Netley Sailing Club August Bank Holiday Regatta

Netley Sailing Club August Bank Holiday Regatta Prize Winners © Karen Main

What a buzz at the club!

A total of 86 boats competed in racing over the three days. A mixture of 25 different dinghy classes sailed in the two handicap fleets with sailors young and old revelling in the champagne sailing conditions.

With sunshine forecast for the whole weekend, club members made full use of free camping and enjoyed the evening socials which included a funk and soul DJ set, BBQ, live music, beach fire and quiz. When they weren't racing or splashing about on boats, paddle boards and kayaks, younger club members were kept busy helping the pirate find his missing treasure and on a scavenger hunt. Older members limbered up before sailing with the local Park Run and yoga on the decking.

Sailors also wowed spectators on Sunday afternoon, showcasing their foiling, winging and windsurfing prowess in races with the leeward mark perfectly positioned in front of the club. Congratulations to Cam Barr who nailed the starts and foiled his windsurfer flawlessly around the course. Of course, it wouldn't have been a Netley regatta without the infamous SUP/swim/run Netathlon - 13 individuals/pairs of all ages took part. Well done to Toby Heather and Harry Gibson who were winning SUP/run team, Polly Sandison and Ellen Main who were winning swim/run team, Adam Sandison who won the SUP/run individual event and Daniel Stead and Rupert Searle who were under-10 champions.

A light SE wind on the Saturday was the perfect start for club members, particularly as for some it was their first time racing, whilst stronger SE winds on Sunday and Monday were perfect for close, competitive racing.

In the fast handicap fleet 16 RS100s were competing, many of whom are off to the nationals in September. After 6 races over the three days and two discards, results in the 26-boat fleet were:

1st Nigel Wakefield (RS100)
2nd Duncan Barr (RS100)
3rd Graeme Wilcox (Contender)
4th Nick Sandison (RS100)
5th James Spikesley (Contender)
6th Toby Heather (RS100)
7th Chris Haslam and Ella Boxall (RS800)
8th Steve Main (RS100)

Dominating the slow handicap fleet, several local Mirror sailors used the regatta as a warm-up before the Mirror National Championship at Netley SC later this week. Overall results in the 60-boat slow fleet were:

1st Ben and Evelyn McGrane (Mirror)
2nd Roz and Keira McGrane (Mirror)
3rd David and Daniel Steed (Mirror)
4th Christian Humphrey (Mirror)
5th Tim and Joshua Freeman (Mirror)
6th Andrew Rawson (RS Aero 7)
7th Adam Fermor (ILCA 7)
8th Lucy Searle (Mirror)
9th Ellen Main and Rohan Micklethwaite (RS200)
10th Karen Main (RS Aero 5)
11th Vicky Taylor and Simon Worsfold (RS200)
12th Giles Barkley (ILCA 6)