Please select your home edition
Edition
RYA Membership

Magic Marine Cowes Dinghy Week at Gurnard Sailing Club

by Mike Martin 12 Aug 2011 04:27 BST 31 July - 5 August 2011

Gurnard Sailing Club welcomed sailors from all over the Island along with some visiting “overners” to Magic Marine Cowes Dinghy Week, traditionally hosted as the build up to Cowes Week. More than 130 boats took part in the seven races, including Formula 18 catamarans and the full range of performance RS dinghies as well as the more traditional Laser classes.

Sunday racing began promisingly with large courses set across to the mainland shore. Unfortunately, falling winds meant that all classes had to be shortened. The RS 400 class, hotly contested by 17 crews, was won by Paul Bowen, laying down a marker for the week. Meanwhile in the Medium class, Dare Barry in his National 12 was able to take advantage of TimWilkins’ course error. Jim McMillan had a good day in his Laser, posting a win ahead of Ben Gibson.

Monday saw much lighter winds, when Race Officer Mark Harrison was pleased to be able to set courses which allowed all classes to complete at least one race. On Tuesday, however, there was no choice but to abandon racing for all classes.

On Wednesday, the racing was really heating up. Although Bowen just managed to get the better of Graham Deegan in the first of the RS400s’ two races, Brett Aarons posted a win in the second. In the Shadow fleet, Robin Leather was not getting it all his own way, with Carl Blenkinsop posting his first win of the week. Jane Peckham continued to dominate in the Radial class. The Fast Handicap class saw a win for Andy Paterson’s 29er in the second of the two races.

Thursday’s racing saw wild conditions. During the morning racing, some fleets experienced gusts of 30 knots, meaning that the safety crews were kept very busy. There were two dismastings in the cats and a number of retirements in all classes. The heavier winds saw Steve Cole’s RS800 come to the fore in the Fast fleet and Mark Robinson‘s Contender post a convincing win in the Medium fleet. In the Slow class, Ed Rowlandson was pleased to get a win in the morning race while Simon Bean (Miracle) managed a convincing win in the afternoon.

Friday saw perfect sailing conditions, with all classes enjoying racing in Thorness Bay. Already confirmed as the winner of the RS400 class, Bowen chose to leave his boat on the beach for the final race of the series. The remaining helms jostled for the best start, with five on course side when the gun went off. Only two helms answered the recall meaning disappointment for Luke Bradley, James Downer and Ben Willows when they led the fleet home.

There was a particularly close finish in the Medium class with Tim Wilkins pipping the Blaze of Miles Mence by just one second on handicap, to take the overall first prize. In the Radials, Libby Deegan just beat Georgia Caws by a single point when the sums were done to take second overall to Jane Peckham’s first place. Bradley McLaughlin’s win was enough to give him first overall from local boy Harry Blowers in the Laser 4.7s. Robin Leather had done enough to win the Shadows as had Keith Hayden in the Fast Handicap fleet.

At the evening prize-giving, Vice Commodore Mark Harrison thanked all the sponsors, and the numerous volunteer helpers who had contributed to another successful week. Ian Gilmour of Magic Marine, who presented the prizes to the overall winners, congratulated all involved and confirmed their commitment to a five year sponsorship package for this popular event.

Overall Results:

Fast Cats
1 Doug Wright/Joe Hawkins
2 Chris Murphy/Jo Pollon
3 Adam and Sarah Younger

Shadow Cats
1 Robin Leather
2 Carl Blenkinsop
3 Lawrie Gustar

Fast Handicap
1 Keith Hayden (RS700)
2 Andy and Pat Paterson (29er)
3 Martin Scott (RS700)

RS400
1 Paul Bowen/Shaun Kellett
2 Graham Deegan/Judith French
3 Brett Aarons/Robbie Southwell

Medium Handicap
1 Tim Wilkins/Heather Martin (RS500)
2 Chris Gillies (RS200)
3 Dare Barry/Tom Griffiths (National 12)

Laser
1 Ben Gibson
2 Jim McMillan
3 Martin Bean

Laser Radial
1 Jane Peckham
2 Libby Deegan
3 Georgia Caws

Laser 4.7
1 Brad McLaughlin
2 Harry Blowers
3 Emma Baker

Slow Handicap
1 Harry Carter (Pico)
2 Simon and Alice Bean (Miracle)
3 Martin and Charlotte Conder (Feva)

Yachts & Yachting Trophy for best overall performance: Jane Peckham
Endeavour Trophy: James Doig and Matt Green
John Davies Memorial Trophy: Georgia Caws

Full results on the Gurnard Sailing Club website.

Related Articles

IW Youth and Junior Series at Gurnard
43 competitors took part in the first leg On Saturday 7th September Gurnard Sailing Club hosted the first leg of the 2024 IW Youth and Junior Championship Series. 43 competitors took part across ILCA 6, ILCA 4, RS Feva, RS Tera Pro, RS Tera Sport and RS Tera Regatta fleets. Posted on 8 Sep
IW Youth and Junior Series at Gurnard
Close competition between 48 sailors from the Isle of Wight this year The finale of the IW Youth and Junior Championship Series took place at Gurnard Sailing Club on Saturday. Preceding series events at Brading Haven YC, Yarmouth SC , Royal Solent YC and Royal Victoria YC had seen close competition. Posted on 23 Oct 2023
Gurnard Sailing Club Junior Championship
Five short races held in a shifty afternoon offshore breeze Gurnard Sailing Club hosted its annual Junior Championship on the 8th July. The morning was spent waiting for the wind which eventually filled in mid afternoon but from a rather tricky southerly direction. Posted on 13 Jul 2023
IW Youth & Junior Dinghy Championship Round 2
35 entries across the ILCA and Tera fleets at Gurnard SC On Saturday 17th September, Gurnard Sailing Club hosted the second leg of the IW Youth and Junior Dinghy Championship. Three races were held through the afternoon over high tide in Gurnard Bay. Posted on 22 Sep 2022
Uffa Fox 50 Celebration preview
Cowes organisations unite to commemorate sailor and designer this August A total of twelve organisations in Cowes and East Cowes have come together to plan Uffa Fox 50 - a celebration of Uffa Fox's life and to mark the 50th anniversary of his death. Posted on 27 Feb 2022
Isle of Wight Youth and Juniors at Gurnard
Second leg of the Championship Series Gurnard Sailing Club hosted the second leg of the Isle of Wight Youth and Junior Championship Series on Saturday 11th. The event, which is designed to encourage inter-club racing for island sailors aged under 21, attracted 30 Tera and 8 ILCA Sailors. Posted on 13 Sep 2021
Inaugural Isle of Wight Dinghy Championships
60 boats across five fleets at Gurnard Sailing Club Gurnard Sailing Club was delighted to welcome 60 boats across five fleets to the inaugural Isle of Wight Dinghy Championships last weekend. Posted on 29 Jul 2021
Isle of Wight RS Tera Championship
Sixteen junior sailors compete at Gurnard Sixteen junior sailors from across the Island competed in the Isle of Wight Tera Championship on Saturday at Gurnard SC. Winds were blowing at over 30 knots in the central Solent but an offshore direction made Gurnard Bay sheltered enough for racing. Posted on 8 Dec 2020
Isle of Wight Tera Championship
Strong winds for the 18 young sailors 18 young Tera sailors from across the Isle of Wight gathered at Gurnard Sailing Club on Sunday 1st December for the inaugural Isle of Wight Tera Championship. Posted on 3 Dec 2019
Gurnard Junior Regatta
Limbo competition and much more - not just racing! Over the weekend of the 20th and 21st July 30 youngsters between the ages of eight and sixteen took part in Gurnard Sailing Club's Junior Regatta racing in either the Pico or Tera classes. Posted on 26 Jul 2019