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It was a lovely sunny day with a few clouds, not too warm, with northerly force 3, gusting 4 winds, for Glasson Sailing Club’s Annual Open Regatta for Portsmouth Yardstick Sailing Dinghies.

There were visiting racers from Morecambe and Heysham Yacht Club and Blackpool and Fleetwood Yacht Club.

First Race Course: Is – As – Gp – Es – Ts – Ys x 3 laps

It was tricky start for the racers with the strong tide behind and the wind on the beam. The Musto Skiff of Mark Bamber shot into the lead closely followed by the 59er of Mark Fearnley and Chris Spicer.

Mark Bamber leading Mark Fearnley and Chris Spicer early in the first race.

Then Mark Bamber capsized once he had rounded the first mark allowing Mark and Chris to storm into the lead never to be challenged again. Mark Bamber recovered well but was forced to retire when one of his trapeze wires broke. Behind them Martin Topping and Giles Stothert in their RS400 were having a fierce struggle with Steve and Peter Jones in their Fireball. They were a boat length apart throughout the race, Martin and Giles never surrendered the lead but the Joneses managed to grab second place on handicap. Robin and Gina Marsden were a good fourth in their GP14.

Left to right Steve & Peter following Martin & Giles towards the final mark on the second lap

Moments later, round the mark and tacking towards mark ‘I’ – top left

Close racing! Martin and Giles, two legs ahead, surging between Dave Kelsall leading Paul Reid in their own private contest.

Second Race Course: Is – As – Gp – Es – Ts - Bp – Ys x 3 laps

An extra race mark was added to make the course more challenging. This was further complicated by the strong ebb tide and the wind veering to north easterly. Frank Bamber, Dart 15, had a superb start in the second race but he was soon overhauled by son Mark who romped into the lead only to suffer gear failure again as he rounded the second race mark allowing Mark and Chris to build up a commanding lead again. Martin and Giles outmanoeuvred Steve and Peter and gradually left them behind but they were still unable to challenge Mark and Chris who once again took the honours. Robin and Gina again finished fourth.

Dave Kelsall, Laser, had to retire with a gear failure but thankfully he was able to repair it in time for Sunday’s races.

Mark & Chris being obstructed by a personal watercraft rider, apparently oblivious as the exciting racing?

Mark & Chris coaxing their boat to the final mark in the second race.

Altogether there were eleven boats on the water.

At the end of the first day Mark Fearnley and Chris Spicer of Morecambe and Heysham Yacht Club were clear leaders. Equal Second were Martin Topping and Giles Stothert with Steve and Peter Jones three and a half points behind. Fourth were Robin and Gina Marsden, six and a half points behind the leaders.

Robin & Gina urging their GP14 forward

Sunday came and the wind, which had gone back into the north, had eased slightly but was varying from force 2 to 3 and gusting unpredictably force 4 at times. The sun did try to break through now and then.

Third Race Course: 18p – Gp – Es – T2s – Yp x 4 laps

Thirteen boats were on the line jostling for position at the start of the third race. The Vice Commodore, Michael Swarbrick, had established a new east-west start line to allow the boats to start into the wind. The race got underway after some confusion and a general recall, all boats finally getting away to a great start. Mark Fearnley and Chris Spicer were soon in trouble capsizing on the second leg losing the advantage of their good start. They soon recovered and romped into the lead but things were hotting up behind them. Martin and Giles were now in second place on the water, Mark Bamber again suffering with boat problems and retiring after making an attempt to get back into the race after waterside repairs. In fourth place on the water was the Blaze of Nick Miller, returning after an absence of a few weeks, holding off the challenge of Steve and Peter Jones in their Fireball. The boats crossed the finish line in that order but Nick had won on handicap forcing Mark and Chris into second place. Despite finishing well behind Martin and Giles, Steve and Peter took third place on handicap.

Keith, OK, skillfully pulling away from the faster Blazes of Robert and Paul

Robin and Gina leading a fleet of faster boats

Glasson’s Nick Miller, Blaze, leading the faster Blackpool & Fleetwood Fireball of Steve & Peter Jones

Fourth Race Course – as third but only three laps

The fourth race got off to another good start with Mark and Chris taking the lead on the water. By this time all the crews were exhausted after the gruelling third race and Martin and Giles slipped down the fleet as did Robin and Gina. Poor Peter Milston, Toy, suffered a blow to the head and retired to be be patched up by Susan Round, a retired nurse. However Nick Miller still managed to win on handicap although Mark and Chris having sailed a good race. Mark Bamber, despite having to use a lashed up tiller extension (it’s 2.5 metres long on a Musto Skiff), finished a creditable fifth after a disappointing weekend for him.

The competitors were able to choose their three best results to count towards the trophy. Nick, despite winning both races on Sunday didn’t qualify for the trophy as he only completed two races. This left Mark Fearnley and Chris Spicer, Morecambe and Heysham Yacht Club, clear winners overall in their 59er. Martin Topping and Giles Stothert, RS400, Glasson Sailing Club, and Steve and Peter Jones, Fireball, Blackpool and Fleetwood Yacht Club, were equal second counting their best three races but Steve and Peter were awarded second place by their better performance in their discarded race. Fourth were Robin and Gina Marsden in their GP14, of Blackpool and Fleetwood Yacht Club.

The trophy was presented to Mark and Chris after the racing, together with the other prize winners, by the Vice-Commodore, Michael Swarbrick. Chris, on behalf of the competitors, thanked the Club and the race organisers, controllers and helpers for an enjoyable weekend.

Thanks to Susan Round for looking after Peter’s wound.

Thanks to Kathleen Topping, who started, timed and finished the racers, and to Ivan Haslam and Alison Rayson who manned the Patrol Boat.

Thanks to Frank and Ivan who helped Michael Swarbrick to get the race marks in place on the Wednesday & Thursday before.

Thanks to Frank McDermott who kept the bar open to refresh the racers at the end of both gruelling days.

Thanks to all the competitors.

Full Results:

Winner Overall of the Regatta Trophy – Mark Fearnley & Chris Spicer – 59er- M&HYC

2nd – Steve & Peter Jones – Fireball – B&FYC – 4.5 points behind the winners (BTW)
3rd – Martin Topping & Giles Stothert – RS400 – GSC - 4.5 points BTW
4th – Robin & Gina Marsden – GP14 – B&FYC – 9.5 points BTW
5th – Dave Kelsall – Laser – M&HYC – 16.5 points BTW
6th – Frank Bamber – Dart 15 – GSC - 18.5 points BTW
7th – Paul Reid – Blaze – B&FYC - 20.5 points BTW
8th – Mark Bamber – Musto Skiff – GSC - 20.5 points BTW
9th – 1st on Sunday – Nick Miller – Blaze – GSC
10th – 5th on Sunday – Keith Byers – OK – M&HYC
11th – 6th on Sunday – R . Johnston – Blaze – B&FYC
12th – 11th on Sunday – John Hodgson – Miracle – M&HYC
13th – 12th on Sunday – Peter Milston – Toy – GSC
14th – 6th in second race on Saturday – Andy Wood & Crew – Graduate – GSC

More photographs taken at the Regatta

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