RCYC dominates Medway Eastern Area Championships 14 Jun 2010
During our Easter Regatta in Burnham, several visitors from the Medway invited us to their ‘patch’ on the second May Bank Holiday weekend, and set us a challenge to beat their entry number to us. So, first blood to us, twelve Dragons from Burnham travelled over to the Medway for the three day event and we had a blast.
The hospitality at the Medway is always second to none, we knew both on and off the water, this was going to be fun, and with total entry of 26 Dragons racing Windward/ Leeward courses on the wide stretches of the Medway river, it was so.
Good strong winds on the first day for three races certainly blew away the cobwebs and those with electric pumps gave praise they had fitted them. It was exciting racing and everyone came ashore a touch weary but ready for the evening entertainment of a good feed from a hog roast and Bar set up in barn owned by one of the Medway members. Much revelling and story telling with a few moments standing at the bar prepared us in true Dragon style for the next day’s racing.
The weather pundits had forecast gloom, even stronger winds, and the fleet were certainly quieter the next morning at breakfast. This was not to be, as once rigged and out on the course, we enjoyed three wonderful races in good winds and, I am glad to say, the Burnham fleet were beginning to take some of the glory, showing they can travel in numbers and win in the same style.
The Regatta Dinner on the Sunday evening was once again top notch, very good food and wine, and some entertaining speeches, and just for once, the whispers from the ‘locals’ were for lighter winds for the concluding day.
Weary but in good spirit, we sailed the one hour out to the course, and in a kind twelve knots enjoyed another great race, and were back in the Club house for lunch, to watch the ‘Medway team’ lift us all out of the water on the one tide, ready to de-rig and travel back home in plenty of time.
It was an impressive operation and there was much praise for the efficient team work, and after another beer or two, and the prize giving, we were all back in Burnham in good time, happy but not ready [!] for the next day’s work.
As Class Captain I am proud to say we took the winning spot, with Tim Tavinor and Katie Cole and Helm Joergen Schonher as Regatta winners, second place went to Patrick Gifford of the Aldeburgh Fleet, with six more Corinthian boats in the first ten – the Wades’ Avalanche in third, Mike Holmes’ Hand of Fortune in fourth, David Hall’s Flame Again in fifth, Woody’s Amok in sixth, Martin Makey’s Ganador in eighth and Ian Gray’s Scorpio in ninth position.
Thanks to Alice Tavinor for the first picture and Sheena Cosens for the rest.