Jersey Electricity Gorey Regatta 2024
by Philip Jeune 18 Jul 12:10 BST
13-14 July 2024
It may have been something to do with the weather gods, or possibly even the presence of two Buddhist monks on the quayside the day before, but for whatever reason the recent Jersey Electricity Gorey Regatta was blessed with excellent sailing conditions and plenty of sunshine.
Both days began with flat calm seas and limp flags but by the time regatta director Bill Harris and his starting team got into action a gentle breeze started to fill in, enabling nearly all the scheduled handicap races to go ahead in what was the 167th running of this historic event.
The cruiser skippers would have liked a stronger breeze for their early-morning Saturday race around from St Helier but once in the beautiful setting of the Royal Bay of Grouville, on Jersey's east coast, all the classes enjoyed great sailing in the challenging conditions.
Light airs provide a great test of tactical sailing skills and skippers of all ages rose to meet the challenge against a backdrop of sombre black rainclouds that thankfully avoided the racing arena. Tidal conditions become an even more important factor in light airs and this was no more evident than in the perseverance shown by George Edwards (9) and Jack Hewgill (10) as they battled their tiny Optimists against the tide around the large course.
The main honours in the cruiser and multihull races were shared by Filipene (Nick Bailhache's Moody 31) and Sunbeam (Justin Horton's Kelsall Suncat 30), who each took home three trophies, and Super Q (Julian Barber's Farr 727) and The Dog's (Allen Brown's Melges 24), who won two apiece.
In the dayboats - the 'red sails' class - Ben Jones' Baloo won the series of three races on Saturday while Will Carnegie's Soda took the honours in the two races on Sunday, in one recording the identical finishing time as his 84-year-old father, Peter, in Pod.
In the dinghy classes Laser sailor Kai Surcouf won three trophies while single awards went to Henry Edwards (Feva XL), Charlie Hewgill (Optimist), Marc Haslam (Laser), Paula Boyle (RS Aero 7), Pete Raimbault (Laser) and Ollie Haslam (Laser 4.7).
Sponsors Jersey Electricity were represented at the prize-giving dinner at the Dolphin Hotel by head of customer experience Kate Gosson, who said that the company was proud to sponsor the regatta and be a part of its long heritage. Staff members from JE were able to go out on a RIB, kindly provided by Gorey boat-owner Tony Able, to see the racing action at close quarters.
Gorey Regatta Association captain Justin Horton thanked JE for their continued sponsorship and also paid tribute to the work of his committee, the race starters and timekeepers, the beach crew and the safety RIB crews.
He concluded the formalities by announcing that 14-year-old Ollie Haslam had been awarded the Morning Cloud Trophy - a special award given at the discretion of the GRA captain - for the sportsmanship he had shown during the event.
CRUISERS/MULTIHULLS:
Filipene (Nick Bailhache) Betty Bruce Challenge Cup, 150th Regatta Trophy & C Austin Potter Cup
Sunbeam (Justin Horton) Fairey Cup, Horton Trophy & Yangtze Cup
Super Q (Julian Barber) De Faye Memorial Trophy & Commodore's Cup
The Dog's (Allen Brown) Glendewar Challenge Cup & Stevens Centenary Challenge Cup
DAYBOATS:
Baloo (Ben Jones) Orviss Challenge Cup
Soda (Will Carnegie) Frank Jeune Trophy
DINGHIES:
Henry Edwards (Feva XL) Fifth Gorey Cup
Kai Surcouf (Laser) Assinder Cup, Norman Challenge Cup & Gorey Cup
Charlie Hewgill (Optimist) Ecrehos Trophy
Marc Haslam (Laser) Fourth Gorey Cup
Paula Boyle (RS Aero 7) Marmotier Trophy
Pete Raimbault (Laser) Perchard Memorial Cup
Ollie Haslam (Laser 4.7) Rosel Bowl
MORNING CLOUD TROPHY:
Ollie Haslam (Laser 4.7)