Three dragons took part in the RBYC regatta held over three days of the Queens Platinum Celebration weekend.

On Friday the Committee boat was anchored near the Canewdon racing buoy with a very short windward/ leeward course laid towards the eastern side of the river. The first race of three laps took only 21 minutes and was won by Beauty and the Beast  with Avalanche second and Quicksilver third.  The second race of five laps was won by Quicksilver who lead from the start, with Avalanche second and Beauty and the Beast third.

The wind was building on the sail home to the mooring, which was the precursor to Saturdays racing being cancelled due to the strong winds.

On Sunday the racing was in a northeast becoming northerly wind in the River Crouch to the east of the River Roach. With the course being set to the wind the building cross tide made it possible to lay the windward on port tack from the start in two of the three races. Quicksilver’s excellent starts enabled them to win all races with Avalanche consistently second. Beauty and the Beast unfortunately touched the windward mark in the first race when lying second, losing out to Avalanche whilst taking their penalty.

Overall, Quicksilver were worthy winners.

The reduced fleet were pleased to welcome Hannah whose first time on a sailing boat was on the RCYC’s Discover Sailing day in May, with a baptism of fire on a Dragon for her second time on a boat in the regatta. Apart from giving one of the crew on Avalanche a very bloody nose during one of the manoeuvres  she did very well.

Nigel Cole

Stock images used.