Yachting World Dayboat Open at Avon Sailing Club

Yachting World Dayboats at Avon © Simon Bullingham

Yachting World Dayboats at Avon © Simon Bullingham

The third Avon Sailing Club (ASC), Yachting World Dayboat open meeting was held on Saturday 1st June. Race officer Peter Keighley learnt from previous years that keeping the course simple, was the key to a quiet day at the office. He opted for an upwind/downwind course with a leeward gate. There was a strong ebb flow all day with a variable breeze of less than 10 knots mostly from the Northeast.

There was a complete range of experience and ages present, including grandchildren racing with grandparents. With 11 boats and over 30 sailors camping for the weekend it was always going to be a lot of fun. Only a few of the more experienced campaigners dodged some sensational campsite snoring, sensibly booking the Tewkesbury Hilton, but hotel bookings did increase (and tent numbers decrease) on the second evening, as a direct result!

With an ever-increasing number of boats, the fleet was again split into flights for the round robin element with the top half going into the cup competition and the remainder competing for the silver bowl.

Mike Hewitt who had won the cup on the previous two events, had a great start to the day with two first places and looked on course to be champion again. Peter Hewitt, his father is, never far from the front of the fleet and, after discards, shared the top spot with Michael, at the end of the round robin. Peter was closely followed by yet another Hewitt, this time Andrew. In his newly refurbished older boat, Andrew showing that you don't need a new boat to be competitive. Colin Blewett and Simon Bullingham (crewed by Henry Hewitt) took the final spots in the cup competition on four points each, after discards.

Georgie Bullingham the only female helm, starting only her third regatta as helm (son John as crew), finished the round robin series in a very creditable seventh position, narrowly missing out on the Cup competition.

The cup medal race was won by Colin and Margaret Blewett (Aged 8), the grandfather and granddaughter combination proving to be extremely effective. Colin is normally directed around the course by his daughter, but her place on the team appears to no longer be guaranteed! The win was enough to secure the cup win, on count back. In second place was the wizardly Peter Hewitt with Martha (Age 8) and Harry Wylie (Age 10) as crew. In third place was Andrew Hewitt who had his son's Stan (Age 11) and Max (Age 9) as crew. Max also managed to win the competition for most J20 drinks on his Dad's tab (nineteen!), which bodes well for his attempt to retain his crown as the Salcombe ice cream eating champion, when the YWDB's return to Salcombe town regatta in the summer!

Yachting World Dayboats at Avon - photo © Simon Bullingham

The bowl medal race was a closely run thing, with Nick and Rebecca Crang leading the way, closely followed by Matt and Hugh Straker. Jon "Robbo" Gent with Laurie and Suzannah crewing, finished in third.

In the silver bowl competition, Matt Starker finished overall winner for the second year in a row, only one point ahead of team Crang. The Gent's finished in third place.

The relaxed Sunday race to the Lower Lode pub for lunch, in glorious sunshine, was won by Mike Hewitt and Mila. The versatility of the YWDB is legendary and the lack of wind and strong flow meant that whilst sailing wasn't an option for some, those crews made their way to the pub under their own steam by rowing part of the last leg!

Yachting World Dayboats at Avon - photo © Simon Bullingham

Once all the boats were rafted up, the prize, a proper pub lunch in the sunshine, was enjoyed by all. The drift back with the flow was a great chance for the younger team members to get some experience helming.

Thanks must go to the race officer Peter Keighley and his team and particularly to Nicky Hughes and the group at ASC who catered for all the campers for the whole weekend. A lot of family fun was had by all.

The YWDB's next event is their national championships in Brixham 22nd to 27th June and there is a "try a dayboat" day at Poole YC on 9th June.

Overall Results: