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Fabulous Autumn Dinghy Regatta

Published 07:56 on 5 Oct 2022

Teign Corinthian YC's much awaited autumn regatta for dinghies finally got going on Saturday October 1st. Middle of previous week it was looking very doubtful if things would go ahead with forecasts of 40 knot winds and much rain being predicted. In the event Saturday saw a westerly topping out at 25 knots and Sunday a north easterly of no more than 10 knots - and all in blue sky and sunshine. Perfect.

Saturday's format was for 3 races back to back around the cans for the experienced helms and a small triangular course laid within the larger space envelop for the less experienced, novice sailors. Additional to that we had planned for some fun paddle races after the dinghy racing so that all the young family members could join in. The building breeze put paid to that idea and our lead helpers, Susan Fallon and Peter Walsh did a brilliant job laying on some Canadian Canoe races in a (relatively) sheltered bay. Three teams braved this out and the water babes from 4 years up had a whale of a time.

For the dinghy racers Race 1 got underway with a variety of dinghies represented but it was the Fireball of Simon Lomas-Clarke and Rob Daniels that revelled in the conditions. The windward leg was followed by a series of zigzags downwind all of which suited the high speed kite-flying Fireball. He was followed home by Rob Upton's Finn and Andrew Commander in a K1 - sailing for the very first time in a K1.

Rob Upton in Finn (c) Garnett Showell

Race 2 again saw Simon and Rob's Fireball dominate but this time Andrew's K1 got the better of Rob's Finn who was being chased really hard by young Issy Glazebrook in her ILCA Radial. Unfortunately for Andrew he'd sailed the wrong course and duly retired

Issy Glazebrook in ILCA Radial (c) Garnett Showell

As Race 3 got underway the wind really started to freshen and was pretty spectacular as the wind strengthened to 25knots+. This pretty much decimated the fleet on the second lap leaving just 7 of the 12 boat fleet finishing.
Photos are deceptive but it really was WINDY..

And yes, you guessed it that Fireball revelled in the conditions leaving the Finn and and K1 trailing in his wake. Actually the wake had long since disappeared by the time they came across the finish line.

Simon Lomas-Clarke and Rob Daniels (c) Garnett Showell

So how you must be wondering did the novice racers get on. Well 4 of the 6 entries made it down to the start area in the clubs' RS Tera dinghies with them due to start 5 minutes after the main fleet. The challenging breeze saw them pretty spread out as they approached the start. Everyone went swimming at one stage or another but they did get away cleanly and with a very relaxed Race Management Team the sailors were given every encouragement to get around the "course" no matter what. The Hattersley family cleared up with son Isaac and father Richard being the only two to get around the course finishing in that order.

On the second day, Sunday, dawn was very wet actually waking the Race Officer from his slumbers as the rain belted down on a Velux window. But by the time briefing came around the sky was clearing and despite the dire met office forecast the only thing to rain down was blue sky and sunshine in a fairly steady north easterly. Day 2 format was a 100 minute Pursuit Race with the RS Tera Sport slated to get things underway. In the event the first boat off was Jackie Hanafin's Laser Pico. Several new faces, and boats, had turned up for the pursuit race and some twelve and half minutes later Issy got going strongly in her Radial and was quickly chased by five Solos starting just 21 seconds later. The last to start was the Fireball 34 minutes after datum. It was apparent very early on that Mark Philips, who missed day 1, was out to get to the front of the fleet in his Solo and at just after half the allotted time Mark completed lap 1. But it was apparent that Andrew's K1 was revelling in the lighter conditions and was quickly getting through the Solo fleet, except Mark Philips who seemed to be away and gone. But then as they both approached the windward mark, the K1 crossed ahead and as they bore away onto a long run up the river the K1 gradually pulled out a lead. And so it was that Andrew Commander sailing a K1 for the very first time took the win in the pursuit race.

Andrew Commander in K1 pulling away from Mark Philips Solo (c) Mike Commander

Andrew Commander in K1 winner of pursuit race (c) Mike Commander

Back ashore another barbecue was underway for all 21 of the competitors, 17 helpers and multitude of spectators. Seaquest Marine in Teignmouth had generously provided a bountiful supply of prizes and the afternoon wrapped up with a room packed full of sailors and supporters alike for the prize giving. Thanks must go to all those helpers that gave so freely of their time to make this a truly memorable regatta, the format of which will be followed and no doubt enhanced in 2023.

Prize Winners, Main Fleet L-R: Andrew Commander (pursuit race winner and 3rd overall), Issy Glazebrook (1st female and first youth), Simon Lomas-Clarke and Rob Daniels (overall winner), Rob Upton (2nd overall), Mark Philips (2nd pursuit race), Tim Martin (3rd pursuit race) (c) Garnett Showell