Glorious sunshine and a great sailing breeze set the scene for the 75th annual regatta weekend held on 9th and 10th of July. On day one Race officer Ian Hotchkiss set a course in the bay comprising a beat towards Wains Hill, a close reach to seaward and a long run back to the pier. The first race got away cleanly with 17 boats close tacking along the rocky shore to avoid the adverse tide. James and Anthony Willcocks (Fireball) quickly established a clear lead for the whole of the race with Robin Goff and Martin Gibson (Aero 7's) taking 2nd and 3rd positions. Josh Warren Cox and Evie Newell (Hartley 12.2) were quickest in the slow fleet followed by Sean Warren Cox (Mirror) and Evie and Andy Summerell (Hartley 12.2)
After a chaotic start to race two caused by the collision of Goff and Benedict Wybrow (Tasar) the Willcocks twins quickly took the lead once more followed by Andy and Andrea Willcocks (Fireball). Gibson again took 3rd place. Tom and Ester Knot were the quickest slow boat (Hartley 12.2) with Warren Cox/Newell 2nd and the Summerell’s 3rd.
By the start of the third race the tide had changed and the wind had increased. The race followed much the same pattern with the Fireballs being untouchable at the front of the fleet. Anthony Rees demonstrated that there still life in the Laser class taking 3rd place ahead of the Aero 7's. The Knots took 1st again followed by Sean Warren Cox and the Summerell’s.
Sunday dawned even sunnier and hotter but with little wind. As the afternoon start time approached what wind there was disappeared and racing was abandoned
Overall Results (Fast Handicap):
1st Anthony and James Willcocks (Fireball)
2nd Andy and Andrea Willcocks (Fireball)
3rd Robin Goff (Aero 7)
Overall Results (Slow Handicap):
1st Tom and Ester Knot (Hartley 12.2)
2nd J Warren Cox and E Newell (Hartley 12.2)
3rd Evie and Andy Summerell (Hartley 12.2)
Start line action - Photo C Slater