Yachting World Dayboat Week at Brixham Yacht Club

Rounding the leeward mark during race 5 of Yachting World Day Boat Week © Fiona Macfarlane

Race 5 start at Yachting World Day Boat Week © Fiona Macfarlane

A 17-strong fleet of Yachting World Dayboats travelled to Brixham Yacht Club for the week of the 22nd June to take part in Day Boat Week 2024.

We were blessed with sunshine and good sailing breezes which gradually strengthened as the week progressed.

Brixham is a very popular venue for the class as the Yacht Club can offer the option of dry sailing, or pontoon and floating moorings to suit everyone's preferences.

Saturday was taken up with rigging, launching and scrutineering followed by a welcome reception and supper at the club.

On Sunday we woke to sea mist and very little breeze. The Principal Race officer Peter Lytton made the wise decision to delay launching to allow the conditions to improve. His decision was rewarded when, after a two-hour delay, a gentle 5 mph easterly filled in and visibility lifted.

The course for the day was a windward /leeward with a spreader mark and gate. The fleet got away first time with Nigel & Isabelle Russell (DB614) in the lead at the first mark. However, on the next upwind leg, second place Jack Young & Ellie Aneiros (DB657) split tacks with the Russells and were rewarded with a shift which enabled them to take the lead which they held to the finish. In third place for most of the race were Peter Hewitt & Chris Lockett (DB669), however they attempted an inshore route up the final beat which failed to pay off and they were overtaken by Peter's son Michael crewed by Steve Creasy (DB678).

The first points race was followed by a one lap 'Opportunity' race which allowed crews to take the helm and show their skippers how to race a Dayboat. There were two trophies at stake, with Ellie Aneiros winning the Ladies' Trophy and Chris Lockett winning the Crew's Race.

Monday is traditionally a double race day. The course was a triangle /sausage and the wind had strengthened by a couple of knots. Both races were dominated by Peter & Chris who led at every mark. Second place in both races were the very consistent Nigel & Isabelle. Whilst Jack & Ellie secured 3rd place in the first, and Alan & Bob Davis (DB641) in the second.

On Monday evening Bob and Kath Davis ran a fantastic quiz which was attended and thoroughly enjoyed by the entire fleet.

Tuesday is always the Long Distance race day. This passage race is a longstanding tradition at Day boat Week and does not count for overall points. The plan for the day was to race across Torbay via a turning mark off Paignton and stop for lunch in Torquay - a distance of 4 nautical miles. As the fleet launched, the wind was non-existent. However, the forecast was positive and so the 13 boats rowed /paddled their way out to the committee boat just outside Brixham harbour.

When the starting cannon fired, boats were drifting in all directions. Magically a 5mph breeze began to fill in and the fleet set off in the direction of Torquay. Ever alert to the direction of the incoming wind, Nigel & Isabelle headed out to sea and picked up the first zephyrs, which allowed them to build an unassailable lead all the way to the finishing line just off the entrance to Torquay marina. Just before the finish, Peter & Chris managed to overtake Nick & Jennifer Crang (DB629) to take 2nd place.

After a very well-earned pint and pasty in Torquay, the fleet headed back out to the committee boat for a pursuit race back to Brixham. Despite giving the first starters a 6 minute headstart, Nigel & Isabelle triumphed again!

Huge thanks to the Brixham YC race team for laying on a truly memorable day.

Wednesday provided solid sunshine but a shifty 6-8mph breeze. The course for the day was a triangle /sausage. After a clean start the fleet split both ways up the 1st beat. Initially, the port side looked favourable, but a late shift gave the boats coming in from starboard a big advantage.

Father and daughter team, Nick and Jennifer, enjoying their first Day Boat Week, rounded first with a clear lead. Behind them came Sue & Howard Clayton (DB650) with most of the leading boats from previous races down in the pack. During the reaching legs the wind shifted 30 degrees to port, so the race committee adjusted the course. However just as the windward mark had been relocated the wind shifted back 40 degrees! Whilst this created many changes in the chasing pack Nick & Jennifer and Sue & Howard managed to keep their positions to the finish. Behind them there was a terrific fight amongst the leading boats in the points series. At the final gybe mark, Nigel & Isabelle just pulled through into 3rd place. However, to protect their position from the chasing boats they had to sail high which allowed Peter & Chris the space to sail low and pip Nigel & Isabelle on the line and secure what proved to be a very critical 3rd place.

So going into Thursday's final race Peter & Chris held a one-point advantage on 5 points over Nigel & Isabelle's 6 points and Jack & Ellie's 8 points.

Thursday's forecast always looked to be the windy day of the week and so it proved with a 15-18 mph westerly and gusts of 21 mph. The course reverted to a windward/leeward. As the fleet sailed out to the start area the wind took its toll and there were two instances of jib halyards failing, and one dismasting. All three boats were able to get safely back to Brixham.

The depleted fleet had a clean start, and it was soon evident that the port side of the course was favoured. From that side came the ultimate race winner Alan & Bob, closely followed by Richard & Laura Lewis (DB618) and David Macfarlane & John Mckeand (DB597). Both the two leading boats vying for the overall title were caught on the wrong side which left the field clear for Jack & Ellie to move up to take 2nd position on the line followed by David & John.

Despite Peter & Chris recording their discard in the final race, they had done just enough to take the overall title by one point from Jack & Ellie.

Nigel & Isabelle also counted the fifth race as their discard which dropped them down to third overall for the second year running.

The week culminated in an excellent dinner and prize-giving at the Brixham clubhouse.

Many thanks are due to all the members of the club who made this such a special week. Particular thanks go to Peter Lytton the PRO and his team for running a faultless series and Adrian Morrall for both his mark laying expertise and overall event management.

Day Boat Week 2025 returns to the Royal Cornwall Yacht club in Falmouth from the 26th-31st July.

Overall Results: