Hurricane 5.9 SX TT at Thorpe Bay Yacht Club

Hurricane 5.9 SX TT at Thorpe Bay © David Maynard

Hurricane 5.9 SX TT at Thorpe Bay © David Maynard

The second TT for the Hurricane 5.9 SX took place at Thorpe Bay Yacht Club on the 17th and 18th of June. With good wind forecast for Saturday and 21 entries, the fleet was keen to get underway.

With Sunday's forecast looking light and changeable with thunderstorms in the vicinity, the decision was made to run 4 races in the favourable force 3-4 east northeast winds. The racing was tight from the off with locals Alex Farrell and Alex Warrington taking the first race followed by Paul and Robert Palmer in second and Julian Reichert and Jeremy Sandford rounding out a Thorpe Bay top 3.

With the additional race in the program and a long muddy walk to be avoided when the tide goes out, shorter 30 minute races and a quick turnaround was perfectly executed by the race team. Race two saw Julian and Jeremy take the win from reigning national champions Jack Tindale and Hugo Bull with Paul and Robert rounding out the top three.

Race three saw a touch more wind and Stones Jack and Hugo winning from club mates Trevor Bawden and Tom Wass with Alex and Alex in third. The last race was starting to see some tired bodies looking forward to an afternoon beer and a catch up with friends with Alex and Alex taking the win from Julian and Jeremy, then Trevor and Tom.

Sunday dawned with a light breeze and a drift out to the start in a light easterly breeze. It was Richie Hanmore and Matt Kimber this time getting to the front and holding off Jack and Hugo then Trevor and Tom to make it a Stone SC top three.

During race 5 the wind started to move southerly and after a quick course reset race 6 was underway in the building breeze. At this point the top three were on equal points after their discard and so the pressure was on for Alex/Alex, Julian/Jeremy and Jack/Hugo. However it was to be Trevor and Tom who won the last race making 5 different winners from 6 races, edging in front of Stokes Bays Adam Charlesworth and Rich Robinson.

The overall win went to Alex and Alex, who came third in the last race with Julian and Jeremy in 4th which was enough for 2nd overall. Jack and Hugo came 6th in the last race which gave them the last step on the podium.

Hurricane 5.9 SX TT at Thorpe Bay - photo © David Maynard

Congratulations to Alex and Alex for the win and all for such tight competitive racing. The whole fleet finished the last race within a matter of a minute or so proving how successful the racing is becoming. The fleet is heading north to Yorkshire for round three on the 15th and 16th of July at the Royal Yorkshire Yacht Club and then on to the Nationals in Harwich on the 18/19/20th of August.

Overall Results: