Kastner Volvo Race at Topsham Sailing Club
by Colin Leach 24 Jun 2002 14:42 BST
LONG DISTANCE SAILOR WINS KASTNER VOLVO RACE
Bruce Burman of Exe Sailing Club in his Contessa 32, Marelanja, was overall winner in last week’s yacht race, organised by Topsham Sailing Club, from Exmouth to Dartmouth. Bruce’s previous claim to fame was when he sailed his yacht to the Azores and back with just his son as crew.
35 yachts from local Exe clubs came to the start line at the East Exe buoy at 1030 hours on Saturday 15 June. The wind was South-West 4-5. The fleet elected to go inshore towards Teignmouth to hopefully find a lift off the land. Martyn Grant (TSC) led the Comfort Class in his Westerly Fulmar, Xante, followed by Mood Indigo, skippered by Mike Searle (TSC), while the Fast Fleet saw Mike Saunders (ESC) in his X332, Dogmatix, and Colin Leach (TSC) in Red Fox lead with the trimaran Tsunami (Plymouth) in close pursuit.
This year the tide didn’t enter much into the tactical side of the race, but some boats working the shifts in the wind in Babbacombe Bay made good gains. This enabled Bruce in Marelanja to keep in touch with the boats out in front.
One of the memorable sights of the race was the Exmouth Lifeboat as she patrolled the competitors at 25 knots and due to the generosity of the sailors and Kastner(Exeter) a donation of £200 has been presented to the Hon Sec, Frank Doyle.
Kastner(Exeter) are keen that this race should be considered a competitive yet fun event and so it was at the sponsored reception and prize giving where the tired but fulfilled competitors enjoyed the hospitality of Royal Dart Yacht Club. Topsham Sailing Club and Kastner will be organising the event again next year so put it in you diary now.