Lionel Wilkinson Memorial at Snettisham Beach Sailing Club

Racing during the Lionel Wilkinson Memorial Regatta © Tim Coleman

Racing during the Lionel Wilkinson Memorial Regatta © Tim Coleman

Snettisham Beach held their annual Lionel Wilkinson Memorial Regatta for monohulls and combined with it was their Enterprise open meeting. The four races were split over the two day event with back to back racing. Conditions varied greatly with periods of very light almost non existent winds with black clouds gradually moving in bringing moderate squalls and rain on the Saturday. Sunday brought brighter weather with lots of sunshine but the winds were once again shifty and variable in strength.

The decision was made that all the boats would start together with the Enterprises competing in both the Lionel Wilkinson Regatta and their own Open Meeting and this simplified the race officers’ job which was hard enough with the variable conditions. Choosing a course with such variable winds proved to be a tough job and two races started with such sudden wind shifts so close to the start giving significant advantages to those at the right end of the line to take advantage.

The triangular courses created real challenges for the asymmetric rigs who sometimes had difficulties carrying their gennickers on the close reach and found some of the very broad reaches too broad for a direct course. This gave advantage to the Enterprises and the single sail boats but when the wind shifted the advantage would switch and the tables turned. Variations in wind strength had a similar effect giving the Enterprises an advantage as the wind dropped but when it picked up the faster planning hulls of the Asymetrics had the upper hand.

Thus the varying conditions meant that no one class of boat had significant advantage and the shifty conditions created significant advantages for those who could read the conditions. This is born out in the results with the top helmsman being consistently in the top section of the fleet.

First place went to James case of Wells SC who sailed very well, a worthy winner of the Lionel Wilkinson trophy with two 1sts and a 2nd to count and a 3rd for his discard. Second place went to Jasper and Laura Barnham of SBSC who were consistent with three 2nds and a 4th.

Winner of the Enterprise open was Graham Kirkup of Hunts sailing club who finished 7th overall in the Handicap but was the first Enterprise in 3 of the 4 races. Tim and Jo Coleman of SBSC were second placed with the three 2nds narrowly beating Richard and Maureen Denny who had a 1st and three 3rds.

Overall Results: