Tavinor brings the Edinburgh Cup to Burnham… 1 Jul 2013
It was Champagne on the balcony last Saturday as Tim Tavinor, just back from Weymouth, celebrated with the Edinburgh Cup in his hands, to prove his victory as part of the winning team along with Lawrie Smith and Ossie Stewart. A fifth place in the final race clinched their position, with a four point lead over the second placed boat. Robert Campbell’s report follows, covering both the Edinburgh Cup and the Southern Championships which preceded it.
A team of eight boats from Burnham (Avalanche, Beauty and the Beast, Danish Blue, Ganador, PageBoy X, Quicksilver V, Scorpio and Storm) travelled to Weymouth for the South Coast Championships, followed by the Edinburgh Cup, both events held at the Olympic venue at Portland Harbour. This was a precursor for the Dragon World Championships to be held at the same venue in September, causing strong foreign interest, with seven countries represented. The furthest were two entries from Australia with others from Germany, Japan, Ireland and Portugal and the USA. The South Coasts had 37 entries, which increased to 41 for the Edinburgh Cup.
The first day’s racing was cancelled with too much wind, leaving the South Coasts to be sailed over just one day. Winds were still strong and we had three tough races. The winner was Klaus Diedrichs from Cowes and the top Burnham boat in third place was Quicksilver V, Rob Campbell, Justin Waples and Tom Waples.
The Edinburgh Cup started in lighter airs, but with winds around Force 3 for the rest of the week, all races were completed on schedule. The Edinburgh Cup was won by Lawrie Smith, Tim Tavinor and Ossie Stewart. As they crossed the finishing line in fifth place in the last race, Tim Tavinor was heard to comment “Thank goodness for that! I have been trying to win this jolly trophy for 25 years.”
Best placed Burnham boats were Poul-Ricard Hoj-Jensen, Noddy Norden and Hamish McKay in fifth followed by Rob Campbell, Justin Waples and Tom Waples in 15th and Clive, Graham and Rory Page in 16th. Quicksilver won Race Three and Justin Waples helmed Quicksilver into 2nd place in the crews’ race. Victory in the crews’ race was denied by just two boat lengths!
The Corinthian section in both the South Coasts and Edinburgh Cup was won by Aimée, helmed by Julia Bailey from Cowes.
The Olympic facilities at Weymouth (Portland Harbour) are superb, the sailing waters are very fair, almost tideless, and we look forward to the Worlds in September. The organising committee for this event is almost totally Royal Corinthian, led by Martin Makey as BDA Chairman and supported by Mary (there’s a surprise!), the Wades and the Wilkes.