Richard Bessey
This year’s racing started and ended with a good blow. The Paglesham Pot
must have been the windiest race we've had for years - approx 5-6 SSW and quite
gusty. The course was Paglesham - Inner Crouch to Port - Paglesham and it was
all over in 2 hours. Six boats took part including 3 new to RSA racing -
Ulabella (Buchanan Great Dane), Glayva (UFO 30) and Philomelle (another
Buchanan). On corrected time, Ulabella had 1st place, with Eager 2nd and Imothes
3rd.
The Shuttlewood Cup was a quieter day, presaging a season of light airs. The
seven contenders jostled to round the Horse Shoal (Philomelle was forced to turn
away in a failed bid to oust Stravaig) and headed for the finish at Foulness
Quay, where Stravaig took the Cup, with Stortebecker 2nd and Glayva 3rd.
Eight boats started for the Blue Shoal Trophy, but all but two retired, unable
to find enough wind to head the tide. Stortebecker was ahead of Glayva when the
rest came motoring past on the way to the George & Dragon, so the result was
declared then and there.
With light easterly winds (opposite of forecast), the fleet of eight set out at
11:00 from Quay Reach. The course was S Buxey to Port, then back. The tide
turned against us and boats approaching the Outer Crouch found themselves
drifting backwards to Shore Ends. Meanwhile the two leaders agreed to shorten
the course to Buxey No 2.
After six had retired and returned to the Quay, and five hours had passed,
Stortebecker led Glayva past the post with only 2 minutes to spare. So
Stortebecker is awarded the Whitaker Cup.
Our guests the Hosteliers gave an account of the Paglesham Yacht Race in the
last newsletter. On handicap Heather’s mini-sail won, with Stella Marie 2nd and
Merganser 3rd.
Marshmallow
Next day was the Ladies Race. Five boats set out for the
Gracilda Cup with a slight westerly, gusting occasionally SW. Marshmallow had a
bad start, but with topsail set was soon in the lead to the mark which was inner
crouch to Starboard and finish at quay reach. Turning at the mark, Marshmallow
stuck to the south shore and made the Roach with one tack. The rest of the fleet
had to tack more as the wind increased. Swanti retired as the crew started to
feel uneasy with the squalls. The rest finished in very close positions. Anne
brought Stravaig to 3rd place, Heather with Marshmallow had 2nd, and Rosemary
took 1st place with Stortebecker.
Unusually, the race for the Don McDowell Trophy was against the flood, and as
sod would have it an East wind. Quite a number of boats had come up to Fambridge
the night before, but with dinghies to pull, few stayed in the race for long.
Ulabella persevered all the way to the Branklet, tacking through Burnham with
the dinghy in tow. However she took 2nd place to Glayva who was by now well
ahead.
The Lifeboat Cup race was another day of 'variables' which produced another crop
of retirements as we struggled against the tide. We welcomed Saraband to the
racing, and also the return of Haze. First to finish at Foulness Quay was
Stortebecker (1st), closely followed by Haze (2nd). Glayva (4th) and Mistress
(3rd) also completed the course.
John Apps was at the start line in his sailing tender Shucky, to contest the
RNLI race with Winks. As it was too early to find water round Potton, we chose
to go round Rushey island first. With a NE wind we made rapid progress to
Wakering, sailing downhill over the ford and to arrive at Havengore bridge. Then
the trouble began.
Shucky
They tacked back and forth in the pool by the bridge, unable to
gain ground. John was concerned he would get swept into the bridge, and went on
the mud to adjust his rig. Meanwhile Richard discovered that Winks’ centreplate
had dropped and was swinging beneath. He joined John on the mud. John helped to
tip Winks over and Richard re-fitted the centreplate, held up with a piece of
string.
They set off again for another attempt at Narrow Cuts. This time Richard was
able to make progress, though it was not many yards each tack. Over an hour
later the two boats met between Rushey and Potton - John had sailed back up
Rushey creek and up to the Potton bridge, which he found closed. They sailed
back to the Roach and up to Paglesham. Winks crosed the line after 4 hours 45,
and went ashore in Paglesham Pool just as a rain sqall hit. John suffered this
sqall and the turn of tide, finally rowing into Paglesham against the ebb. And
so home for a cup of tea. So Winks won, but only by default!
Stortebecker
We had whistled for half a gale, and half a NW gale we got!
Still nine boats turned out for the on the Roach Plate starting line. It was a
quick race from Paglesham to the Crouch, Redward and Horse Shoal both to Port,
then finish at Foulness Quay. Imothes was first over the line and all the rest
followed within 15 minutes. On corrected time, Imothes took 3rd place, with
Mistress 2nd, and Swanti gets the Roach Plate.
The Len Choppin Cup went to Stortebecker which held a clear points lead from
early in the series.