Contessa Regatta 2011
2011 Contessa Regatta Report
Written by Barry Sticklen Saturday, 23 July 2011 00:00
Contessa 32 Open Regatta
23 & 24 July 2011
The entries were in and the Lymington Town Sailing Club’s race team were assembled. The Committee boat for this event was to be Eshe, kindly loaned to the Club for this event by owner Ben Williams. Support was to be provided by the Club launch ‘Bertie’ crewed by James Barnett & Chris Everitt on Saturday and James Barnett & Rick Underhill on Sunday. The race officer was Joe Blachford, ably assisted by the Vice Commodore, Nick Hopwood.
On the Saturday morning the committee boat set off, to set up the race track in the vicinity of Folkboats uk, fairly close to the Sowley boom. This was agreed so the Contessa’s coming from the central Solent areas would not have so far to travel. There was another reason though, because the Royal Lymington Yacht Club would also be running their Summer Regatta.
Picture: One of Sundays starts
The entry list was a bit disappointing but they still managed to muster 7 boats with crack racing teams. All of them arrived in good time, shame about the wind though. At the scheduled start time it was averaging 3 to 4 knots northerly. The AP flag went up and a postponement was on. After ‘Bertie’ had had two attempts of laying a windward mark in a shifting wind, the wind changed its mind yet again. After steadying itself almost Westerly both of the previously laid marks were useless and the windward / leeward course was set on Ribit.com and Quod Possumus with Eshe anchored in between. The tide would be flooding for the duration.
AP was lowered at 12.39 and the start sequence was underway, they finally started at 12.30 with only one boat over the line. They were playing nicely though and after re crossing the line the individual recall flag was lowered. At the end of the first lap Drumbeat was in the lead helmed by Eldred Himsworth. Equator helmed by Simon Ported was second with Blanco in third helmed by Richard Vanner.
Picture: Blanco, Richard Vanner
Although 3 laps were originally set the race officer decided to shorten it to two. The finishing order remained as the first lap except that Robin Milledge in Contessa Catherine had climbed up through the fleet from sixth place to fourth. Robin Holland in Corafin took fifth. Mark Oliver in Connie took sixth with Peter Sanderson in Muscadet bringing up the rear.
The second race of the day was to be round the cans. The committee boat remained at anchor in the same place and the course was decided. They were sent to Moore & Blatch, Folkboats uk, back to Moore & Blatch out to Solent Bank, back to Folkboats uk again before finishing.
They were off at 14.30 this time with a clean start. First to show was Blanco followed by Muscadet with Contessa Catherin hot on their heels. By just after 3.00 Contessa Catherine had climbed up into second place on the run from Moore and Blatch to Folkboats uk. At this time the last boat was just rounding the windward mark. Drumbeat was next, followed by Muscadet then Equator. Corafin & Connie were playing at the back until what looked like the results of perhaps a riding turn on a winch. Corafin almost stopped with her genoa backed which sealed their fate. Blanco took line honours from Contessa Catherine in second with Drumbeat, Muscadet,
Equator, Connie following in that order with Corafin bringing up the rear.
The day finished with a pontoon party followed by dinner at the Club house.
Picture: Equator, Simon Porter
Sunday dawned and the Committee boat Eshe slipped her mooring, Bertie followed and it was back to almost the same place for anchoring. The wind was kind and there would only be the one race this day. The start was scheduled for 10.30 and the sun was shining.
A scenic course was set which would keep them on the North side of the Western Solent. Moore & Blatch starboard, Ribit.com starboard, Paul Jackson port, Quod Possumus starboard, back to Paul Jackson starboard, and Ribit.com starboard before returning to Eshe to finish.
The fleet started on time with everyone playing nicely. Blanco was first to show with Contessa Catherine, Equator, Muscadet, Corafin, following with Connie bringing up the rear. Drumbeat was unable to race on the second day. Contessa Catherine was seen rocking and rolling while gibing her spinnaker trying to catch Blanco. On the next beat Blanco seemed to be covering Contessa Catherine, tacking each time. Equator managed to slip past Contessa Catherine. The line honours went to Blanco, Equator took second, Contessa Catherine third with Connie, Muscadet, Corafin following.
Picture: Equator being chased by Contessa Catherine
The final Series results:
1st Blanco Richard Vanner
2nd Equator Simon Porter
3rd Contessa Catherine Robin Milledge
4th Drumbeat Eldred Himsworth
5th Muscadet Peter Sanderson
6th Connie Mark Oliver
2011 Contessa Regatta Results
Written by Barry Sticklen Saturday, 23 July 2011 00:00
