One sure sign that we are well and truly in the middle of summer is the sailing of the Itchenor Regatta, along with associated bunting, teas and families making the club a busy and happy environment on regatta day. The Sunbeams sail for the Crystal trophy and 12 boats paid the very modest entry fee of £10, which included BBQ tickets for all 3 crew.
A strong flood tide and light winds saw crews leaving for the ferry in good time to ensure arrival down near Ellanore for their 11:10 start; the first of the keelboat fleets in the starting order, just after the 14s. The PRO had to contend with an awkward wind direction from pretty much due West with a tendency to go north of west from time to time. The fleet faced a generous start line with convenient transits on the masts of moored yachts at East Head, and an interesting puzzle of which end would pay across the flood, running at right angles to the wind. Should have paid more attention to those vector diagram questions in O Level maths? The 14s, about to leave for Garda and their World Championships had failed to turn up on time and as the first keelboat start, there were no Swallows to watch to help decide which way to go. As it turned out, Holly, the boat starting nearest the pin rounded Astra just after Danny who had started right at the Betivuka end. So clear wind off the line again seemed to be key to a successful first leg.
The course took the fleet from Astra to Dunes followed by a beat to Marker. Spinnakers were flown from Astra but most of these came down whilst crossing the tide north of East Head. Round Dunes, the clear choice was to head for Hayling and the strong flood tide in the channel off HISC and then tack to take the benefit of its last half hour on the long trip down to Marker. This is unfamiliar territory for Sunbeams and Melody investigated the Channel mark before realizing there was still a long way to go to Marker. Not many passing opportunities on the beat but the run from Marker back to Dunes as the tide moved from flood to ebb provided another interesting puzzle of when to bear off from the side of the Emsworth channel and head across the Winner for Dunes. Honey was the first boat in the main fleet to do this and benefitted from sailing more of a reach than a run as they neared Dunes catching up with some of the boats that had been ahead. At the front of the fleet, Holly was just ahead of Danny as they rounded Dunes where a change of course was signaled. The next mark was now Runway, a single port tack leg with no passing lanes but importantly, a change of gybe for the downwind leg compared to the original course (Channel to Dunes). Some boats took the opportunity to move spinnakers over as they sailed to Runway, others decided to go for the windward hoist with its associated risks. Sadly for Holly, they had to recover their kite from a 20 degree wash cycle in the Harbour as they rounded Dunes. Danny was able to pass them with a quick tack towards Runway, and then held the lead round the traditional route of East Head, Park and Gallon Line Finish. Roger took this photo of Martin and Vicky just after the finish of what for Danny and Holly had been a nearly two hour match race.
On return the fleet found the club busy but not packed as the Swallows and XoDs had yet to return. There was a jolly jazz band playing and ample time to try the BBQ and use the bar before the prize giving started at 3pm. Congratulations to the crews of Danny, Holly and Firefly who filled the first three places.