Port of Felixstowe Golden Jubilee Regatta

After three days of racing in perfect conditions off Harwich one of the smallest boats in the fleet carried off the ultimate prize in a regatta which goes from strength to strength each year.

Robert Leggett's Impala 'Monkey Business' was the only entrant to record class wins in all five races at the Port of Felixstowe Golden Jubilee Regatta.

After discarding one first place, his points total put him nine points clear of David Pinner's Kerr 13.5 'Cracker' the highest rated boat in the regatta and the winner of Class One.

Robert Leggett learned his sailing with his father Jonathan's well known East Coast competitor 'Chimp 87' but this was his first regatta as master of his own boat, in a field of some 70 IRC and PYH boats from clubs from all over the East Coast.

'Monkey Business' , with 'Cracker' and Nigel Theadom's X99 'Crikey !!!' was also part of an unbeatable home team from Haven Ports Yacht Club at Levington which carried off the inter-club championship.

'Crikey !!!' was the strongest in an entry of 23 boats in Class Two, which incorporated the X99 national championships, and gave Theadom the prize for the second year, as well as the overall class trophy.

Runner up in the X99 fleet was Chris Dearlove from Waldringfield with 'Taxi' who was over the line at the start in the second race and failed to return.

Entries from the JOG, and the Royal Temple YC at Ramsgate also competed in the X99 fleet, but they could not oust Mike Brand and David Elderfield's X332 'Exotic' from second overall in Class Two, while third place went to the popular home entry John Edward's Sigma 38 'Red Macaw.

Chris and Anna Brooke have established a fine reputation over the past six years for race management at this event, which is now sponsored by Hutchison Port Holdings on behalf of the Port of Felixstowe and Harwich International Port, and the introduction of two additional marks enabled even more versatility in the course setting around Harwich bay.

Five races, averaging 12 - 16 miles in length were set over the three days, and if the wind strengths were not particularly taxing, the racing was keenly contested, and everyone enjoyed the proximity of other competitors and the cut and thrust around the marks.

The Regatta also offers points for the Haven Handicap series, and on Sunday and Monday it was also scored for Sail East.

On all but one occasion 'Monkey Business' proudly led the fleet from start to finish, with three fellow Impalas 'Rocker'(Chris Goldsmith, HPYC), 'Big Beeste' (Nick Moulton, Walton & Frinton YC) and 'Reaction' (Maldolm Hutchings, Crouch YC) snapping at her heels, as the big Class One entries 'Cracker' and the IMX40 'Sensor' struggled to come through the fleet to achieve their proper position at the head of the procession.

By the final race 'Beeste' and 'Rocker' were level-pegging on points, while Cracker' and 'Sensor' also had unfinished business in Class One.

Class Three was dominated by Ian Langston and Dave Kemp's half-tonner 'Harmony' from the Crouch, holding Errie Orriss with the Nicholson 33 'Beatnic' from the Royal Temple YC a bay, with the Contessa 32 'Quickstep' (Geoff Sinton, WSC) in third place.

Another very creditable performer in this class was the SJ One-off 'Harlequin' sailed by the 'Brooke Mob' a talented young crew with an average age including their skippper Tim Brooke of somewhere under twenty.

Lest the youngsters in this regatta should get all the attention it is good to record that one very special award, the Hutchinson Ports Cup for Outstanding Effort, was presented to 87 year old George Thake, the owner of the Hustler 32 'Poppincoota 111' who has competed in the regatta every year since its inception, and remains a stalwart supporter of the Haven Series and many other events in the Harwich area.

There was also an award for George Thake's grandson Ben Adams, who competed aboard 'The Geek' in Class One receiving the Fresh Herring Trophy for the best performance by a disabled sailor.

Anyone interested in statistics (and those who continue to believe that sailing is a minority sport) would have found it instructive to view the waters around Harwich over the Jubilee weekend for evidence of marine activity. In addition to in excess of 400 people involved either as competitors, race mangement or shore helpers in the Port of Felixstowe Regatta, there was a huge meeting of Dart catamarans at Felixstowe Ferry, and a rally of the Dunkirk Little Ships at Ipswich, not to mention hundreds of cruising yachts and motor cruisers. On this occasion the behemoths making their way to the container terminals at Felixstowe were well and truly outnumbered.

Overall Results:

More Information:

• Port of Felixstowe Regatta Website