Heron Nationals at West Wick Yacht Club
by William Hadley 2 Sep 2002 09:51 BST
The Heron Dinghy National Championship sailing series was run on Saturday 10th August from West Wick Y.C. (Fambridge) and sailed in the River Crouch in a series of three races.
Twenty two boats attended from around the country with boats joining the local ones from Eyott SC (Sth Woodham Ferrers) and Up River YC (Hullbridge) from Kent, Surrey, Bedford and the Birmingham area. The day started with torrential rain at the time of launching the boats, but as the day wore on the weather improved continually. The last race being run in brilliant sunshine making some competitors glad to reach the shade of trees at the bank.
The sailing was very tight and the mass of boats at each start jockeying for position was a sight to see. The wind was a light Northerly for the first race, held in the morning, but shifted to an Easterly sea breeze for the second and third races after lunch. Positions in all races were being lost and gained by all except the eventual winner Paul Pelling from URYC who won every race, with Andrew Dale with Amanda Shillitoe from Eyott SC in second place. The Team Prize was won by URYC.
Many spectators took advantage of being able to view the racing from a floating grandstand on one of West Wick's motor cruisers, that took them to where the action was and anchored in the river. All the competitors had a wonderful day, thanks to the host club's efficient handling of the event ably supported by numerous additional help from Eyott Sailing Club. The evening was rounded off with a BBQ and music before the journey home.