HARTLEPOOL YACHTS WIN NORTH SEA RACE
Larry Wilkinson with Tarka of Tees and Graeme Railton with Offchance have both won their class in the Scarborough Yacht Club North Sea Race from Scarborough to Ijmuiden Holland.
This was SYC's 30th year running this race of 210 miles starting at 1900 on Friday 16th July.
With consistent SSW winds Larry did the crossing in 35.5hrs to win the IRC class for the 3rd year in a row. This was Graeme's first ever crossing in Offchance completed in 42hrs to win Portsmouth class 2.
SHARKY WINS 707 Easterns in Disguise
This year the 707 Eastern Area Championships were held over the weekend of the 17th & 18th of July and hosted by West Mersea Yacht Club. As neither Anthony or Andrew were available for the weekend the boat was loaned to North East Sailing Stalwarts, the Boatman family, helmed by Dave Boatman. (The boat was renamed Blue Tit for the event) The racing on Saturday consisted of 5 windward/leeward courses and with a stiff breeze blowing it was challenging for all the crews. There was mixed fortunes across the 12 boat fleet with no-one able to get any consistency. Scores posted for the day were 1,2,4,4,1. Sunday greeted the fleet with perfect sailing conditions calm water, a good breeze and a warm sunny day. 3 further windward/leeward courses were raced. A good amount of tide on the windward mark and some fairly big shifts up the beat, made for some interesting racing. The boatmans did find a bit of consistency with results of 2,1,1, giving them the overall lead. Overall Results: 1st Blue Tit (Sharky) 2nd Blowfish 3rd Muttless
SHARKY 3rd at EAST COAST WEEK
Andrew & Anthony took their 707 "Sharky" to East Coast Sailing week at Granton on the Firth of Forth from the 2nd to 5th July.
Friday saw the sportsboats doing windward/leeward courses.
Race 1 was a blustery affair with 25 knots and gusting. After hitting the windward mark in 3rd place it was only a broach by Jetstream that let Sharky through to take 2nd.
Race 2 and the wind was really up with 30 knots and a strengthening wind. The lack of a fifth crew member really showed as Sharky struggled up the beats but mistakes by several other boats left Sharky with a surprising 3rd.
Race 3 was cancelled after the committee boat recorded 40 knots over the deck and Mr Big a Cork 1720 from Blyth was dismasted on the start/finish line.
Saturday was the passage race with the sportsboats completing a 25 mile course taking in some spectacular scenery with spinnaker runs down to the North shore, round and behind Inchkeith Island in a pleasant 20 knot breeze. Before turning to make the long beat up the south shore in a strengthening wind making the end of the race a little hairy. Again a credible 3rd was achieved.
Sunday was scheduled for 3 races but with the forecast for strong winds and gusts of 57 knots being recorded at the Forth Road Bridge, racing was abandoned for the day. This proved to be the correct call as by mid afternoon a force 10 had turned the forth into foaming monster. One gust took the wind speed indicator in the Royal Forth Yacht Club off the dial (the dial went up to 120mph).
Monday was much calmer but again 20 knots and gusty. The crew of Sharky decided not to race. Despite only completing 50% of the races, consistency proved to be the key with Sharky picking up 3rd in class behind Jetstream and Northern Champions Cacciotorre.
Security
It is planned to increase the number of surveillance cameras around the club compound to improve cover and deter theives.
Cruiser Racing Committee
The next committee meeting will be held on Wednesday 14th July at 9pm
Nerr Handicap
Steve Marsden is the club measurer for the Nerr boat handicaps. In the due course of time he plans to reveiw every handicap starting with those who are as yet not measured. Please be patient.
News
Do you have news that will be of interest visitors to this site not necessarily things going on in our club. Anything intersting to do with boating please Email: steve.marsden@ntlworld.com