Notts County Sailing Club Spring Regatta

Lucy Beale and Louise Clayton enjoying the novices race during the NCSC Regatta © David Eberlin

Toppers at the NCSC Regatta © David Eberlin

The Notts County Sailing Club Spring Regatta themed on Notts County by the sea was yet again a great success, with just under 70 entries sailing and nearly a third being juniors it was a popular event. Harken, Allen Brothers, Morton Boats, Gill, Sweet Success, Pinnell & Bax, H C Clarke, Noble Marine Insurance all helped with prizes many thanks to them.

The event started on May Bank holiday Friday night with setting up camp. Then after a cooked breakfast on Saturday it was time for the action. Whilst it was raining and light winds, it didn't stop the enthusiasm. The Commodore's Cup, a handicap fleet, with separate Junior start. The Juniors saw Louis Dobson win. Lunch and the Novice (where many crews had role reversal and helmed) and Junior fleets raced with Nicola Willars & Molly Desorgher winning.

Class racing saw RS400s and Lasers with equal numbers and of course a large menagerie (or handicap) fleet. We even saw some sun with the inevitable shower and then a rainbow.

Saturday night's entertainment included Face Painting, and Balloon sculptures for the youngsters, and a close up magician Roy Bond, along with a bring your own picnic and cakes courtesy of Sweet Success.

Stormy weather at the NCSC Regatta - photo © David Eberlin

Sunday was far more pleasant with sunshine, a brisk wind starting with team racing in the University of Nottingham Firefly's to blow away the cobwebs, you could see who had done it before!

Then on to the Commodore's Cup followed by lunch, novices & juniors and finally the Class Racing. The H C Clarke Tug of war resulted in beer prizes for adult winners, sweets for children, and last but not least the duck race (£270 raised for charity) and home made boat race, followed by Paulene's Fish & Chips and Ice cream.

The final day dawned sunny, but it soon deteriorated, luckily to drizzle rather than the potential thunderstorms, but the light winds were variable. Richard Mason won the Comodores Cup overall in a Fireball crewed by John Rowell, Louis Dobson the Juniors and Paul and Sharon Plested from Bala the slow fleet in an RS200. The final class race was abandoned as the lake became a millpond.

Prize giving at the NCSC Regatta - photo © David Eberlin

At prizegiving the organiser and Vice Commodore Ross Ryan thanked his wife Katheryn for her continual help and support and said:

"Over the past 3 days you might have enjoyed a BBQ whilst listening to the Bilberries,...and been both proud and astonished at the number and skill level of our club juniors of all ages. You most certainly would have enjoyed Pauline's great breakfast whilst being treated to the spectacle of 2 boat team racing. Good to see some strong club fleets in the class racing including the resurgence in the Flying Fifteen.

Perhaps you had your face painted or a balloon toy made for you prior to being mesmerized by a magician.

Bringing and sharing our food in a fuddle brought us together as participants in the regatta. Yesterday saw sunshine and moderate winds to delight all sailors. The girls showed the boys how to do a tug of war and we settled down to a fish and chip supper whilst being entertained by a 14 piece swing band and a few of us started to learned how to impress the ladies with our dancing skills.

So in summary in true English holiday style we haven't let the weather beat us and all had great family fun for the price of a theatre ticket.

It just remains to give out the array of prizes to our worthy winners thanks again to our sponsors Harken, Morton Boats, Allen Brothers, P&B, HB Clark, Sweet Success, Noble Marine and Morton Boats."

Prizewinners at NCSC Regatta - photo © David Eberlin

More photos at ncsc.org.uk/2014/05/25/spring-regatta-2014

Commodore's Cup Results:

Regatta Cup Results:

Juniors at the NCSC Regatta - photo © David Eberlin

Class Results: