SVYC Regatta Day 1 round-up

Published 18:14 on 11 Aug 2024

After a mixed bag of weather at Cowes Week, a record-breaking ILCA Grand Prix, and a successful Race Week, all eyes turned to the SVYC Regatta, the culmination of the Seaview sailing season. 19 starts a day in arguably the best piece of water in the Solent for racing, everyone had looked forward to a great two days of racing.

Once the mist had lifted, the race committee were greeted with 10-14kn NE, a good breeze albeit from the wrong direction. This was slowly tracking round to ESE once the SVOD Cadets got underway. Unfortunately, with only 3 entries, they raced to Jenny Hunter and back twice, before Benjy Edwards won ahead of Charlotte Self, and George Cecil.

The Mermaids, Squibs and Cruisers followed, with long first beats off the (for once!) windward line. Wreck was the favourite windward mark off the line, although both Dereck and Ruthven were used over in Bembridge's patch. After a jostle on the Mermaid start line, Ben Few Brown sailed away with the first Mermaid cup of the Regatta. Tiaki, helmed by Charles Youngman, took line honours in the Cruisers, but Paul Newell in Charteuse took the win on handicap by 35 seconds. Charlie White took the win in the Squibs first race, in a much closer fleet than in previous years. 

The Cadet Squad held the first of their two races on an inshore course off the Northbank. A disappointing turnout of only 4 boats had a cracking race in the building breeze. Barney Edwards took a conclusive win from Jack Conn and Rory Pinkster. The Drascombe Luggers struggled with the building tide, but all the boats recovered from being OCS for a short race out to sea and back. The dead downwind start had caused some issues as previously mentioned but had a nice reaching course to Priory and back, with the Whites lugger taking the victory.

The ILCA (Laser) fleet never fails to disappoint, and this year was no different. With 20 starters the class had a box course off Seagrove, beating in from Wreck again. Senan Bottomley took sizeable line honours, but not enough to hold off Ed Chads on handicap, who won by just 7 seconds. The Slow Handicap race followed an hour later, and in sloppy seas Charlie Stobart-Hook took the win by over 2 minutes on corrected time, continuing his trend from last year.

The Mermaids second race was extremely simple, Bembridge to port, and back! The Mermaids were once again tricky on the line, with three boats OCS. A half-hour first beat out to Derek, Andrew Neil took the Bruce Donald Cup from Guy Lawrence. The Redwings had a brilliant turnout of 9 boats, and following a tricky course, Mark Downer was clear ahead of the opposition. 5 BODs also made the trip round from Bembridge, and after an hours race Martin Bonham took home the Bullin Cup.

The next flight of dinghy starts went after lunch, with the Fast Handicap leading the way. With a good turnout, a long and tricky race followed with the wind dropping hard, completely against the forecast. Charlie Stobart-Hooks 29er is always impressive to watch, and secured one of his best-ever results in 2nd, albeit with Tom Griffiths taking revenge from the first race, leading by 90 seconds on handicap.

The Mermaid and Squib courses followed along similar lines, with the longest run possible on the Seaview patch from Wreck down to Bob (well over 1nm) before a tactical beat up towards the line. With some Squib scoring queries yet to be resolved Chris Gear took the *provisional victory*. Cadet Squad went for the second race of the day, this time an inshore course off the Duver hiding from the tide. Barney Edwards again took a conclusive victory in his Opi.

In the final set of starts (which were hampered by a late-notice wind change, and a Mermaid main halyard up the mast!), Ben Few Brown led the Mermaids away and never looked back, making it 2 from 2 for him today. There were over 50 starters between the two SVOD races as the afternoon drew to a close, battling tricky conditions with minimal wind and lots of tide. Tracy North led the Victory race, after an innovative green line downwind start, from Louisa Mills and James Charlton. The Amber fleet was started off the club line, and only narrowly avoided a General Recall. Again, tricky, shifty conditions laid havoc on the race committees original intentions, although a good battle ensued between Gavin Simonds and Colin Simonds, with the former overtaking late on in the last beat.

With 18/19 races run, and in the region of 200 boats started, the race committee would like to thank all the boatman and safety boat crews for their efforts today. The forecast looks trickier tomorrow, with the wind swinging from E to SW during the day. Although we are not publishing any amendments this evening, those with morning races should be aware of postponements and possible changes to the schedule tomorrow morning. 

Prize-giving will be held tomorrow after the conclusion of racing.