Brewin Dolphin Jersey Regatta - Overall

by Bill Harris 9 Sep 2010 11:50 BST 3-5 September 2010 The Brewin Dolphin Jersey Regatta and the International Melges 24 UK National Championships were held off St Aubin’s Bay over the weekend of 3rd to 5th September, providing a tremendous spectacle for both sailors and spectators alike. This was the twelfth of the combined yacht clubs’ annual Regattas and the third sponsored by leading investment management company Brewin Dolphin.

The programme got under way on the Thursday evening with a welcoming reception in the Royal Channel Islands YC when Commodore Rodney Waller thanked Brewin Dolphin for their continued sponsorship whilst addressing a packed clubroom. Regatta organiser, Bill Harris, followed with the skippers’ briefing.

The weather forecast held true, light to moderate northeasterly to southeasterly winds for the weekend with continuous sunshine. As it transpired, there was a greater emphasis on the ‘light’ as opposed to ‘moderate’ although the very occasional fresh gusts surprised a few boats. Conditions were good on the Friday, giving good racing for the sportsboat and cruiser classes, ensuring that the dinghies, dayboats and sport-catamarans, racing in the evening, were home before dark. Saturday proved to be the trickiest of the three days with winds falling light in the afternoon, requiring much patience and perseverance on the part of skippers and crews. This led to the abandonment of the third race of the day for the cruiser classes but the Melges made up ground on Sunday to complete their eleven races. Sailors were greeted by a very lumpy sea Sunday morning despite there being only a light southeasterly breeze. This also presented problems for dinghies launching off the beach.

Amongst the visiting boats was Lancelot, a Britannia Events First 40.7 chartered by Brewin Dolphin on behalf of the Toe-in-the-Water injured servicemen’s charity. The military proved to be a constant threat to the local flyers despite the fact that many of its crew had no previous experience of sailing, let alone racing.

The Melges Championships last came to Jersey in 2005 and it was great to see them return for this year’s Regatta. Guernsey’s Jamie Hamilton’s Mad Cap made very strong running at first, winning five out of seven races and started to look unbeatable as the third day dawned. Indeed, despite stiff opposition from fellow Guernseyman Jan Collins’ White Rabbit and Jersey’s Allen Brown and partners’ The Dog’s ........! on Sunday Mad Cap went on to take the Championship with a five point lead from White Rabbit with The Dog’s ........! in third place just two points behind.

The Class 1 IRC boats proved to be no less competitive throughout their seven races. After two races, Rhys Perkins’ Archambault 35 won the opening day, one point clear of Neil Maclachlan and Alex Ohlsson’s J109 Jai Ho with Lancelot, helmed by Rob Moy, just one point behind. Jai Ho went on to win the second day one point clear of David Jones’ First 34.7 Jackana whilst the two reversed roles on Sunday. Lancelot was a very close third throughout. Jai Ho took the overall honours just one point clear of Lancelot with Abracadabra third.

David Myatt sailed a fairly lonely but ultimately rewarding Regatta in his exquisite IOD, Marguerite, although Mike Seguss and Andrew Jelley’s First 31.7 Jack Rabbit raced on Saturday to take the top spot. Marguerite, having sailed every race was the undisputed overall winner.

Chris Fritot’s Hunter Sonata Rondo of Cowes sailed to a convincing victory in the Jersey Handicap cruiser class with four firsts, beating Guernsey’s John Squires’ Ohlsson 29 Haven Gem by seven points whilst the French boat and dedicated attendee, Patrick Carcaillet and Jacques Morvan’s Moustique 2, clinched third place overall. Kevin Holden’s UFO27, Matchless, although matching Moustique on points was relegated to fourth on countback.

The light conditions evidently suited Dave Williams’ Conrad 760, Tom Bombadil, that dominated the Quarter Ton Class, winning six of the seven races. Julian Barber’s Farr 727, Super Q, picked up the stray on Sunday with the champion relegated to second place. After valiant efforts, Peter Williams and Peter Crabb’s Starflash, Jackflash, beat Jeff Speller’s Farr 727, 2Farr, to take second overall in this very competitive class.

This year saw the first inclusion of a class specifically for Formula 18 sport catamarans. Four Hobie Tigers and a Wildcat opened proceedings on Friday evening in St Aubin’s Bay for the dinghy, dayboat and small catamaran classes. The class was dominated by Darren Stower and Benn Garnham sailing the Tiger, Angry Pirate, winning all three days though seriously challenged by David Carter and Simon Le Huray’s Tiger, Toby Mild Rat, on Sunday. With Angry Pirate a clear winner, second place overall was decided on countback, Toby Mild Rat and Andy Hart’s Tiger Breaching 69 finishing the Regatta on 17 points each. A win in one race on Saturday decided in Toby Mild Rat’s favour.

Ten Hobie 16s raced in the very colourful ‘small’ sport catamaran class with Aaron Le Cornu’s Sidewinder taking Friday’s race. Gordon Burgis’ Pure Energy won on Saturday whilst Adrian Jesson’s Hobie 37 claimed Sunday, the two boats having swapped first and second places. After seven races, just one point separated overall winner Hobie 37 from Pure Energy with Yvonne Winspear’s Sea Monkey lying third.

Belying their outwardly calm appearance, honours in the dayboat class were in serious contention throughout. With great skill and determination, Ben Jones’ Cornish Coble, Baloo, sailed to overall victory, winning four races finishing just one point clear of Mike Harrison’s La Rocque OD, Jigsaw. Laurence Curtis’ vintage boat, Moana, was a close third having achieved a win on Friday.

The junior sport catamaran class, comprising three new RCIYC Hobie Dragoons, raced on Sunday with Louis Sangan notching up three clear wins. Jonty Gales achieved three second places and Lucy Chapman three thirds.

Guernsey’s David Aslett, sailing the Laser Le Ferraeux, won a convincing victory in the ‘fast’ open dinghy fleet, taking top honours on all three days. Mark Lamy and daughter put in the best performance for Jersey to come a consistent second each day. Guernsey’s Keith Le Page, sailing the Laser 50 Sense, clinched third place overall.

The ‘slow’ dinghy class showed greater variety with David Raimbault’s Optimist, Slipstream, winning the first day, William Holden’s Optimist, Whatever!, the second and George Moisan’s Optimist, Topsy Turvy, the third. It was no surprise, then to see first overall decided on countback, giving victory to Harold Moisan, sailing the Optimist Ooh La La, over Slipstream. Whatever! was third.

Early Sunday evening, with racing over (some eighty races, all told) and boats tidied away, competitors made their way to St Helier YC for the closing buffet and prize-giving. Organisers and sailors alike were pleased to welcome His Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor of Jersey, Lt-General Andrew Ridgway, to his fifth Regatta presentation. Following a welcoming speech by Commodore David Langlois, during which he thanked Brewin Dolphin, Jersey Marinas and Jersey Tourism for their much valued and continued support, Mr Stuart Sangan, Brewin Dolphin’s Head of Office, joined His Excellency to present the many trophies and place prizes. In closing proceedings, Mr Sangan drew resounding applause when he announced that Brewin Dolphin will be sponsoring the Jersey Regatta in 2011.

Principal results

Class 0 – International Melges 24
Bill Coom Cup – Mad Cap – Jamie Hamilton
1st Elfin Cup – Mad Cap – Jamie Hamilton
RCIYC Trophy – White Rabbit – Jan Collins
Overall winner and winner of the UK National Championship – Mad Cap - Jamie Hamilton

Class 1 – Cruiser/racer IRC
June Kingham Trophy – Abracadabra – Rhys Perkins
Ken Budden Trophy – Jai Ho – Alex Ohlsson
St HYC Commodore’s Cup – Jackana – David Jones
Overall winner – Jai Ho – Alex Ohlsson & Neil Maclachlan

Class 2 – Cruiser/racer IRC
Cruising Trophy – Marguerite – David Myatt
Nautilus Trophy – Jack Rabbit – Mike Seguss/Andrew Jelley
Tregear Cup – Marguerite – David Myatt
Overall winner- Marguerite – David Myatt

Class Q - Quarter Ton
Quarter Ton Salver 1 – Tom Bombadil – David Williams
Quarter Ton Salver 2 – Tom Bombadil – David Williams
Quarter Ton Salver 3 – Tom Bombadil – David Williams
Overall winner – Tom Bombadil – David Williams

Class 3 – Cruiser/racer Jersey Handicap
Tom Lee Memorial Trophy – Rondo – Chris Fritot
Mavourneen Trophy – Matchless – Kevin Holden
Bolitho Urn – Rondo – Chris Fritot
Overall winner – Rondo – Chris Fritot

Class 4 – Dayboat
Wings Trophy – Moana – Laurence Curtis
RNVR Trophy – Baloo – Ben Jones
2nd Elfin Cup – Baloo – Ben Jones
Overall winner – Baloo – Ben Jones

Class 5 – Sport Catamaran
Ratner Trophy – Sidewinder – Aaron Le Cornu
Gaiety Bowl – Pure Energy – Gordon Burgis
Caprice Salver – Hobie 37 – Adrian Jesson
Overall winner – Hobie 37 – Adrian Jesson

Class 6 – Sport Catamaran
RCIYC Day 2 Shield – 1078 – Louis Sangan
Overall winner – 1078 – Louis Sangan

Class 7 – Open Dinghy
Pop Newman Trophy – Le Ferraeux – David Aslett
Howard Trophy – Le Ferraeux – David Aslett
Canadian Club Trophy – Le Ferraeux - David Aslett 
Overall winner – Le Ferraeux – David Aslett

Class 8 – Open Dinghy
RCIYC Prize – Slipstream – David Raimbault
Nick Orchard Trophy – Whatever! – William Holden
Enterprise Trophy – Topsy Turvy – George Moisan
Overall winner – Oh La La! – Harold Moisan

Class 9 – F18 Sport Catamaran
Fotosound Cup – Angry Pirate – Darren Stower
Fairy Cup – Angry Pirate – Darren Stower
Lazard Trophy – Angry Pirate – Darren Stower
Overall winner – Angry Pirate – Darren Stower

The overall winners were each presented with a Brewin Dolphin Best-in-Class prize. The overall winner of the Quarter Ton class also received the Island ARK Trophy.

Detailed results are available in the RCIYC, St Helier YC and St Catherine’s SC and on the Jersey Regatta website, www.jerseyregatta.com