Whyboats Weymouth Yacht Regatta 2018
by Kathy Claydon, Regatta Chairman 12 Sep 2018 08:06 NZST
8-9 September 2018
Last weekend, 36 yachts from along the South Coast enjoyed the hotly contested Whyboats Weymouth Yacht Regatta.
There was a good variety of courses to keep competitors in four different classes on their toes with gusts to 20kts on Saturday and 22kts on Sunday. With SW winds the seas were still quite flat – the beauty of sailing in Weymouth Bay. The weekend started on Friday night with the annual fancy dress tender races across the Harbour and a BBQ at Weymouth Sailing Club.
On Saturday, 3 races were run and all classes were closely fought leaving the results open for the last 2 races on Sunday. There was extremely close combat between the four local Grand Surprise Sportsboats.
Weymouth Sailing Club hosted the daily prize-giving and provided a well-earned meal to competitors and their families, all washed down with great beer thanks to sponsorship by Ringwood Brewery.
On Sunday, the slightly windy conditions, but great sunshine created some exciting spinnaker work. Principal Race Officer, Iain Jones, set a variety of different courses for the four classes –Sportsboats IRC, IRC 3 and IRC 4 (incl VPRS) and Squib. All classes were keenly contested in all three races held on Saturday, with many place changes along the varied courses. Going into day 2 there was still all to play for.
The final prize-giving was held at Royal Dorset Yacht Club and started with presentation to all crew under 18. Many thanks to our main event sponsor, Whyboats boat brokerage, plus Bussells Chandlery and Moatt Sails for providing such generous prizes to competitors.
RDYC presented the famous Churchill Cup to the overall winner, Moonshadow II (Mike Street). As this wonderful trophy can't go out of the club the winners were also presented with a brand new trophy donated by the late Nick Sharpe's family, The Sharp Exit Trophy.
Winner of the of IRC3 class and the Luhrs trophy was the very quick J/35 Bengal Magic from the Solent, skippered by James Chalmers and helmed by Bob Turner, closely pursued by a battle for second, Saskia (Mark Bugler) and third Jalenko (Al Doughty).
The Kingfisher Marine Cup is awarded for the most impressive performance in the opinion of the Race Officer and went to the Melges 24 Mini Mayhem from Teignmouth, which also won the Sportsboat class ahead of Surprise (Tim Galego) and in third place, Passion (Tom Rees), both local Grand Surprises.
Winner of IRC class 4 was Moodshadow II (Contessa 32, Mike Street), second Springbok (Spring 25, Tim McKinnon), and third Effusion (Elan 295, Mark Talbot).
Racing between the nine Squibs was hotly contested, with the first three places in each race changing. Final results: first Jubilation (Jim Mitchell and Ray Capp), second Hope (Simon and Gill Vines) and third Inquisition (Patrick Jones and Robert Hawes).
Many competitors praised the excellent Race Officer, Iain Jones, and friendly welcoming atmosphere at all the events. Next year's regatta will be held on September 14/15, see you in 2019!
Full results and more photographs can be viewed on the YCW website, www.weymouthregatta.co.uk, and on Weymouth Sailing Club's Facebook page.