To all intents and purposes and judging by the comments of the participants and spectators we had another enjoyable regatta over the weekend marred only by the difficult winds (F5 to F7) which delayed the start of the first dinghy race on Sunday.

The dinghies competed over two races each day, their best three races to count, and the cruisers over one race each day, both races to count.  The cruiser races started about half an hour before high water on each day.  The dinghy races roughly started an hour before high water on Saturday and after the cruiser race started on Sunday.

The winds were mainly westerly, fresh to strong with squalls of near gale.

Fifteen cruisers, two dayboats and an Enterprise dinghy took part in the cruiser race round the lighthouse – the biggest cruiser regatta to date.

Thirteen dinghies took part in the dinghy regatta eleven of them seen here at the start of the first race on Saturday, I think the other two are ahead out of the picture.

I’m afraid I haven’t taken many pictures, only fourteen instead of the usual couple of hundred and they were all on Saturday.  I was too stressed, I just didn’t have the time and never gave it a thought.  All contributions of photographs welcome.

Two shots after the start of the cruiser race

The dinghies have completed their first lap and are into their second - I suppose that’s obvious, that they are into their second..

Four dinghies were over the line at the start of the first race and only two of them returned.  Two cruisers were over the line and despite repeated calls on the VHF they didn’t return.

The safety boat, manned by Dave Crowther and Dave Holden had a very busy afternoon with incidents all over the courses.  The Enterprise capsized and ended upside down with the centreboard back in its housing causing the rearmost cruiser crews some consternation.  The crew ended up on the lighthouse but were eventually restored to their boat and sailed back themselves.

Mark Bamber, Blaze, suffered from broken toe straps and eventually retired from the first race.  Mark Fearnley , whose name is on the trophy for many past successes at Glasson, sailing a National 12 with his nine year old daughter, won the first race.  Unfortunately the winds were too strong for her in the second race and they retired after the first lap.

Alex Stothert sailing the family Wayfarer with his sister Kate didn’t start the second race for similar reasons.

John Hodgson and Phil Chandler of Morecambe and Heysham Yacht Club suffered a spectacular dismasting at the start of the second lap of the second race.  A shroud broke and the floor stepped mast broke off at the deck level.  The Safety Boat was attending other casualties but they managed to paddle their way back to the slipway unaided – well done and sorry for leaving you to your own devices.

The cruisers got underway but not without incident.  I believe that Summer Lightening rode up on to the deck of Penny Diamond and someone ran into Suzi, perhaps someone will supply the details?

SkylArk’s crew capsized on their way to her mooring, and not being dressed for swimming had to retire – George didn’t even make it one way this time.  Periwinkle also didn’t make the start line?

All in all I think the dinghies and cruisers got on all right both being considerate of each other.

I can supple full results for anyone who would like them, in Excel format.

Leading Cruisers:

Course No. 9p – No. 8s – Lighthouse p – No.8p – No. 9s and through the line

1^st - Penny Diamond – John Broadhead & crew - Copeland 28

2^nd – Rice Pudding – Norman Whewell & crew - Dragonfly 920

3^rd – Strider – Jim Cruise & crew – Sarum 28

4^th – Misty – Stephen Tomkinson & crew – Anderson 22

Is Big John going to carry off the trophy once again?

Leading Dinghies:

First Race – Course Dp – Es – Fs – Bp – Hs – Ts x 3 laps

1^st – Mark Fearnley & daughter (M&HYC) – National 12

2^nd – Keith Byers (M&HYC) – OK

3^rd – Martin Topping & David Sharples – RS400

4^th – Giles Stothert – Blaze

Second Race – Course Ds – Fs – Bp – Hs – Ts x 4 laps

1^st – Nick Miller – Blaze

2^nd – Keith Byers (M&HYC) – OK

3^rd – Mark Bamber – Blaze

4^th – Steve & Peter Jones (B&FYC) – Fireball

Keith Byers of Morecambe & Heysham Yacht Club led after the first leaving all to race for on Sunday.

On Sunday Kathleen and Samantha Topping took over from Hazel Bradley and myself as Officers Of the Day.  I was going to race with John Glynn on Curlew and Hazel was returning to their boat Strider.

Jeff Walker and Alison took over the Safety Boat.

Incidentally we really must have at least two safety boats in conditions like we experienced this weekend when we have large diverse fleets.

The wind was very fickle a good force 5 but with squalls going through at force 7 and upwards so we decided to delay the start of the dinghy racing until the squalls had ended which hopefully it was forecast they would.

The conditions reduced the cruiser fleet to seven with no dayboats or dinghies.  They got off to a good start over the same course, the Glasson cruiser fleet is really ‘sharpening’ up, a bit timid on right of way but otherwise well disciplined, shame we have no photographs of the start – if anyone was taking photographs I would really appreciate a set.

I’m told by the OODs that after a short while we all disappeared into the last squall and couldn’t be seen.  The leading boats reported that the lighthouse disappeared from view as they approached it.

The course was the same as Saturday’s.  Despite the stronger winds the race took minutes longer.  This time there was a change of lead:

1^st – Rice Pudding – Norman Whewell & crew - Dragonfly 920

2^nd - Penny Diamond – John Broadhead & crew - Copeland 28

3^rd – Misty – Stephen Tomkinson & crew – Anderson 22

4^th – Sea Otter – Alan Round & crew – Sadler 26

Rice Pudding and Penny Diamond were tied for first place overall but Rice Pudding was given the trophy on account of her better performance in the second race.  There were some eyebrows raised at this decision which I must take full responsibility for.  Usually when there is a tie the discarded results are taken into consideration but as there were no discards we had to apply the last race counts twice rule.  Is this general practice or am I displaying fascist tendencies?

The Overall Cruiser Result:

1^st – Rice Pudding – Norman Whewell & crew - Dragonfly 920

2^nd - Penny Diamond – John Broadhead & crew - Copeland 28

3^rd – Misty – Stephen Tomkinson & crew – Anderson 22

4^th – Strider – Jim Cruise & crew – Sarum 28

5^th – Sea Otter – Alan Round & crew – Sadler 26

The first Sunday dinghy race count down started immediately after the cruisers had got underway.

I think the course was Cs – Gs – Bp – Hs – Ts x 3 laps

Only six dinghies were brave enough to start the race.

Result of Third Race

1^st – Nick Miller – Blaze

2^nd – Mark Bamber – Blaze

3^rd – Keith Byers (M&HYC) – OK

4^th – Steve & Peter Jones (B&FYC) – Fireball

5^th – Dave Kelsall – Laser

6^th – John Gibbison – Laser Radial

The second/fourth race was over a square course something like Bs – Gs – Hs – Ts x 2 laps

The conditions had calmed down a little and Martin would have started this race but for an accident which damaged their RS400.  I think had some of the other dinghies not left to beat the traffic they may have joined in too.

1^st – Mark Bamber – Blaze

2^nd – Nick Miller – Blaze

3^rd – Keith Byers (M&HYC) – OK

4^th – Steve & Peter Jones (B&FYC) – Fireball

5^th – John Gibbison – Laser Radial

6^th – Dave Kelsall – Laser

The Overall Result of the Dinghy Regatta was

1^st – Nick Miller – Blaze

2^nd – Mark Bamber – Blaze

3^rd – Keith Byers (M&HYC) – OK

4^th – Steve & Peter Jones (B&FYC) – Fireball

= 5^th – Dave Kelsall – Laser

= 5^th – John Gibbison – Laser Radial

The Vice-Commodore, Jeff Walker, handed out the prizes to the winners who were announced by the Commodore, Brian Roberts .

The Commodore thanked the behind the scenes helpers – Frank & Dave at the bar; Linda, Heidi & Sue for the refreshments, Hazel for the Jacob’s Join, the OODs and Safety Boat crews, Jeff for the overall event and me for the organisation of the racing.  He thanked the Harbour Master for keeping the dock gate open, which helped the cruisers no end.

He also thanked the visitors, six from Morecambe & Heysham Yacht Club and two from Blackpool & Fleetwood Yacht Club whose presence was a major contribution to the success and enjoyment of the Dinghy Regatta.

Keith Byers replied on behalf of the visitors inviting us all to M&H’s regatta on the 15^th and 16^th of this month.