This summer’s dinghy sailing season got off to an excellent start with the IOM Copiers Easter Regatta hosted by Manx Sailing & Cruising Club in Ramsey Bay.

 

At first though, with a glassy calm in the bay it looked as if any sailing would be a miracle, but after a delay of half an hour, 14 boats set out for the start line in a building breeze from the east.

 

The OOD set a triangular course which would have favoured the dinghies with asymetric rigs (RS 200’s) but after two laps the wind died leaving the leading boats becalmed, the wind however filled in from the north allowing the slower dinghies to catch up, forming an Injebreck style bunch-up.  It was such a large shift in the direction of the wind the OOD had no option but to abandon this race.

 

For Race 2 a windward/leeward course was set which Angus Jolly (RS 600) led for the first three laps followed by Simon Pressley(Laser) and Russell and June Callister (RS 200), however as the wind gradually built to Force 3 plus it was Simon who finished first on the water, very closely followed by Russell, Angus dropping to 5th after much swimming!  On corrected time it was junior, Greg Kelly (former Tera World Champion) who pushed Simon into second with another junior Ben Batchelor (RS Tera) in third.

 

Race 3 was set on the same course, it was Russell, Rob Cowell and Dave Batchelor, all sailing RS 200’s that made the running with the OOD kept busy at the finish as the first 10 boats crossed the line within 1 ½ minutes.  Simon Pressley cruelly robbed of an excellent finish when his sail became detached from the boom yards from the line.  Yet again, on corrected time, Greg Kelly was first with Ben Batchelor second and Ralph Kee (Laser) third.

 

There were a few incidents during racing no doubt caused by early season “rustiness”, the first being Mike Pridham taking the first salty dip of the season seconds after the start of the first race.  Pete Barlow and crew retired after losing their windex in the sand and Russell Callister ran off with the windward mark!

 

Although the sun was shining brilliantly the racing finished after these two races with the promise of a warm shower and Regatta Tea back at the Clubhouse.

 

Many thanks to Keith Poole for OOD who was ably assisted by Dave Edwards, Mark Corrin of IOM Copiers and Peter Hoosen-Owen for manning the safety boat and the Social Committee for providing an excellent Regatta Tea.  For excellent pictures of this even go to Manxsailracer and follow the links.

 

Results

1st Greg Kelly (RS Tera)

2nd Ben Batchelor (RS Tera)

3rd Ralph Kee (Laser)

4th Mike Pridham (Laser)

5th Russell & June Callister (RS 200)

6th Simon Pressley (Laser)

7th Brian Quayle (OK)

8th Rob Cowell & Phil Hardisty (RS 200)

9th Andrew Dean & Charlotte Corlett (RS 200)

10th Dave Batchelor & Amy Shute (RS 200)

11th James Kelly & Chris Hill (RS 200)

12th Jerry Colman & Charlie Edwards (505)

13th James Penn (RS Feva)

14th Angus Jolly (RS 600)