Medway Dinghy Regatta 2014
by Roy Winnett 14 Jul 2014 20:54 BST
12-13 July 2014
Fast fleet start at the Medway Dinghy Regatta 2014 © Roy Winnet
The Medway & Swale Boating Association's Medway Dinghy Regatta was held over the weekend 12th & 13th July with Wilsonian Sailing Club organising and hosting the event. Locally based MTS Cleaning Services was the main sponsor, supplying tee shirts to all the competitors and helpers while Hyde Sails and Harken provided some goodies, distributed by a tally number draw. Despite light winds being forecast over the weekend there was an entry of 62 boats including 16 juniors. There were starts for fast, medium, slow handicap, juniors, 2000 and Wayfarer.
On Saturday morning competitors were subjected to overcast skies and a fickle light south-westerly. Short courses were set with a downwind leg against the tide and a beat home on the favourable tide, most managed to finish within the time limit. The wind had died away for the afternoon race and after an hour postponement the decision was made to abandon race 2, so all sailed races were to count. A light breeze Sunday morning was sufficient to set longer courses but this had eased away after lunch and courses had to be shorten downriver.
Chris Ashby/Steve Offer (Alto) dominated the fast handicap event, finished 10 minutes ahead of second placed Jonathan Carter (Vortex) in the first race, won the contest with Tim Kift/Jo Wicken in the other Alto on Sunday morning and were second to Carter in the afternoon to lift the Invicta Shield. Carter was runner-up with Kift/Wicken taking third prize. The Vortex of Alex Benfield and Nick Lett finished outside the prizes.
Similarly Steven/Linda Worf (Kestrel) won the first two races in the Medium handicap and although a disappointing 5th in the last race was still sufficient for victory. While the Blazes of Matt Love and John Tinnams with mixed fortunes over the three races ended with second and third prizes respectively.
There was a close contest in the slow handicap event between David/Jackie Hudson (Miracle), David/Sandra Wilson (Graduate), Amy Adams (Streaker) and Peter/Alex/Nick Wolstenholme (Mirror). The Wilsons won the first race with ease, Adams second and the Hudsons third. The Wolstenholmes missed the first race but won both races on Sunday but finished fourth overall. The Hudsons scored a couple of seconds on Sunday to ensure victory. With a 1st, 3rd & 4th to count the Wilsons picked up second prize and Adams third.
The locally based juniors picked up the prizes in the junior fleet. Lucy Hockey (Laser) and Richard Tutt (Laser radial) ended with 8 points apiece, the tie broken in Hockey's favour with two seconds to count. While Rebecca Tutt claimed third prize. The locally based juniors did not have it all their own way as Matthew Wolstenholme from Chipstead SC suffered a DNF in the first race so his couple of wins on Sunday still left him outside the prizes in fourth. Unfortunately the six boat contingent from Erith YC found the conditions difficult but James Haddock/William Wilding (RS Feva) had a finish in all races and Angus Gunn/Ben Ramson (RS Feva) finished both races on Sunday for respectable 6th & 8th places.
There was the usual clash between the Wayfarers from Medway YC and Wilsonian SC. Richard Stone/Catherine Gore won the first round but John Goudie/Sam Pygall won the second with Stone/Gore pushed into fourth place by Andrew Pearson/Stan Benwell and Roger/Jon Gibbs. The Gibbs won the last race to lift them to third overall while a third gave Goudie/Pygall victory and Stone/Gore had to settle for second prize.
Visitor Simon Connay/James Hardy and Colin/Lauren Treadwell shared the points after two races with Paul Rodgers/Richard Wilding in contention. But the Treadwells in view of the very light wind decided to stay ashore for the last race. Roy Winnett/Geoff Lambert and Lesley/Natalie O'Rourke sailed clear of the fleet in the final race for first and second places respectively. A third place for Conway/Hardy secured victory while Winnett/Lambert were raised to second with the Treadwells holding onto third.
The Bill Stewart Memorial Cup was awarded to Tom Sims who over many years had been the Race Officer for the Regatta but was now unable to attend. Wilsonian Sailing Club Commodore, Christine Godber presented the prizes.
Overall results/prizes
Bill Stewart Memorial Cup: Tom Sims
Fast handicap (Invicta Shield):
1st Alto 117 Chris Ashby/Steve Offer 4pts (Wilsonian SC)
2nd Vortex 1153 Jonathan Carter 7pts (Rickmansworth SC)
3rd Alto 119 Tim Kift/Jo Wicken 10pts (Wilsonian SC)
Medium handicap (Quintet Trophy):
1st Kestrel 1545 Steven/Lin Worf 5pts (Calshot SC)
2nd Blaze 531 Matt Love 11pts (Wilsonian SC)
3rd Blaze 749 John Tinnams 12pts (Wilsonian SC)
Slow handicap:
1st Miracle 3795 David/Jackie Hudson 5pts (Wilsonian SC)
2nd Graduate 3010 David/Sandra Wilson 6pts (Broadwater SC)
3rd Streaker 1675 Amy Adams 8pts (Wilsonian SC)
Juniors:
1st Laser 138525 Lucy Hockey 8pts (Wilsonian SC)
2nd Laser Radial 172811 Richard Tutt 8pts
3rd Laser Radial 136541 Rebecca Tutt 14pts (Wilsonian SC)
2000 (Old Wilsonian Trophy):
1st 2229 Simon Connay/James Hardy 6pts (DSWC)
2nd 21792 Roy Winnett/Geoff Lambert 11pts (Wilsonian SC)
3rd 22258 Colin Treadwell/Lauren Campbell 12pts (Wilsonian SC)
Wayfarer (Matkin Trophy):
1st 10680 John Goudie/Sam Pygall 6pts (Wilsonian SC)
2nd 10609 Richard Stone/Catherine Gore 4pts (Medway YC)
3rd 1759 Roger/Jon Gibbs 10pts (Medway YC)