Kimpton Yacht Club Inaugural Regatta
by Tom Montgomery 26 Jun 2013 11:21 BST
15 June 2013
The Kimpton Yacht Club formed by Andy Morton under a year ago hosted its first regatta at Kimpton Mill to the East of the village by kind invitation of Mary and Alp Arikoglu, on the third Saturday of June in aid of the RNLI.
The keen throng of competitors were to race RC Lasers generously lent by John & Katie Greenland, Tim Archer, Andrew Collins and Edward Wilton, and a course was set whilst sheets of rain swept through the valley dampening down what had been perfect wind and sun only a few hours earlier.
A windward leeward course was set by the race officer Jane Montgomery, kindly assisted by David Reed and Buster, with the start between the island and main land. What should have been a swift beat around the windward mark and run back through the finish line avoiding various obstacles became a raffle with the wind performing forty-five degree shifts, fading in and out. Ex sub-mariner Clive Mitchell had an early lead which he held as he rounded the windward mark catching a strong gust down to the finish. On his tail was Tim Parfitt ably assisted by his wife Anita, after a classic 'banging the corner' beat sailing round the outside of the other competitors achieving third place.
With the rain now subsided and the sun breaking through, the sailing area turned to a mill pond, with only the odd fickle gust coming through; however the ambitious race team went ahead with race number two. Pushing the envelope on the start, Team Beale were over the line, but with some slick manoeuvring didn't lose too many places. The wind was all over the place and so were the boats, but through sheer determination the entire fleet made it round the course and through the finish with.
The final and deciding race was sailed with the top sailors of flights one and two racing for the yet to be bought Kimpton Yacht Club Cup. With a slightly more steady wind, a course was set round the island and back to the marquee for tea and cakes kindly supplied by Simmons Baker's and the competitors. A clean start was had by all sailors, and they headed west. Boat number one helmed by Helen Mitchell strayed to the islands shoreline running aground, but thankfully tacked off the bank with a lucky gust of wind. Michael took the sensible route tacking far out and leaving the island wide, whilst other racers tangled themselves in the branches of the islands willow tree. Amy Mitchell found some fresh breeze to the South West of the Island and powered through the leeward side of the course.
With the boats now ashore, and Molly the Labrador offshore, it was time for the results after a very successful regatta considering the tough conditions. In 3rd Amy Mitchell, 2nd Peter Baker and 1st Michael Wrottesley, and the seamanship award to Andrew and Dom Beale. Many thanks to all the competitors, and all the organisers, that made the event such fun, and raised a healthy sum for the RNLI.