Bainbridge Staunton Blaster Easter weekend

Bainbridge Staunton Blaster © Ann Nugent

Thank you to all our members who joined us for the Bainbridge Staunton Blaster over the Easter Weekend, with racing on both the Sunday and Monday.

More than 40 boats took to the water ensuring keen competition across the fleet. Five races, four handicap and one pursuit (with one discard), set over the Easter Sunday and Monday provided the perfect start to the sailing season.

Day 1 saw sunshine and steady wind through the day. After a challenging first race, Pete Gray/ Rich Pepperdine (Scorpion) fought back to take two bullets (race 2 and 3) holding off the Scorpion of Tom Gillard/ Rachael Rhodes who took second place in both of these two races after a great start to the day with a bullet in race one. Corey Newton (Supernova) put in a solid performance finishing - 2,3,3 respectively through the day 1.

Day 2 started with snow, which soon cleared up, to give lulls and strong gusts through the two races - one handicap and one pursuit. The Gillard/Rhodes (Scorpion) made a clean sweep of the day with bullets in both the handicap and final pursuit race. This saw the duo take the cup and first spot on the podium. Meanwhile Gray/Pepperdine (Scorpion) were pipped into second place on both races, giving them an overall second place in the event. Newton (Supernova) continued with his solid racing to finish third overall. Nathan Smith (Laser) was the highest place youth helm - with a very convincing fourth place finish overall.

Bainbridge Staunton Blaster - photo © Ann Nugent

Other notable performances making up the top ten joining Nathan Smith (4th), Graham Newton (5th) and Matt Lathoud (6th) were the RS200s of Lawrence Hayward and Amy Nugent (7th) and Nigel and Di Pepperdine (10th), Graham Watts and Helen Jacks (Miracle, 8th) and Michael Gifford (Solo, 9th). The event was also a good practice for the Streaker Fleet aheads of their Nationals at the club in July and for the newly formed RS Aero Fleet, with John Blundell having two top 10 results (and a capsize) on his first day of racing the Aero 7.

Thank you to sponsors Bainbridge International

Thank you to our sponsors Bainbridge International who supplied a host of prizes in addition to the usual cups! Bainbridge international Ltd, is the world's oldest Sailcloth and Hardware manufacturer and distributor. Whilst the company has an an enviable reputation as a sailcloth and fabric specialist it also supplies a wide range of marine products.

Bainbridge Staunton Blaster - photo © Ann Nugent

Thank you to our members and race teams - looking ahead

Thank you to our race reams, for a great job on the water and to all our members who ensured a really enjoyable weekend racing and cruising. Looking ahead, we're back on the water on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays, both racing and cruising, there'll be news to come on training, open meetings and more. To find out more about Staunton Harold Sailing Club please check out our website, shsc.org.uk or contact us via

Overall Results: