Bembridge Sailing Club keelboat racing 2025 - July weekend 2
by Robin Joy & Mike Samuelson 14 Jul 11:29 BST
12-13 July 2025
Bembridge SC keelboat racing - 12 July 2025 © Robin Joy
Saturday by Robin Joy
Not a cloud in the sky and 12 knots from the SE made for lovely conditions on Saturday, and with a line laid near Janson, the ROs a selection of windward and leeward marks to choose from.
First away were the nine Redwings that came out, all choosing to favour the left hand side of their first beat up to Under Tyne. Even after this short beat the fleet had strung out somewhat, with Serena Gosling in Gosling, Xander Shaw in Harlequin, and Rory Morrison in Paraquet crossing tacks at the front of the fleet. It was Rory, crewed by his son Ollie, who found that bit extra, though, and he worked into a 30 second lead on the run down to Derek.
On the second beat back to Under Tyne Oliver Morgan in Prawn overtook Xander, and was looking good for third, but he failed to register a change of course giving a running finish, and sailed just outside the finish line. By the time he recovered he'd slipped to sixth.
Rory was the winner, followed by Serena, Xander, Robin Ebsworth in Quintessence, Tom Scott in Ibis, Oliver, Billy Clegg (sharing the helming with his young daughter) in Lady Laetitia, Crispin Kenyon in Blue Jay, and Alastair Speare-Cole in Avocet.
The second race started with a longer beat to Tara, and as the tide had by now set fair inshore, that is where the majority headed, on port. Rory was again in fine form, keeping Serena and Xander at bay on the run down to Britten. The wind, which has eased a little, then filled in again, giving a sparkling final beat to the finish at Under Tyne.
Rory was first, then Serena, Xander, Oliver (finding good speed in pretty much his first Redwing outing), Alastair, Crispin, Robin, and Billy. Tom did not start race 2.
Four One-Designs raced, and were given a shorter version of the Redwings' course, with Britten as their leeward mark. Charles Perry in No 8 had the best start, and soon established a lead over Sarah Marshall in No 7, Susie Beart in No 5, and Hamish Janson in No 12. Regrettably, Charles headed for Derek on the run, and by the time he gybed towards Britten, Sarah and Susie were through, and led him on the second beat.
The ladies were neck and neck at the end of the first round, but Susie worked some magic, and then got away a bit from Sarah. Meanwhile, Hamish had not passed through the line as the course required, and, way inshore, was leading on the water. He crossed the finish line first, but the winning gun went to Susie, with Sarah second, then a rueful Charles.
Hamish then headed back to the moorings, and the remaining three One-Designs second race was up to Under Tyne, a run to Britten, then a beat back to finish at Under Tyne. Susie didn't put a foot wrong in the freshening breeze, and won by 50 seconds from Charles, with Sarah 40 seconds behind.
Sunday by Mike Samuelson
Another glorious day with wall to wall sunshine and a 10 knot breeze - only spoiled slightly by the fact that it was a SE'erly which meant it was quite lumpy. Although the majority of the Redwings had moored over night at Under Tyne, Tom Scott in Ibis came out of the harbour which took a bit of time and so it was decided to send the One-Designs off first.
Mind you, there had been a bit of confusion over the correct start times anyway, so a bit more juggling just made it even more interesting!
The four One-Designs made a reasonable start and headed off to Tara; No 12 (Hamish Janson) either played it very safe or got his timings slightly wrong so was the last boat to start.
Although Charles Perry in No 8 probably had the best start, James Beart in No 5 was first to round the windward mark (Tara); Sarah Marshall in No 7 was third and No 12 was fourth. As they passed the moorings, No 7 announced they were retiring as one of her crew was not enjoying the easterly swell.
In the event, having dropped the crew member off with Charlie, Sarah decided to continue round the course rather than pack up early. No 5 was still ahead at the end of the run to Nainby, but on the slow beat back to Tara, No 8 sailed through into a narrow lead which they held to the finish at Garland, albeit only by 8 seconds.
Meanwhile No 7 had fun playing catch up against No 12 and by the finish had in fact just overtaken them, but with one less crew than she had started, No 12 was scored third.
In the meantime, the six Redwings had a similar course except that after an 'interesting' start with Alastair Speare-Cole in Avocet going for a port tack 'flyer' that was not the most successful and resulted in them having to take a penalty for fouling Oliver Morgan in Prawn, the fleet went to Cochrane as their first windward mark.
Having kept inshore, Harlequin (Xander Shaw) and Paroquet (Rory Morrison) rounded Cochrane close together; Prawn was third, Ibis was fourth, Quintessence (Robin Ebsworth) was fifth and Avocet was sixth. By the time they reached the leeward mark (Nainby) Rory had moved into the lead and then proceeded to cover Xander which made it look a bit like a procession.
However it would only have taken one lapse of concentration to change the order; so it was certainly not a done deal and there were only 30 seconds between them at the finish at Garland. Prawn was third and Ibis was fourth.
With three wins over the weekend Paroquet won the Redwing's Svalan Quaiche.