Burnham Week 2023 Day 4
by Sally Harbott 30 Aug 2023 06:01 NZST
26 August - 2 September 2023
Day Four of Burnham Week started in light flukey winds which filled in later. The direction was Southwesterly and the fleets had spinnaker starts with a building ebb tide.
Class One all started at the committee boat end of the line and then most headed over to the South Shore; Cobra, Phil Collard stayed more middle of the river where he kept a steady breeze. At Inner Crouch, Cobra rounded first and then the remaining four had all closed up and arrived together to round. The fleet then headed over to the South Shore and beat up to Pinto against a strong ebb tide before heading back down to Outer Crouch 4 twice. Jeannie, John Saunders won by 2 minutes from Lizzie Brown in Slipstream who were two minutes ahead of Santa Evita helmed today by Doug Duce.
Class Six non spinnaker also rounded Inner Crouch and headed up river to Pinto. Eclipse, the Maxi 1000 sailed by Daryl Mylroie rounded first and he headed straight to the shallows on the South Shore. A large pack rounded together just behind with Dabtoe, JodeAnni and Ningaloo the lack of wind seeing them drift down river of Inner Crouch as they tried to beat to Pinto. Lucy Lee was close behind and saw Eclipse come across on starboard and sail through the others. The fleet took a while to get up to Pinto but the breeze had filled in and the rest of the race to Holliwell Point and home was quite quick. Eclipse took the win by 8 minutes from JodeAnni, Danielle Southey with Lucy Lee, Ian Keam George third.
The Dragons went down to Crouch before coming back up to Inner Crouch before heading out to Outer Crouch 4. On the first down tide leg the fleet split across the river as they chased the patches of breeze. At times some boats had to go white sail to keep moving towards the mark. They enjoyed a long foul tide beat up the North Shore to Inner Crouch before heading back down river.
Beauty and the Beast, Peter Marchant won, with Rob Campbell in Quicksilver VI second and Hands Off, Andy Miss came third.
The ECODs enjoyed very close racing when the wind filled in. David Smith in Wizard won with Nancy, Nicholas Cottrell second and Wraith, Jerry Mecoy third.
The RBODs had some brilliantly close racing and the wind was relatively consistent through their race.Red Jacket sailed by Stephen Herring won by nearly two minutes with Beryl, Simon Hollington second and Belinda, Louise Soloway Chan third.
The RCODs had six starters today in their first race and raced down to Ron Pipe then back to Horse Shoal and Holliwell home. The first race saw Nick Bacon in first with Cormorant second and Corinna sailed by John Harris came third.They then had a second race that took them up the Roach. Nick Bacon in Corella took the win, with Justin Waples in Cormorant second and Sue Law, Coralie third.
The Squibs have maintained their high numbers and 20 started today. The Burnham Squib Fleet is a vibrant and lively group who always enjoy close racing and great entertainment ashore.
Their course took them to Clarks and Pinto a couple of times.
Spoof sailed by Mickey Wright and crewed by Alex Porteous won from Robert Coyle in Humphrey second and Nic Tolhurst in What's the Story third.
Results at www.burnhamweek.com/results-2023