June – July (2/6/02) (9/6/02) (16/6/06) (24/6/02) (7/7/02) (14/7/02)
The Thursday evening race attracted a good entry, helped by the sunshine and gentle Southerly breeze. The Race officer had set a triangular course, consisting of a short beat towards Dover, with the tide, followed by two reaches to the East, then the North mark and a beat back to the club. The Buzz of Chris Dutton and the RS400s of Richard White and Steve Eversfield got the best starts and rounded the windward mark first. However the Buzzes of Ed Styles and Simon Cory sailed lower on the subsequent reach and overtook. The Buzz of John Cass was also going well and managed to make up a lot of ground on the second beat by tacking earlier for the inshore mark. As usual a close battle ensued between the Buzzes which was won by Ed Styles, whilst further back Chris Dutton managed to overtake John Cass on the final reach.
Results: 1st Ed and Sarah Styles (Buzz) 2nd Simon Cory and Annie Smith (Buzz) 3rd Richard White and Rick Clemence (RS400) 4th Chris Dutton and Martin Wyman (Buzz) 5th John Cass and Andrew Robinson (Buzz).
Queen Mother's Cup
On Sunday the annual Queen Mother's Cup race took place which includes rounding a mark set off Walmer Castle. There were fifteen entries and the start line was fairly congested as the sailors fought for position at the windward mark. Eric Styles sailing an ES500, which he had designed and built himself, pulled out a good lead (probably encouraged by his appearance on Meridian TV). Behind him, the three Buzzes of Simon Cory, Ed Styles and Chris Dutton were in contention throughout the race but despite some place-changing this remained the order at the finish. The long beat against the tide from Walmer Castle back to the club involved coming as close inshore as they dared without touching the bottom, conversely on the run back to the castle it paid to stay out to sea.
Results: 1st Simon Cory and Annie Smith (Buzz) 2nd Ed and Sarah Styles (Buzz) 3rd Eric and Richard Styles (ES500) 4th Chris Dutton and Martin Wyman (Buzz) 5th Chris Stubbs and Martin O'Dell (Laser 2000) 6th Clare and Helen Stubbs (RS200)
Results: 1st Simon Cory and Annie Smith (Buzz) 2nd Richard White and Martyn Styles (RS400) 3rd Ed and Sarah Styles (Buzz) 4th Eric Styles (Hornet) 5th Chris Dutton and Martin Wyman (Buzz) 6th John Cass and Andrew Robinson (Buzz).
On Sunday a steady drizzle and grey skies greeted the sailors, on the water the wind was a fresh breeze, Force 4-5 with regular gusts of Force 6. This led to some exciting sailing and a fair number of capsizes. In the pursuit race, the Laser of Steve Stagg started first, but was gradually hauled in by the Buzz of John Cass, who maintained his lead inspite of a capsize on the first beat. The Buzzes of Chris Dutton and Ed Styles were gradually catching up and eventually passed John on the penultimate lap. However on the final beat he went inshore and found better wind to win the race. The wind strength had increased further for the points race, however the run with the tide was characterised by violent gusts followed by lulls. Ed Styles, who had initially led the race, lost some ground when he capsized in one of the gusts and John Cass passed Chris Dutton in one of the lulls.On the final leg to the finish, Ed Styles capsized again and allowed John Cass and Chris Dutton through.
Results: Pursuit: 1st John Cass and Annie Smith (Buzz) 2nd Ed and Sarah Styles (Buzz) 3rd Chris Dutton and Martin Wyman (Buzz) 4th Steve Stagg (Laser) 5th Mike Heeley and Richard Pilling (RS400) Points: 1st John Cass and Annie Smith (Buzz) 2nd Chris Dutton and Martin Wyman (Buzz) 3rd Ed and Sarah Styles (Buzz) 4th Mike Heeley and Rick Clemence 5th Steve Stagg (Laser)
Siemssen Trophy (24/6/02)
There were eight entries for the Siemssen Trophy on Sunday, this is a competition for asymmetric boats and the format was three short races held back to back. Bright sunshine and a gentle Force 3 breeze were in evidence for the first race so sunglasses and sun cream were the order of the day. The race officer had set a trapeziodal course with the longer legs being thebeat and the run. Ed Styles had a good start and was first to the windward mark, behind him Chris Dutton was the first to gybe and found better wind out to sea. This remained the order for the first and second lap, with MikeHeeley in and RS400 and Simon Cory in his Buzz close behind. However on the third lap, the wind dropped and shifted on the beat allowing the two chasing boats to overtake. At the finish the winner on corrected time was Clare Stubbs in an RS200 who had sailed well to keep in close touch with the leaders.
For the second race the wind had increased to a Force 4 so the race officer lengthened the course, Chris Dutton and Martin Wyman had the best start and after one lap had pulled out a reasonable lead. However on the beat they were being gradually hauled in by Ed and Sarah Styles and were eventually passed. A simlar pattern emerged for the final race with Simon Cory and Amy Sleep finishing in third.
Results 1st Ed and Sarah Styles(Buzz) 2nd Chris Dutton and Martin Wyman (Buzz) 3rd Simon Cory and Amy Sleep(Buzz) 4th Clare Stubbs (RS200) 5th Chris and Helen Stubbs (Laser 2000) 6thMike Heeley and Jon Waite (RS400)
On Thursday, a strong tide was flowing towards Ramsgate and there was alight Southerly breeze. The sunshine attracted a good entry for both the slow and fast handicap fleets, however after just one lap the wind dropped and in the slow handicap race there were only three finishers, the Albacore of John Wilkinson, crewed by Frank Catt took the honours. The faster boats were able to continue and by this time Richard White and Martyn Styles had pulled out a good lead in their RS400. But on the final beat, the wind dropped and swung to the South-east, this allowed the two chasing RS400s of Jon Waite and Phil Eversfield to overtake. Behind them the Buzzes of Ed Styles and Simon Cory had pulled clear but they were also affected by the wind-shift and Chris Dutton and Martin Wyman, who had been steadily recovering from a bad start were able to overtake, although at the finish Simon Cory was first Buzz home.
Results. Fast Handicap: 1st Phil and Steve Eversfield (RS400) 2nd Jon Waite and Mike Heeley (RS400) 3rd Richard White and Martyn Styles (RS400) 4th Simon Cory and Annie Smith (Buzz) 5th Chris Dutton and Martin Wyman (Buzz) 6th Ed and Sarah Styles (Buzz) Slow Handicap:1st John Wilkinson and Frank Catt (Albacore) 2nd Clare Stubbs and Roger Phillips (RS200) 3rd Mark Heather (Laser Radial)
Deal Sailors Sweep the Medals (16/6/06)
Deal Sailors Sweep the Medals at Eastbourne Regatta Downs SC teams took all three medals at the Bank of Scotland sponsored Buzz Open Meeting held at Eastbourne on 15th/16th June.
The event was part of a Multigala which saw Iso and Boss classes sharing the same course. Saturday dawned dull and overcast and as the sailors unpacked on the beach they saw the low cloud scudding over the cliffs at Beachy Head propelled by a strong breeze of Force 5 occasionally gusting up to 6. However the sea was fairly flat and once on the water the crews began to enjoy the boisterous conditions although there were a fair number of capsizes in the faster fleets as the gusts caught out the unwary. A windward/leeward course was used throughout the event with separate start and finish gates set each side of the committee boat. The Downs team of Simon Cory and Amy Sleep took the first race after a tussle with the local crew of Nigel and Hayley Pipe. Ed and Sarah Styles were third followed by Chris Dutton and Martin Wyman. Andy Holmes and Chris Crabb were going well until their tack line parted which prevented them from raising the spinnaker. The tide was beginning to turn during the second race which reversed the favoured sides for the beat and run and so the fleet split on the start line and at the windward mark those favouring the inshore course were marginally ahead. This included Ed and Sarah Styles who pulled out a good lead in the slightly stronger wind. This set the pattern for the rest of the competition with father and daughter combination winning all the remaining races. However they were pushed strongly by the other crews with either Simon Cory or Chris Dutton snapping at their heels and the father and son pairing of David and Tom Bridle also in contention. Andy Holmes and Chris Crabb repaired their spinnaker line and achieved a very consistent set of third or fourth places. There were suprisingly few other breakages over the two days with only one mast being broken following a capsize and inversion, this was quickly replaced with help from Wet and Windy.
On Sunday the wind had abated to a Force 3/4 and the tide was running towards Beachy Head throughout the racing, this meant that an inshore course was favoured on the beat and disfavoured on the run. When the wind dropped, tacking out into the tide was a bad move as Chris Dutton and Martin Wyman found when forced to take a penalty following a port and starboard incident, relegating them from 2nd to 5th place in the penultimate race. The organisation and hospitality provided by Eastbourne Sovereign SC was superb, they even videoed the England game and provided a curry to eat while we watched the famous victory. For more adventurous partygoers there was the nightclub on the end of the pier. The weather, having been dull and overcast throughout the two days, brightened up and as the crews packed away their boats they were bathed in bright sunshine.
Results: 1st Ed and Sarah Styles (Downs SC) 2nd Simon Cory and Amy Sleep (Downs SC) 3rd Chris Dutton and Martin Wyman (Downs SC) 4th Andy Holmes and Chris Crabb (Chew Valley SC) 5th David and Tom Bridle (Brightlingsea SC) 6th Nigel and Hayley Pipe (Eastbourne Sovereign SC) 7th Barry and Tristar Hutt (Marconi SC) 8th M and Robert Wood (Eastbourne Sovereign SC) 9th J Delaunay and Y Saunders (Eastbourne Sovereign SC) 10th Broomfield and Broomfield (Draycote SC)
Blustery South-westerly (9/6/02)
A blustery South-westerly wind with stong gusts made for tricky sailing conditions on Thursday evening. The race officer set a beat close inshore followed by two offwind-legs with the tide. This led to some spectacular surfing on the second off-wind leg but the beat was characterised by some uncomfortable gusts as the boats neared the shelter of the beach. The slow handicap fleet saw the biggest turnout with keen competition between the cadets in a variety of boats. However it was experience which won out at the end of the day with victory going to Steve and Katie Restall in their RS200. The first Downs cadet home was James Cooke in his Laser.
Results: Fast Handicap 1st Ed and Sarah Styles (Buzz), 2nd Chris Dutton and Martin Wyman (Buzz) 3rd Chris Shelton and Dave Webb (RS400) Slow Handicap 1st Steve and Katie Restall (RS200), 2nd Chris and Helen Stubbs (Laser 2000), 3rd Mark Heather (Laser Radial), 4th James Cooke (Laser), 5th Clare Stubbs and Rob Waite (RS200), 6th Rory Sharvil (Laser).
On Sunday, the morning began brightly, but later became overcast and the wind gradually increased in strength until it reached Force 5/6 from the South-west. Coupled with a strong tide running towards Ramsgate, this made for a difficult beat towards Dover. In the pursuit race, the Laser 2000 of Chris Stubbs was coping well with the conditions and kept ahead until the final lap, as did the Buzz of John Cass, however, a capsize by the latter on the last beat allowed Ed Styles to get through. Behind them, Simon Cory and Annie Smith recovered well from an early capsize and showed spectacular speed when they dared to raise their spinnaker on the downwind leg to the finish line.
Results: Pursuit 1st Ed and Sarah Styles (Buzz), 2nd Chris and Helen Stubbs (Laser 2000), 3rd Chris Shelton and Dave Webb (RS400), 4th Simon Cory and Annie Smith (Buzz), 5th Clare Stubbs and Rob Waite (RS200).
By the time of the second race the wind strength had increased further with occasional gusts reaching Force 7. A number of competitors decided that discretion was the better part of valour and retired to the beach. However a hardy band of nine boats stayed on the water. The course was brought further inshore to gain some shelter from the tide and the wind, but there were numerous capsizes and a number of breakages including the Buzz of Frank Catt which suffered a broken boom and jib. Simon Cory managed to catch the gusts and was first home on handicap, followed by Richard White with Ed Styles in third.
Results: 1st Simon Cory and Annie Smith (Buzz), 2nd Richard White and Chris Shelton (RS400), 3rd Ed and Sarah Styles (Buzz), 4th Chris and Helen Stubbs (Laser 2000), 5th Mike and Adam Heeley (RS400), 6th Clare Stubbs and Rob Waite (RS200)
Following the cancellation of last Sunday's Stour Race, it was a relief this week when the sailors arrived at Deal to fing bright sunshine and a gentle breeze from the South-east. The first race was a Pursuit race based on personal handicaps which meant that the boats started at different times depending on their past results, the slower boast starting first. The Laser of John Turgoose started early and was not caught in the dying breze. Behind him the RS200 of Roger Phillips was going well and in the Buzzes, John Cass maintained his lead throughout.
Results: 1st John Turgoose (Laser) 2nd Roger Phillips and Peter O'Dell (RS200) 3rd John Cass and Julia Brazil (Buzz) 4th Ed and Sarah Styles (Buzz) 5th Chris Dutton and Martin Wyman (Buzz) 6th Phil and Steve Eversfield (RS400).
The following day the boats competed in a long distance race for the Ron
Williams and Allen trophies. The course took the fleet past the pier and then
out to the Downs Buoy which is about three-quarters of a mile off Sandwich Bay.
From there, they returned to the pier, then went out again to the Bank Buoy
which is a similar distance off the club. There was more wind and bigger waves
out to sea, which made for some exciting reaches. The first leg was a run past
the pier and the Buzz of Chris Dutton caught a gust which took him into the
lead. However they then gybed inshore, out of the tide, but into less wind,
which allowed Ed Styles and Simon Cory to get past. Despite some big windshifts
and holes in the breeze, the order remained the same until the end. In the slow
handicap fleet, which followed a shorter course, the Miracle of Chris Shelton
beat off some tough opposition from the RS200s to win the Ron Williams Trophy.
Results: Allen Trophy 1st Ed and Sarah Styles (Buzz) 2nd
Simon Cory and Annie Smith (Buzz) 3rd Chris Dutton and Martin Wyman (Buzz) 4th
John Cass and James Cooke (Buzz) Ron Williams Trophy 1st Chris Shelton
(Miracle) 2nd Roger Phillips (RS200) 3rd Martin O'Dell (Laser) 4th Tim Waite
(Laser 2000)