2010 Henri Lloyd Weymouth Regatta - Dinghies
The Henri Lloyd Yacht Clubs of Weymouth 2010 Dinghy Regatta was held on the 3rd and 4th of July, one week earlier than the Keelboat Regatta, and saw over 130 boats and 185 competitors taking part with fleets launching from both Weymouth Sailing Club and Castle Cove Sailing Club. Racing was organised in Weymouth Bay using two course areas, with the Contender, Scorpion and Fireball Classes sailing a triangle – sausage course and the OK Class and Fast Handicap, Slow Handicap and Asymmetric Classes competing on a trapezoid course.
Race Officer Mike Robinson and ARO Adrian Patteson managed the trapezoid course, taking full advantage of the Bays open space to set a large enough course to ensure good separation of fleets which featured an enormous array of dinghies from 12 foot skiffs to RS Feva’s, with most stations in between. They also included twelve Foiling Moths and eleven Albacores who used the event as a Southern Area Championship.
On the other race course Race Officer Simon Vines and ARO Helen Middleton-Stewart were setting courses closer to the Portland Harbour Breakwater, which was giving the Contender, Scorpion and Fireball fleets more than adequate space to enjoy the racing.
Saturday saw dazzling sailing conditions with bright sunshine and the wind rising from 12 mph to a constant 22 mph as a strong seabreeze built on top of the gradient Southwesterly wind throughout the three races sailed that day. By the end of the last race on Saturday the expression on some competitors faces seemed to be indicating that perhaps one lap less would have been better, but there could be no doubt that everyone had got a full days sailing.
Sunday again saw more bright sunshine but with a stronger gradient breeze. This meant that some competitors in the handicap fleets decided that, in view of the increase in wind strength on Saturday, to give the racing a miss. The breeze increased to a steady 25 mph with gusts of 30 mph.
The results for the Foiling Moths and Albacores were split from the handicap classes and were awarded prizes separately adding a further dimension to the results.
Particular mention should go to Terry Curtis from Weymouth SC in the OK Class who managed to win all five races sailed and to Emma Stevenson and Tom Wells from the YOBS who sailed an RS Feva into 3rd place in the slow handicap despite a breakage on Sunday which meant they had to return to the club. However, the outstanding performance of the Regatta was for the Kingfisher Marine Trophy (the Race Officers nomination for effort) which was won by sixty-something Di Gill, sailing a Laser Radial (I was sailing an RS700 and even I thought the courses were big!). After sailing all races on Saturday, Di faced a gruelling 3 mile beat back to Castle Cove Sailing Club, completing a marathon seven and a half hour day on the water. She then returned for, and completed, both races on Sunday. Well done Di!
