Feeble easterly airs hit Saturday’s programme and much of the racing was delayed or postponed. Happily, Sunday proved to be a different story with the wind still light but eminently sailable in a southwesterly breeze. These conditions persisted through the day but a rapid veer to the west, late in the morning, was accompanied by fog rolling into the Bay, but, fortunately, not dense enough to halt racing.
The sportsboat and cruiser/racer classes (IRC) started an hour late on the Saturday, while the Hobies were hit even harder.
With a steadier breeze, Day 2 was much better, although Allen Brown & partners’ Melges 24, The Dog’s had to retire after snagging a line in the first race.
However, it was the Melges, sailing with the Class 1 boats, that won both races in the Combined Class on Day 1, with David Myatt’s elegant eight-metre, Erica, winning Class 1 from Darren Stower’s Projection 762, Crumpet. On Day 2, Erica won both races in both the Combined Class and Class 1 to take the overall honours.
Julian Barber’s Farr 727, Super Q’ and Jeff Speller’s Farr 727, 2Farr, were closely matched throughout, constantly racing neck and neck – gripping stuff. Super Q carried the honours on Day 1, winning both races, and again on Day 2, although being beaten by 2Farr by just one second in the first race.
Day 2 featured F18s on the scene, racing over windward-leeward courses. Andy Hart and Michael Kinross’ Hobie Wildcat 517 took the first two races to win overall while Adrian Jesson and Paul Martin’s Hobie Wildcat 565 won the final race by one second after a storming finish.
Ben Jones and his Cornish Coble, Baloo, won both dayboat races on Sunday, just ahead of Malcolm Annan’s Oysterman, Jamesina.
The Open Sport Catamaran Class only had five of a fleet of 15 come to the line on Saturday, with Malin Nilsson and Sandrine Swetenham sailing their Hobie 16, Matou, to victory in the first two races. Gordon Burgis and Kenny Snell, sailing their 16, Pure Energy, were back on form for the third with a very clear win over second-placed Gemma Newman and John Vautier on their 16, ZigZag. With all 15 boats on the line on Sunday, Pure Energy took the first race but it was Grant Neale and Karen Larose on their 16, i-Gatto, who won races two and three to take the day. The overall winner, as in 2017, was the Burgis/Snell duo.
Top spot in the junior sport catamaran class went to club cadet Finlay Arenz, sailing the Hobie Dragoon, 1078, with Archie De Carteret on Saturday and Nick Holt on Sunday. Hobie1078 won all but the first race on Saturday, that going to Else Blakeley and Kyla McDonagh on Dragoon 1034. Will Dengate and Alex Cooper were third on Dragoon 1077.
An 18-strong dinghy fleet, including four from Guernsey, sailed two races on Saturday. Guernsey’s Henrik Asplund, sailing the RS200 Surprise Surprise and David Aslett’s 505, Shock, tied for first in the opener, with Martin Speller’s Laser Standard, Liquid Impulse, first in the second. Sunday was Tom Pollard’s day, sailing his Laser Why Knot?, to two firsts and a second. It was, however, Surprise Surprise that took the overall title ahead of Why Knot? Liquid Impulse was third overall just one point behind.
The ‘slow’ dinghy fleet had Clemmie Carnegie’s Optimist, Boom!, taking the honours on Saturday, two seconds ahead of Jack Horton’s Optimist, Little Dipper. Ollie Cadin was third on his Optimist, Blue Fin. All three races were completed on Sunday with Boom! taking the first with Blue Fin second and Little Dipper third. Little Dipper then went on to win the final two races, with Blue Fin and Boom each gaining a second and third place. Little Dipper squeezed in to be overall champion, having beaten Boom! on countback.
Commodore Ian Flambard invited Natalie Duffy of the Salty Dog Bar & Bistro to present the prizes on Sunday evening.
Saturday
Class 0+1: The Dog’s ……..!, Allen Brown
Class 1: Erica, David Myatt
Class 2: Super Q, Julian Barber
Class 6: Pure Energy, Gordon Burgis & Ken Snell
Class 7: Dragoon, Finlay Arenz & Archie de Carteret
Class 8: Fast Dinghy, Liquid Impulse, Martin Speller
Class 9: Slow Dinghty, Boom!, Clemmie Carnegie
Sunday
Class 1: Erica, David Myatt
Class 2: Super Q, Julian Barber
Class 4: Baloo, Ben Jones
Class 5: Hobie 517, Andy Hart & Michael Kinross
Class 6: Pure Energy, Gordon Burgis & Ken Snell
Class 7: Dragoon, Finlay Arenz
Class 8: Fast Dinghy, Why Knot, Tom Pollard
Class 9: Slow Dinghty, Boom!, Clemmie Carnegie
Overall Trophy Winners
Class 1: Erica, David Myatt
Class 2: Super Q, Julian Barber
Class 4: Baloo, Ben Jones
Class 5: Hobie 517, Andy Hart & Michael Kinross
Class 6: Pure Energy, Gordon Burgis & Ken Snell
Class 7: Dragoon, Finlay Arenz
Class 8: Fast Dinghy, Surprise Surprise, Henryk Asplund (Guernsey)
Class 9: Slow Dinghty, Boom!, Clemmie Carnegie
