Cruiser Racing in Regatta Week

With the RCYC Club Regatta Week replacing Burnham Week due to Covid19 it was a welcome opportunity for the Cruiser fleet to enjoy club racing.

In total seven cruisers took part over the event with four participants in each race. Sailing was cancelled on Saturday 30^th August and Thursday 3^rd September due to high winds and conversely Monday’s race 1^st September was cancelled because of too little wind so that in total only four races were sailed; but in a year when so much has been cancelled they were a bonus.

Race 1 on Sunday was won by Ant Law in Kate the Kite – a very speedy addition to the cruisers – this was his only appearance in the fleet during the week. The next three races were all won by Team Lucy Lee in their Dehler 34, led by Ian and Jan Keam-George.  In the rest of the fleet everyone had their moment. Paul Hinkins in Helm’s Deep, a Hanse 34, participated in two races, winning Friday’s race and coming second on Wednesday.  Anne and Arthur Heasley in their Dehler 35, Sonja, had a consistent week taking a podium place in each race other than in Tuesday’s, where they found the mud twice and then retired to reset their depth sounder!  John Waterhouse in Sanderling – the smallest boat in the fleet – and Fynnesse, a Sadler 32, sailed by Steve Barham both turned out twice with Steve taking third place on Sunday. Simon Sanders in Voyager was crewed by Patrick and Gillian Rogers and competed in three races.

The cruisers usually start their races from a committee boat outside the crowded mooring field but with fewer moored boats on the river due to the virus they were able to start in full view of the balcony on the Club line and they all thanked the Race Box Team  for giving them  interesting and enjoyable sailing throughout the week.

Simon and Sarah Sanders