The Arun Yacht Club is a friendly, family-focused community sailing club situated on the west bank of the River Arun in Littlehampton, West Sussex.
Merlin Rocket Craftinsure Silver Tiller Event – Hayling Island 28th & 29th April 2012.
For those competitors who enjoyed the relative calm and tranquillity of last weekends restricted (river or estuary) Craftinsure Silver Tiller at Cookham Reach, Hayling Island’s 2 day event (the eighth so far in the series) proved to be physically more demanding – at least on the first day!
Saturday’s racing, an open water (reservoir lake or harbour) event held within the wide expanses of Chichester Harbour tested skill and determination as race one kicked off in a force 4 gusting force 5. With the north easterly creating wind over tide conditions, skilful sailing again ensured a minimum of start line incidents as the fleet of 33 boats finally sheeted in for the first beat after only one general recall!
In the lead at the windward mark William Warren and Chris Robinson in 3685 succumbed to the strong pressure from Colin Smith and Graham Williamson who themselves were acutely aware of Britain’s 2012 Olympic 470 contender Stuart Bithell crewed by Christian Bithell being only too close for comfort! As the fleet powered away down the first reach with much position changing in the fast planing conditions it was Stuart and Christian who were in the lead by the bottom mark, a position which they continued to hold to the flag, marking what appeared to be a very successful repeat guest appearance in the Merlin Rockets!
However slightly further down the fleet Jon Gorringe & Toby Lewis in 3712 were making a late charge happy to settle for second place whilst keeping a weather eye on Matt Biggs and Ben Hollis in 3722 coming up for third.
The twist in the tale – joy for some disappointment for others – Stuart and Christian black flagged at the start so the results were:
1st – 3712 – Jon Gorringe /Toby Lewis
2nd – 3722 – Matt Biggs /Ben Hollis
3rd – 3736 – Colin Smith/ Graham Williamson
4th – 3728 – Judith Massey / Harvey Hillary
5th – 3734 – David Hayes / Jonny Radcliffe
6th – 3723 – Simon Potts/ Holly Scott
With no sign of the wind abating, the start of race two saw ten competitors black flagged and head home for an early shower. Now the reduced fleet were left to battle it out for “first to the windward mark” and Mike Calvert and Ian Garwood in 3691 made best use of the toestraps on the beat to get the pole position and be first to hoist on the reach!
Fired up after their win in race one , Jon and Toby were now determined to make it their weekend and some slick spinnaker work saw their second place position turn into that of lead boat as they roared down the harbour on another exhilarating three sail reach ! Working hard to maintain the position they were finally rewarded with the welcome sound of another “first to finish gun” despite a tough challenge from Mike & Ian who being both hunter and hunted did consistently well to secure second place. Matt Biggs and Ben Hollis sailing with “Blood Sweat and (no) Beers” finished in third.
It’s amazing what a hot shower can do and revived competitors headed first to the bar and then to an excellent HISC Mexican dinner , plenty of time then to contemplate the day’s events and what tomorrow’s similar forecast would have in store?
Sunday morning again dawned with torrential rain in the bleak and cold conditions and no sign of the force 5/6 north easterly slackening towards more acceptable sailing weather.
Eventually after a slight lull and with the wind swinging more toward the east, the race team decided to proceed and crews were despatched to rig and prepare. However conditions on the water from the committee boat proved less than satisfactory and wisely (though disappointingly for some) the meeting was abandoned.
So Jon & Toby held onto their well-deserved two first places and were declared the overall winners of this year’s Hayling Island Silver Tiller event!
Next stop Rutland Water May 6th. With the training event taking place in advance and new skills to be tested on the water in the race it promises to be an exciting weekend. Let’s hope for some sunshine for this one!
Report by – Steve Storey
Harlow (Blackwater) S.C.
Harlow (Blackwater) S.C.
Merlin Rocket Craftinsure Silver Tiller Event – Cookham Reach Sailing Club – 21st/ 22nd April 201
Merlin Rocket Craftinsure Silver Tiller Event – Cookham Reach Sailing Club – 21st/ 22nd April 2012
With Salcombe Yacht club’s excellent Silver tiller now some weeks ago and Banbury Sailing Club’s Restricted meeting being cancelled (due to low water levels in the reservoir), helms and crews were eagerly looking forward to another event and the different challenge of a purely river competition !
Hosted this year by Cookham Reach S.C. in its picturesque location on a wide sweep of the Thames between Maidenhead and Bourne End, Cookham’s neatly cut lawns and delightful views complement the great hospitality extended to all competitors and visitors alike.
Sundays Craftinsure series of three Silver Tiller races for the Cookham Shield – two to count – was preceded on the Saturday afternoon by a warm up for some of the keener competitors, with a trial race in the Guy Pearce memorial trophy. Helms and crews had a foretaste of Sunday’s event with the freshening westerly breeze blowing across the wide expanse of the Berkshire banks making for some exciting racing. The beautifully restored vintage boats dominated in the generally light conditions throughout the day and it was a particular privilege to see Jack Holts original Merlin – sail number 1 of 1944 vintage being vigorously campaigned by Mervyn Allen and young Jack Tosh who, in the early stages of Race 1 gave some of the newer designs a good run for their money!
With Sundays forecast promising a north westerly increasing from force 3 to force 4 by end of racing, the race team elected to set a fairly long course between upstream and downstream marks to give the fleet plenty of sea room. Viewing for the keen bankside spectators was further enhanced by the careful positioning of a windward mark which, having to be passed to port by all boats before they proceeded further downstream caused more than one experienced competitor a few anxious moments during the day!
Race one finally got underway after two general recalls and only after the imposition of the black flag rule (boats are disqualified if over the line at the start when this flag is flying). Both “ Passing Cloud” designs 1079 and 1097 made impressive starts with “ Hot Totty” crewed by Pat & Jilly Blake in hot pursuit finally taking the lead on lap 3 and holding this to the finish on a shortened course of 4 ½ laps.
A short break for lunch preceded the start for race two, where in the increasing breeze, undaunted helms again tested the race officers resolve with another general recall, before a repeat of the black flag rule had the necessary calming effect!
3676, 3347 & 3707 in succession made an early break from the pack finally resulting in both Simon and Anna Blake and parents Pat & Jilly making it once again a true “Family Affair” by finishing one/ two behind 3347 the beautifully sailed Laurie Smart built NSM 2 of David Vines crewed by Fran Gifford.
With some competitors now heading for an early bath after a particularly nasty cloudburst during race 2 – a reduced field of just 11 boats contested race 3 in frequently rainy and squally conditions gusting, at times, to 15 knots.
3347 unusually had problems getting up to race pace ensuring the Blake magic could continue with the early lead being taken by 3676. In almost a repeat of race two, Simon and Anna stormed through to dominate for a second home win although not without a very strong challenge from David Vines who, having finally found the fast forward button for race 3, harried 3676 “Monkey Business “ all the way to the finish line!
Report by Steve Storey
Photographs by kind permission of Demelza Mitchell
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Credit Where Credit is Due: Top Five Sailing Destinations in 2012
Sick of hearing about the economic crisis? It is inescapable, even on holiday. You don’t have to speak French or German or Spanish to understand the visibly-greying faces of politicians on the front pages, nor the shrieking headlines about the latest numerical disaster. Numbers don’t lie.
Neither, it seems, do letters. One of the most bafflingly opaque facets of the crisis is the ability of the unholy trio of S&P, Moody’s and Fitch, to send the world’s markets into spasms of fear by adjusting a country’s credit rating. Shave off an A here, add another B there and sit back to watch the ensuing chaos. Even the most knowledgeable financial wizards have their doubts about these controversial credit ratings agencies. They didn’t predict the crisis, for example, and they had Lehman Brothers pegged as a safe bet.
We’re sure a fearsome number of calculations are poured into the ratings, but to the untrained eye, it looks like they pick at old grudges and arbitrarily assign grades, in a peculiar mix of school yard-bully/teacher.
If they can do it, so can we. The only way to escape the unrelenting doom and misery is to batten down the hatches and take to the sea. Whatever your choice, whether its bareboat charters in Australia or powerboats in Greece, there is no newspaper delivery. Here’s our guide to the best sailing vacations of 2012. Hopefully you won’t need a bailout.
Italy
Agencies BBB-
Sailing Rating AAA
Poor Italy is having a very tough time of late, with the agency fillings its report card with red x’s and plenty of ‘must do better’s. Not so with sailing. Italy is lapped at by some of the best sailing waters in the world, largely thanks to the Mediterranean climate. Sailors are spoiled for choice for stop off points along its scribbled coastline, but marinas do get extremely busy in the summer. Summer also brings a raft of festivals to Italy, including the Festa Della Republica on June 2, Siena’s Palio horserace in July, and Florence’s opera festival, Maggio Musicale, while gourmands will relish the chance to sample the famous food at the proliferation of local festivals in August.
Greece
Agencies CC
Sailing Rating AA
Unless you’ve been hiding under a particularly large, sound-proofed rock, you’ll know that Greece has rather unflatteringly been given junk status by the agencies. Sailing around the seven Ionian Islands gives a much needed reminder that this is a cradle of Western civilization, with its noble history shown off by Corfu’s profusion of castles and the unparalleled Italienate style of architecture. Corfu also boasts an archaeological museum which is home to the famous Gorgon pediment of the Artemis temple. Greece also offers something to suit every sailor, with the more adventurous and stiff open waters tempered by the gentle eddying waters surrounding the islands.
Thailand
Agencies BBB+
Sailing Rating AAA-
Thailand has been designated a steady but underwhelming BBB+ by the agencies, but deserves a whole lot better in the sailing ratings. Regularly voted among the best sailing grounds in the world, it boasts good weather conditions, jaw-dropping scenery and a veritable smorgasbord of things to do. Thailand’s largest island, Phuket, is the go-to island for those who wish to rest their sea legs. The shopping and nightlife of Patong Beach, the Khao Phra Thaeo Wildlife and Conservation centre with its mouse deer, monkey, macaques and bears and the mix of mountains and beaches means there’s something to appeal to everyone. And Bond fans can make like The Man with the Golden Gun on Ko Khao Phung Khan, commonly known as James Bond Island.
Australia
Agencies AAA
Sailing Rating AAA
Australia is one of the few countries remaining with a roundly positive rating, and it matches this for sailing holidays too. The 74 Whitsunday Islands are made for dinging around, with easy sailing conditions and a wealth of water sports and cultural attractions to keep everyone entertained. There are also a number of high end resorts on the eight inhabited islands. It is the furthest away of our destinations, and June, July and August are the wettest and coldest months. Of course, our idea of wet and cold is very different to Australia’s and if your own personal credit rating allows it, sailing in Australia is the trip of a lifetime.
Mexico
Agencies BBB+
Sailing Rating AAA+
Mexico is often overshadowed by her showier sister, Brazil and economic analysts believe that the ratings agency’s lukewarm BBB is an overly pessimistic rating. But negotiating the 800 mile Baja Peninsula makes for one of the world’s best sailing vacations, with improbably beautiful landscapes, an abundance of rare wildlife, and all the isolation you could wish for. What’s more, sailing conditions in summer are smashing, with clear waters, short passages, hot temperatures, cool breezes and almost guaranteed sunshine. It is also swimming and snorkeling heaven and when you have had your fill of peace and quiet, a hyper and margarita-soaked mainland awaits.
Biog: Laura dreams of getting away from it all on bareboat charters in the remotest locations.