Burnham Week 2019 1 Sep 2019
BURNHAM WEEK 2019
‘Burnham Week was a resounding success’, reported Suzanne Glenton in SailMail, ‘with sailors enjoying blue skies and breeze over the Bank Holiday. The Club was buzzing…’ With number of entrants up on both 2017 and 2018 the competitors sent feedback on ‘epic entertainment showing Burnham off at its best’, ‘a friendly and welcoming atmosphere’, ‘first class race management’ and ‘excellent boatyard services’.
The RCYC had a high number of entries, the most being the Squibs with 20 Burnham boats and 3 visitors at the weekend and 16 for the whole week. It was the largest – and most competitive – fleet on the water. The Bank Holiday series was won by Jack Grogan in Knock Knock. Micky Wright and Alex Porteous, Spoof, won everything else – the Mid-Week Series, the Week, and the Trophy Race on the last Saturday. They were followed by Lady Penelope (the Hutchings), Humphrey (the Coyles) and Guy Fawkes (the Aspinalls) – all in the running for those midweek bottles of champagne for different people each day who qualify for the ‘couples’ prizes.
The Dragons had a very busy week with ten entries – eleven on Tuesday when they were joined by a beautiful classic boat Johanna with a Russian crew. After some of the closest racing this year Beauty and the Beast with helm, Commodore, Peter Marchant with Katie Cole and Chris Brittain won the Bank Holiday. Midweek winners were Anarchy (Chip Cole, Nicola Hastwell, David Smith); the Weeks Points prize went to Pageboy XI (Paul Taylor, Clive and Graeme Page); and the Trophy Race was also won by Anarchy.
2019 turned out to be a vintage year for the RCOD Class. There were nine boats on the start line at the weekend, a number not seen for many years, and six during the week. And it was good to have the quality of racing helped by the support of a number of ringers from the Squib and Flying Fifteen class who contributed to the performances of Will Wallis in Coram and Fi Bell in Corsair. Both the Bank Holiday weekend and the Week’s points were won on countback – the first by Martin Makey in Corinna against Corpo Santo and the second by Justin Waples, Steve and Lizzy Rands in Cormorant against Corinna. Cormorant also won the Mid Week.
The RCYC Cruisers featured in the handicap fleets. Paul and Sally Hinkins won The Commodore’s Cup in Helms Deep on the last Saturday with Tifano in 3rd place. Regular entrant David Hill (Spangle) was second on the Bank Holiday and the Midweek and won the Trophy Day. Ant Law, Chris Dawson and Margaret Kennedy (Tifano) featured in Class 5 all during the week. With the prestigious Town Cup entries expanded by a change in the qualifications rule Club boats came 3rd Baby Beluga (Debbie de Bolz), 7th Little Red Rooster (Jason Phelps) and 11th Lyra of London (Miles Delap).
With all the keel boats and dinghies over the first weekend there was something for all racers – and for many who don’t usually get a whiff of gunpowder but were tempted out by the good weather and excitement of the Week. Here’s to next year!