Swanwick, Warsash and Bursledon Regatta 2022
by Sarah Norbury 15 Sep 2022 06:31 BST
2-4 September 2022
Warsash on the River Hamble is the brand new venue for the venerable Swanwick, Warsash and Bursledon Regatta that used to be held in Bursledon. Any doubts that dinghy sailors would approve of the move downriver were dispelled when 120 turned up to race.
The Caribbean-themed event was a fun-filled extravaganza with music, a special Regatta beer, food stands, novelty water events, and a spectacular firework display.
Not just for dinghies, there was racing for yachts, paddleboards, rowing boats and gigs.
Dinghy Races
The dinghy course required both river- and sea-sailing skills. Starting upriver between Universal and Mercury marinas, competitors had to tack downriver and out into Southampton Water for an around-the-cans section before running back to the Warsash Sailing Club finish line and applause from the club balcony.
There were eight classes. Handicap fleets included Finns, RS400s, 200s, Fevas and Aeros, Laser Radials, Toppers, Picos, Mirrors and many others, while there were separate starts for Lasers, Optimists, Foxers and RS Tera Sports.
As is tradition, the famous Cock of the River Trophy was awarded to the winning sailor who beat the second-placed boat by the biggest margin.
In the PY 600-1079 Handicap singlehanders including Finns and Aero 7s won out against most of the double-handeders, the exception being the RS400 sailed by David Swift and Andrea Jarman who made it into the top three behind winner John Heyes (Finn) and second-placed Martin Hughes (Finn Classic).
The Laser class was contested by 12 boats and won by Andrew Le Grice, fresh from victory in the Masters class at the Laser Nationals. Second was Dan Wealthy and third Paul Fuller.
Duncan McDonald took the PY1080 - 1147 class in a Streaker with Xavier Dunn (Laser Radial) second and Chris and Sebbie Pilling in their RS Vision third.
Mum or Dad with a child made up most of the PY1148 - 1259 class, all the boats being RS Fevas except the winner, Cats Paw sailied by James Morland and son Milo. Heather and son Henry Ross were second and Evie Parry and Freya Pilling third.
Seven Foxers fought for honours in their own class. Known as a highly competitive fleet, the winner was Darren Baker followed by John Langdon and Andy Chapman.
In a class of 36 boats, the PY 1260 -1460 fleet was dominated by Toppers. which filled all the top 12 places before other boats including RS Tera Pros, Picos and Topper 4.2s got a look-in. Seb Davis was the winner followed by Henry Martin and Jake Davies.
Twelve Optimists battled it out, with victory going to Jack Ward, with Meryn Wealthy second and Sam Wealthy third.
And finally we have our Cock of the River! Won not by a strutting chap but an RS Tera Sport sailor Emily Shell. Emily created a bigger margin between herself and the second placed boat than any of the other seven class winners making her Cock of the River 2022. Second in the ten-strong RS Tera Sport class was Meg Webb and Maxwell Edwards came in third.
Yacht Racing
Chimp, the Half-Tonner owned by Roger and Amanda Marino, took overall victory in 12-strong Class 1. Third on the water, after a series of upwind legs in a stiff breeze towards the Eastern Solent and, with the wind dropping, a downwind course in back to the finish, she beat Peter Knight's Dragonfly 800 Winged Dragonfly (2nd) and Daniel Anthony's Spirt 46' Dido (3rd) on corrected time.
Jonty Sherwill's Cockleshell is no stranger to honours at this regatta and the classic dayboat did it again this year, taking Class 2 from Michael Shepherd's Sadler 25 Sapphire (2nd) and Jonathan Holmes' Jeanneau Sun 2000 Bejac (3rd).
The XOD Class was won by Eliot Motherwell in Kathleen, 2nd was Andrew Mullen in La Mouette and 3rd Andy Hamlett in Satu.
For full results and more photos see bursledonregatta.org