the event due to the uncertainty around the COVID-19 restrictions. However, in the end, thanks to our strict policies and procedures, we were able to safely run the regatta.
The conditions were quite light but it was warmer than expected and we raced the fleet in sunshine against the backdrop of cruise ships in the bay. 39 boats started the race with 8 RS Aeros forming the largest class.
The solitary Topper led for the first hour before slowly being reeled in by the chasing pack. In the end it was a very close battle for the win - and the whole fleet were similarly close. Richard Cain and Barney Dearsly won in their RS400. Bob Warren and Charlie Ellse made it a 400 1-2 with the Osprey of Terry Curtis and Peter Greig taking the final podium spot. Ben Flower was first single hander in his Laser in 4th beating the Merlin Rocket of Dave
Lee and Kirsten Glen in 5th. First in a strong Blaze fleet was Andrew Chorlton - who was also first Paignton SC boat and 6th over all.
Congratulations to all of the competitors who took part and thank you to all of the volunteers who made the event happen.
Thank you also to series organisers Sailing Southwest, and sponsors Allen Sailing who kindly provided some prizes.
Overall Results:
| Pos | Class | Sail No | Helm | Crew | Club |
|---|
| 1st | RS 400 | 411 | Richard Cain | Barney Dearsly | Starcross YC |
| 2nd | RS 400 | 727 | Bob Warren | Charlie Ellse | Restronguet SC |
| 3rd | Osprey | 1234 | Terry Curtis | Peter Greig | Weymouth SC |
| 4th | Laser | 212109 | Ben Flower | | Tobermory YC |
| 5th | Merlin Rocket | 3779 | Dave Lee | Kirsten Glen | Starcross YC |
| 6th | Blaze | 810 | Andrew Chorlton | | PSC |
| 7th | International Canoe | 340 | Chris Hampe | | Mount Batten |
| 8th | 2000 | 2642 | Paul Procter | Rebecca Procter | PSC |
| 9th | RS AERO 7 | 3174 | Greg Bartlett | | Starcross YC |
| 10th | Halo | 807 | Nick Ripley | | PSC |
| 11th | RS AERO 7 | 1077 | Sarah Probert | | PSC |
| 12th | Blaze | 757 | Chris Tillbrook | | |
| 13th | B14 | 711 | David Roberts | Matt Reeves | RTYC |
| 14th | Laser | 51476 | Sam Blocksidge | | Looe |
| 15th | Laser | 188783 | Nick Stoten | | Mounts Bay SC |
| 16th | Merlin Rocket | 3639 | Dan Heaton | Tom | Mount Batten |
| 17th | Merlin Rocket | 3698 | David Downs | Ros Downs | Tata Steel SC |
| 18th | RS AERO 7 | 1181 | Mark Ripley | | PSC |
| 19th | Hadron H2 | 126 | Arthur Phillips | | PSC |
| 20th | Blaze | 789 | John Worthington | | PSC |
| 21st | RS AERO 7 | 3023 | Richard Watsham | | Starcross YC |
| 22nd | RS AERO 7 | 2388 | Charlie Gilmore | | PSC |
| 23rd | RS AERO 7 | 2418 | Miles Ripley | | PSC |
| 24th | RS AERO 7 | 2150 | Nick Cravern | | PSC |
| 25th | Blaze | 513 | Mark Smith | | PSC/BYC |
| 26th | Laser Radial | 7104 | Amy Cleaves | | Salcombe YC |
| 27th | RS 800 | 1232 | Cameron Moss | Darrol Moss | Lyme Regis SC |
| 28th | RS AERO 7 | 3328 | Klaus Harris | | Swanage SC |
| 29th | Blaze | 797 | Mike Holmes | | PSC |
| 30th | Blaze | 791 | Neil Smythe | | PSC |
| 31st | Supernova | 587 | Steven Tostevin | | Roadford SC |
| 32nd | Laser 4.7 | 207649 | Issabelle Smith | | PSC/BYC |
| 33rd | Hadron H2 | 117 | Paul Tuttle | | PSC/BYC |
| 34th | Vortex | 1040 | Alan Goule | | PSC |
| 35th | RS Feva XL | 4994 | Danni Eales | Lacie Benson | RTYC |
| DNC | Blaze | 843 | Chris Dyer | | Wimbleball |
| DNF | Hobie 16 | 95190 | Aidan Hardy | Hugh Wylam | PSC |
| DNF | Laser Radial | | Rebecca Smith | | PSC/BYC |
| DNF | Topper | 19116 | Isabel Williscroft | | PSC |
| DNF | RS Tera | 1131 | Iona Flett | | PSC |