George Prince Commemorative Trophy at Burnham Sailing Club
by Sally Harbott 17 Oct 2021 19:51 BST
17 October 2021
Start of the George Prince Commemorative Trophy at Burnham SC © Richard Highfield
Race 3 of the Autumn Series from the Burnham Sailing Club saw the fleet race for the new George Prince Commemorative Trophy donated by his family at a celebration of his life.
eorge had sailed with many well known Burnham helms, including Harry Croker on Cheetah, still doing foredeck into his 70s, most recently on Mantra before his knees forced him to give up sailing in 2012.
10 boats started, heading down river with asymmetric spinnakers flown by some, heading towards Greenward. Exile, Paul Trueman's X37, got the best start, sailing the series on his non spinnaker handicap. On the gun, Jackal were next to cross the line, with Slipstream, the Corby 25 owned by Neil Fulcher following closely, their assy kite filled well. Mantra and Martinique also set kites, but Mantra took a while to get hers set and pulling, allowing the Dehler 34 Martinique, owned by Mark Lyons, get away from them.
Exile rounded Greenward first and headed up to Jubilee for the first time. Jackal, Ruah and Martinique were all in close pursuit. The fleet then went to Redward before returning to Jubilee turning at Branklet to start a long foul tide fetchy leg to 13 and home. Slipstream and Mantra enjoyed close racing both times in and out of the Roach. On rounding Jubilee the second time, Mantra managed get ahead of them on the run to Branklet and stay ahead until the finish, saving their time on handicap. On the leg up river, Exile was on the South Shore, whilst Jackal, Jeannie, Mantra and Eclipse came up on the North Shore in the southerly breeze. Slipstream hugged the South shore, as did Trajgh, Dan Tribe.
Exile retained the on the water lead and took line honours, with Jackal, Digger Harden, Richard Oram and Mike Schneidau, helmed by Flynn Davis finishing under kite next, with Ruah, Nick Plank next on the water. John Saunders in his Elan 31 Jeannie was next to finish racing closely with Martinique. Phillip Harbott in Mantra crossed the line next, under white sail, with Slipstream, Eclipse and Traigh following.
On corrected time, Jackal took the win, with Exile second. At prize-giving, the crew were presented with the trophy, a whisky quaich and a bottle of malt to go with it!