Timeline Photos

Tony Smith and Dave Raffbone happy to return to catamaran racing at Clacton Sailing Club

Photos from Clacton-on-Sea Sailing Club's post

Despite a light wind forecast there was a good turn-out of catamarans and dinghies last Sunday as Clacton Sailing Club raced for the John Bedford Cup. First presented by Charles Holiday in 1978 in memory of John Bedford this annual trophy was this year won by Rob Mitchell sailing his distinctive yellow and blue Dart 16 catamaran single-handed. The 1100 weekly Sunday races are started by sound and visual signals from the cliff top clubhouse and the variety of boats manoeuvre in the final seconds to protect their positions on the line. Rob Mitchell demonstrated his experience and made a second-perfect port tack start using the light sou’westerly winds to stem the effect of the flooding tide closely followed by James Parsons & Mark Venables in the Hurricane. Two of the Dart 18’s soon tacked out to sea to escape the confused wind from the pack leaders hoping also to benefit from the increased tidal flow offshore. Poor judgement by Pete Boxer & Eilish Dempsey meant they had to put in 2 additional tacks to avoid Martin & Debbie Chivers as they crossed on starboard tack but fought back to a creditable 2nd place overall The tactical beat was followed by a long run downwind against the tide. Sheets and rig tension were loosened and crews positioned themselves as far forward as they dared in attempts to reduce transom drag. Matt Burrell with Jack Wayland in the big Hurricane 5.9SX hoisted the asymmetric kite and soon overtook the entire fleet and was first to the leeward buoy and went onto be placed 3rd overall on handicap. Daniel Brzezinski & Jack Dempsey made gains downwind in their Dart 18 and started to put pressure on the Chivers team. Finally in the 3rd lap good teamwork and intense concentration allowed them to edge past to be the second 18’ cat home. The Dart 18 fleet was joined this week by the welcome return of experienced local cat sailors Dave Raffbone and Tony Smith. Teething problems with their mainsail halyard connection meant they were late off the line and were never really in contention but they enjoyed their first outing nevertheless. Another new face on the race scene this year Jamie Lowe in his Topaz dinghy came in ahead of regular Brian Allen in his Laser to be the first Cadet home. Rob & Cathy Mitchell seem to have re-discovered the joys of sailing with a Dart 16 this season and managed a very respectable 4th overall. Commodore Derek Cheek kept his nerve on the second lap when it looked like the wind was dying and avoided the temptation to shorten the course. Competitors were rewarded as the wind freshened and swung southerly and the final run turned into an exhilarating reach as a reward.

Clacton-on-Sea Sailing Club

Even punting if you like.

Clacton-on-Sea Sailing Club

Teamwork

Clacton-on-Sea Sailing Club

Clacton-on-Sea Sailing Club

This is the time to bring your friends and their family's along to have a go. See you there.

Timeline Photos

Get out on the wire.

Timeline Photos

Photos from Clacton-on-Sea Sailing Club's post

Catching some waves or was it a Traffic Warden in that High Vis

Photos from Clacton-on-Sea Sailing Club's post

Writing this a little battered and bruised after two fabulous days sailing over the Bank Holiday when the conditions ranged from light winds on Sunday morning through to a proper stiff breeze yesterday. Azure blue skies on Sunday gave way to grey and ominous yesterday... Anyhow enough of the flim flam here's my report for your consideration All the best Pete Sailing conditions last weekend ranged between glorious to the truly epic as Clacton Sailing Club held two historic races. The Butlins Trophy was first held on the Sunday in light onshore winds under fabulous blue skies and calm waters. John Summerfield sporting a new sail on his Solo dinghy would eventually claim the race win on handicap followed by Matt Burrell and then Larry Foxon in their Hurricanes. A mixed fleet of catamarans and dinghies headed up the coast to the Walings buoy moored at Frinton with Larry Foxon and Pete Boxer getting away to a second-perfect start in the Hurricane 5.9. The fleet slowly appeared to stretch out on the broad reach with the pair of Hurricanes ahead of two Dart 18's followed by two Dart 16's with the dinghies close behind all apparently in accordance with handicap order. Most impressively Matt Burrell sailing his Hurricane 5.9SX single-handed hoisted the big asymmetric kite and became a distinctive trail blazer for the others to follow. Struggling to snuff the kite and control the 3 sails on his own he lost ground however at the Walings buoy allowing the ebbing tide to carry him past and for the chasing boats to close the gap. With the boat classes nicely paired mini-races developed with Rob Mitchell showing his experience to finish ahead of Mark & George Venables in the Dart 16's and Martin & Debbie Chivers to finish ahead of Daniel Brzezinski in the Dart 18's. Brian Allan in the Laser 2 was destined never to catch John Summerfield who demonstrated his increasing mastery of his Solo this year. The forecasted stronger winds blew in for the Bank Holiday Monday and The Rose Bowl race was fiercely contested in very different conditions. Force 4-5 southerlies and building seas under ominous grey skies meant that only 4 experienced catamaran teams headed out towards the start line supported by both of the Clacton Sailing Clubs rescue boats. After a tough 3 lap race lasting nearly an hour Husband and wife team Martin and Debbie Chivers retained their undisputed reputation of 'high wind experts' and went on to secure a well deserved win overall. Dan Brzezinski and Pete Boxer in training for the Dart 18 Nationals later this month had teamed-up for the race and gave chase to the Chivers boat both deciding to beat close to the shore to escape the tide. Ian Wright sailing with Brian Allan adopted the strategy of sailing their Dart 18 slightly lower but noticeably faster upwind but then had to tack out to sea earlier. Without any dagger boards the Dart 18 can be difficult to tack in waves and at various times each boat suffered knock-back manoeuvrers. Freeing off onto the reaching legs the real force of the conditions was felt for the first time. The crews had to trapeze from a position as far aft as possible to counter the ever present risk of pitch pole when racing these 18' cats in rolling swells. Larry Foxon and Mike Rolfe sailing the bigger Hurricane catamaran with powerful square top rig chose to retire early from the race but continued to enjoy exciting free sailing. Ian Wright proved again that a race is not over till the end as he finally caught the Brzezinski Dart on the last leg of the race Throwing caution to the wind both helms gunned their cats down the swell lines oblivious to the risks as they closed on the finish line and it was perhaps sheer determination that allowed Wright to fight off the challenge to finish ahead by just seconds in this truly most epic of races.

Timeline Photos

RYA “Push the boat out” event Clacton Sailing Club invite you join in at Holland Haven Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th May Sailing times 10am to 4pm on Saturday 10am to 4pm on Sunday You are invited to “have a go” at sailing in one of our club boats. Full instructions will be given and a safety boat will be on hand. Buoyancy aids are provided and there will be no charge. You will get wet so wear old clothes and old soft plimsoles/trainers. Bring a complete change of clothes and shoes and a large towel. Any valuables will be looked after in the clubhouse upstairs Changing rooms and showers are available. Children must be signed in by a parent who must stay on site. OR If all this seems a little too much then you might like to just come up to the clubhouse, have a cup of tea, and watch the activity from there. All this will of course depend on the weather. Any queries phone 07909180497 or call in at the clubhouse on Sunday. www.clactonsailingclub.org.uk