(11/8/03) (18/8/03) (25/08/08) (31/8/03) (14/9/03) (21/9/03) (29/9/03)
A blustery North-Westerly Force 4/5 was blowing off the shore on Sunday, causing the low cloud to move briskly out to sea. Close inshore the large gusts caused some difficulties for the sailors and on the beat it paid to stay slightly further out in the more constant breeze. During the Pursuit race, the tide was running towards Dover and the boats reached a good speed on the long reach with the tide. John Cass and Julia Brazil pulled steadily away from the rest of the fleet to win the race by a good margin. Simon Cory was making up some ground, but was overtaken by Jenny Heeley and Dom Johnson, recently returned from the 470 World Championships, where she was competing for Olympic qualification.
By the start of the Autumn Points race, the wind had increased to a Force 5/6 this led to some spectacular speeds on the reaches and a fair number of capsizes amongst the single-handed boats. However as the tide rose, the wing mark began to drift towards the pier due to an anchor chain of insufficient length. Thus the race had to be abandoned.
Results: Pursuit 1st John Cass and Julia Brazil (Buzz) 2nd Dom Johnson and Jenny Heeley (RS400) 3rd Simon Cory and Annie Smith (Buzz) 4th Tony Cook (Contender) 5th Ron Bramwell (Laser) 6th Chris Shelton (Phantom)
Another glorious Sunday with clear blue skies and a gentle South-Easterly breeze provided a good morning's racing for the Downs sailors. The Race Officer set a long beat against the tide for the first leg followed by a fast run down tide towards the pier. The earlier starting boats sped away and for two laps it didn't look like the fast boats would catch them, however on the last lap the RS400 of Mitch and Dave Webb passed the leading Laser 2000 of Roger Phillips to take first place. The Hornet of Eric Styles was also going well but just failed to catch Ron Bramwell in a Laser on the line.
Results: Pursuit 1st Mitch and Dave Webb (RS400) 2nd Roger Philips (Laser 2000) 3rd Ron Bramwell (Laser) 4th Eric Styles and Nathan Brazil (Hornet) 5th Michael Tobin (Laser 2000) 6th John Cass and Julia Brazil (Buzz).
By the start of the Points race, the wind had begun to swing to the South and freshen slightly. The fast handicap fleet got away cleanly and again Eric Styles in the Hornet was ahead, however on the second lap he was forced to retire leaving the way clear for Ed and Sarah Styles to take the lead. From this point on they were never troubled, although the Contender of Tony Cook was making good speed up the beat. The tide began to turn during the race making the run more taxing especially for the slow handicap boats. In this fleet Roger Phillips was again to the fore, and pulled out a good lead over Chris and Helen Stubbs, despite taking a wide course on the final close reach. Ron Bramwell maintained his good form from the first race and took third place.
Results: Fast Handicap 1st Ed and Sarah Styles (Buzz) 2nd John Cass and Julia Brazil (Buzz) 3rd Tony Cook (Contender) 4th Jeremy Blackman and Rick Clemence (Buzz) 5th Mitch and Dave Webb (RS400)
Slow Handicap 1st Roger Phillips (Laser 2000) 2nd Chris and Helen Stubbs (Laser 2000) 3rd Ron Bramwell (Laser) 4th Michael Tobin and Elizabeth Wilkinson (Laser 2000) 5th Tim Waite and Alison Sharvill (Laser 2000) 6th Rosie Lord (Topper)
Bright sunshine and a gentle South-Easterly breeze attracted a good entry to the races on Sunday including the Downs sailors who had dominated the Man of Kent trophy at Broadstairs Sailing Club the previous weekend taking the first four places plus the team prize. In the Pursuit race the Hornet of Eric Styles and the RS300 of Frank Catt worked their way steadily past all the earlier-starting boas except for Helen Stubbs in an RS200 who took second place. Behind them the Buzzes of Steve Restall and Ed Styles were locked in a close contest but were beaten in the end by both John Cass and Chris Dutton who had started earlier.
Results: Pursuit 1st Eric Styles and Andrew Robinson (Hornet) 2nd Helen Stubbs (RS200) 3rd Frank Catt (RS300) 4th Chris and Claire Stubbs (Laser 2000) 5th John Cass and Julia Brazil (Buzz) 6th Chris Dutton and Martin Wyman (Buzz).
In the Points race, there was a pile-up at the pin end of the line which forced Ed Styles over and he had to return. Steve Restall and Eric Styles got away well, chased by Frank Catt in an RS300. Chris Dutton led the chasing Buzzes for two laps but on the final lap he allowed both Ed Styles and John Cass through.
Results: Fast Handicap 1st Steve and Katie Restall (Buzz) 2nd Frank Catt (RS300) 3rd Eric Styles and Andrew Robinson (Hornet) 4th Ed and Sarah styles (Buzz) 5th John Cass and Julia Brazil (Buzz) 6th Chris Dutton and Martin Wyman (Buzz).
In the Slow handicap, Helen Stubbs led round once again, chased by Allan Dewar and Chris Stubbs, both in Laser 2000s. The single handers did well in the light conditions to take 3rd and 4th positions. On the last lap the wind died away and the later-finishing boats struggled to make the line.
Results: Slow Handicap 1st Helen stubbs (RS20) 2nd Allan Dewar and Silke Harmeyer (Laser 2000) 3rd Chris and Claire Stubbs (Laser 2000) 4th John Turgoose (Laser) 5th Rosie Lord (Topper) 6th Roger Phillips and Mick Banks (Laser 2000)
A light North-Easterly
breeze greeted the sailors on Tuesday evening in contrast to the stronger winds
seen at the weekend. A moderate tide was running towards Dover which made
the beat the slowest leg. Frank Catt in his RS300 got a flying start and led
the fleet to the first mark. Eric Styles sailing his Hornet single-handed was
also going well. At the windward mark the chasing pack of Buzzes arrived
together and John Cass was forced to tack off allowing the others through.
Simon Cory pulled out a good lead and neither Steve Restall nor Chris Dutton
made any impression on it.
Results: Fast
Handicap 1st Frank Catt (RS300)
2nd Simon Cory and Annie Smith (Buzz) 3rd Steve and Katie Restall (Buzz) 4th Chris
Dutton and Martin Wyman (Buzz) 5th Eric Styles (Hornet) 6th John Cass and
Mark Hall (Buzz).
In
the Slow Handicap, the Albacore of John Wilkinson and Mick
Banks was going well but was just pipped by John Waterfall on corrected
time. John Turgoose won the battle of the Lasers
Slow Handicap 1st John Waterfall (RS Vareo) 2nd John Wilkinson and
Mick Banks (Albacore) 3rd John Turgoose (Laser) 4th Steve Stagg (Laser) 5th
Rosie Lord (Topper) 6th Chris Martin (Laser)
On Sunday a
light and variable Northerly wind made for some interesting racing. Large holes
in the wind caused some dramatic changes in fortunes for the crews. In the
Pursuit race, Eric Styles crewed by Andrew Robinson in a Hornet fared the best
and overtook all the slower boats to win the race. Frank Catt in an RS300 was
also going well and pulled out a going lead over the chasing Buzzes. Ed
Styles came from behind to be first Buzz home.
Results:
Pursuit 1st Eric
Styles and Andrew Robinson (Hornet) 2nd Frank Catt (RS300) 3rd Ed and Sarah Styles
(Buzz) 4th Mitch and Dave Webb (RS400) 5th Chris Dutton and Martin Wyman (Buzz)
6th John Cass and Mark Hall (Buzz).
In the Points
Race, Simon Cory and Annie Smith started well and led the fleet for the first
two laps, only to be passed by Ed and Eric Styles and Frank Catt just before
the end. In the Slow Handicap fleet, Rosie Lord took first place followed by
John Turgoose in a Laser. A number of boats from both fleets retired when the
wind died.
Results:
Fast Handicap 1st
Eric Styles and Andrew Robinson (Hornet) 2nd Frank Catt (RS300) 3rd Ed and
Sarah Styles (Buzz) 4th Simon Cory and Annie Smith (Buzz) 5th John Cass and
Mark Hall (Buzz) 6th Chris Dutton and Martin Wyman (Buzz)
On Tuesday the strong South-Westerly wind of the afternoon had subsided to a gentle Force 2 by the start of the evening race. On the start line, the four Buzzes were tightly bunched, but it was Ed and Sarah Styles who rounded first followed by Chris Dutton and Martin Wyman. Simon Cory and John Cass chased hard but were unable to catch these two. Towards the end of the race, the wind strength dropped and swung to a more Westerly direction, but the crews were still able to fly their spinnakers on the reach parallel to the shore. In the Slow Handicap fleet, Chris and Helen Stubbs pulled out a good lead from Allan Dewar, but the two Laser 2000s were split by the Miracle of Chris Shelton on corrected time.
Results: Fast Handicap 1st Ed and Sarah Styles (Buzz) 2nd Chris Dutton and Martin Wyman (Buzz) 3rd Simon Cory and Rick Clemence (Buzz) 4th John Cass and Simon Bishop (Buzz) 5th Tony Green (Topaz) Slow Handicap 1st Chris and Helen Stubbs (Laser 2000) 2nd Chris and Max Shelton (Miracle) 3rd Alan Dewar and Silke Harmeyer (Laser 2000) 4th John Waterfall (RS Vareo) 5th John Wilkinson and Will Hardy (Albacore)
On Sunday the wind swung to the North-East, bringing some welcome relief from the recent hot weather. Nine boats launched into the moderate surf for the Pursuit Race. The first leg was a beat to the North Mark followed by a flying reach down towards Dover. Eric Styles in a Hornet and Mike Heeley in an RS400 were going well chased by a pack of Buzzes led by Ed Styles and Simon Cory. At the finish it was Ed who took the gun.
Results: Pursuit Race 1st Ed and Sarah Styles (Buzz) 2nd Simon Cory and Annie Smith (Buzz) 3rd Chris Dutton and Martin Wyman (Buzz) 4th John Cass and Mark Hall (Buzz) 5th John Wilkinson and Mick Banks (Albacore) 6th Mike Heeley and Rick Clemence (RS400).
The wind increased in strength for the handicap race making the downwind legs more exciting as the boats surfed in towards the shore. In the slow handicap race, John Turgoose coped well with the testing conditions to take first place followed by Michael Tobin in a Laser 2000. Ed Styles once again dominated proceedings in the fast handicap race, chased by Simon Cory. Steve and Katie Restall did well to recover form a poor start to take third position.
Results: Fast Handicap 1st Ed and Sarah Styles (Buzz) 2nd Simon Cory and Annie Smith (Buzz) 3rd Steve and Katie Restall (Buzz) 4th John Cass and Mark Hall (Buzz) 5th Chris Dutton and Phil (Buzz) 6th Eric Styles (Hornet) Slow Handicap 1st John Turgoose (Laser) 2nd Michael Tobin and Elizabeth wilkinson (laser 2000) 3rd John Wilkinson and Mick Banks (Albacore)
Sunday saw some exciting racing at the Downs SC. The Easterly wind, which had been blowing for several days had built up a some large waves, but these had subsided for the start of the Pursuit Race since it was low tide. The course took the boats out to the North mark then to the East before running back in towards the shore. Nigel Cureton in his Contender enjoyed the boisterous conditions and passed all the earlier-starting boats to take first place. Chris and Helen Stubbs in their Laser 2000 were going well and held off the challenge of John Cass in his Buzz to take 2nd place.
Results: Pursuit 1st Nigel Cureton (Contender) 2nd Chris and Helen Stubbs (Laser 2000) 3rd John Cass and Julia Brazil (Buzz) 4th John Wilkinson and Will Hardy (Albacore) 5th Roger Phillips and James Blackman (Laser 2000) 6th Jeremy Blackman and Rick Clemence (Buzz)
By the start of the second race, as high tide approached, the wind had built to a Force 4/5 and the waves had increased in size. Nontheless fifteen boats took to the water. In the Fast Handicap fleet there was a pile-up on the start line and John Cass was forced over and had to return. Chris Dutton and Ed Styles in their Buzzes led up the first beat and reach but at the wing mark Dutton dragged his spinnaker and was overtaken. John Cass had recovered from his poor start and eventually passed Ed and Sarah Styles to take first place. In the Slow Handicap fleet Chris Stubbs won the battle of the Laser 2000s over Roger Phillips and John Turgoose in his Laser did well in the heavy conditions to take third place. There were a number of capsizes and three boats failed to finish but a willing shore-party caught the boats as they came back in on the surf and all the sailors had enjoyed the exciting conditions.
Results: Fast Handicap 1st John Cass and Julia Brazil (Buzz) 2nd Ed and Sarah Styles (Buzz) 3rd Chris Dutton and Martin Wyman (Buzz) 4th Jeremy Blackman and Rick Clemence (Buzz) 5th Mike Heeley and Richard Pilling (RS400) 6th Steve and Phil Eversfield (RS400) Slow Handicap 1st Chris and Helen Stubbs (Laser 2000) 2nd Roger Phillips and James Blackman (Laser 2000) 3rd John Turgoose (Laser) 4th John Wilkinson and Will Hardy (Albacore) 5th Philip Spicer (Radial).
On Tuesday there was little wind inland, however on the sea a light breeze enabled racing to take place. Nineteen boats took part including the brand new A-class catamaran of Brian Cory, recently completed by Cory Boats. The Buzz of Steve Restall and the RS300 of Frank Catt were quickly away at the start, but the faster catamaran of Brian Cory led round the windward mark. Unfortunately at the wing mark, the strong tide pushed the catamaran onto the buoy and it got caught on the anchor rope. This allowed the chasing pack through. Steve Restall and Sarah Styles pulled out a good lead and Frank Catt passed Chris Dutton when the latter hit the wing mark and had to take a penalty. In the slow handicap, Chris Shelton sailing a Miracle with his son, kept in touch with the faster Laser 2000s of Roger Phillips and Chris Stubbs. On the final lap the wind began to die away and the last boats struggled to make the finish.
Results: Fast Handicap 1st Frank Catt (RS300) 2nd Steve Restall and Sarah Styles (Buzz) 3rd Chris Dutton and Martin Wyman (Buzz) 4th Simon Cory and Annie Smith (Buzz) 5th John Cass and Phil Spicer (Buzz) 6th Jeremy Blackman and Julia Brazil (Buzz) Slow Handicap 1st Chris and Max Shelton (Miracle) 2nd Robert Waite (Topper) 3rd John Waterfall (Vareo) 4th John Wilkinson and Mike Banks (Albacore) 5th Chris Stubbs and Zara Brazil (Laser 2000) 6th Roger Phillips and Nathan Brazil (Laser 2000)
Deal Regatta week saw plenty of action at the Downs sailing club. On Tuesday, twenty-two boats competed for the Beauchamp vase. This race is contested on personal handicaps and so it gives all the competitors a fair chance of winning, in the event, Robert Waite in a Laser took the honours, followed by James Blackman sailing a Topper.
Results: 1st Robert Waite (Laser) 2nd James Blackman (Topper) 3rd John Wilkinson and Mick Banks (Albacore) 4th Nathan Brazil (Topper) 5th Chris Shelton (Phantom) 6th Jeremy Blackman and Julia Brazil (Buzz)
On Wednesday the Bank Buoy Scramble took place. This involves a Le Mans style start with the helms at the top of the beach and the crews holding the boats ready in the water. At the hooter, the helms sprint down the beach, jump in the boats and launch. There was a good Force 4 blowing off the beach and so the faster boats sped out to the Bank Buoy, about three-quarters of a mile out. The leg back was a close reach which kept the crews at full stretch on the trapeze.
Results: 1st Simon Cory and Annie Smith (Buzz) 2nd John Cass and Julia Brazil (Buzz) 3rd Chris Dutton and Martin Wyman (Buzz) 4th Mark and Clinton Styles (Hornet) 5th Eric and Richard Styles (ES500) 6th James O'Dell (Topper).
After the race, the crews were treated to the spectacular sight of three parachutists jumping out of a helicopter and landing on Walmer Green. On Saturday, twelve boats competed for the Vancouver Cup, this is a long distance race, which involved another trip out to the Bank Buoy. This time the wind was very light, on the first beat the boats which tacked out into the tide early found themselves being swept away from the windward mark, only when the wind filed in slightly was the leading boat, Richard White, able to make the mark. Meanwhile, Chris and Nicky Dutton in a Buzz had stayed inshore and when they tacked they were able to cross the rest of the fleet and round in second place. This remained the order as the boats began to head out to the Bank Buoy. As they got further out into the tide, the wind began to fade away and the leading boats found themselves being swept away from the mark, this time the slower boats saw what was happening and stayed inshore. For thirty minutes, the leading boats struggled to make the mark, and the slow boats having kept inshore then tacked out well above the mark and were swept down towards it by the tide. Unfortunately the tide was so strong it swept them past the mark and they were unable to round it, apart from Mitch Webb in a Phantom who was able to round the mark with the aid of a slight increase in wind strength, this also allowed the three leading boats to round and sail back in to the finish. None of he other boats completed the race.
Results: 1st Mitch Webb (Phantom) 2nd Chris and Nicky Dutton (Buzz) 3rd Richard White and Martyn Styles (RS400) 4th Chris Shelton and Dave Webb (RS400).
On Sunday thirteen boats competed for the Regatta Challenge Cup. In the morning the wind was too light to sail, but in the afternoon, two races were completed. Richard White and Martyn Styles in their RS400 won the fast handicap and Roger Phillips and Nick O'Dell in a Laser 2000 won the slow handicap.
Results: Fast Handicap 1st Richard White and Martyn Styles (RS400) 2nd John Cass and Julia Brazil (Buzz) 3rd Eric and Mark Styles (Hornet) 4th Chris Shelton and Dave Webb (RS400) 5th Jeremy Blackman and Phil (Buzz) 6th Tony Cook (Contender) Slow Handicap 1st Roger Phillips and Nick O'Dell (Laser 2000) 2nd John Sharvill and Tim Waite (Laser 2000) 3rd John Wilkinson and Mick Banks (Albacore) 4th Mitch Webb (Phantom) 5th Rosie Lord (Topper) 6th James Blackman (Topper). Following the Regatta week, normal club racing began again on Tuesday. Results: Fast Handicap 1st Steve Restall and Sarah Styles (Buzz) 2nd John Cass and Julia Brazil (Buzz) 3rd Tony Cook (Contender) Slow Handicap 1st Chris and Helen Stubbs (Laser 2000) 2nd Roger Phillips and Nick O'Dell (Laser 2000) 3rd John Turgoose (Laser) 4th John Waterfall (RS Vareo) 5th Mitch and Dan Webb (RS200) 6th Rosie Lord (Topper) On Thursday, Ed Styles made a welcome return to sailing in a Laser 2000 instead of his usual Buzz. Results: Fast Handicap 1st Richard White and Mark Styles (RS400) 2nd Steve Restall and Sarah Styles (Buzz) 3rd Chris Shelton and Dave Webb (RS400) 4th Bob and Sue Erridge (Buzz) 5th Andrew Rankin (Buzz) Slow Handicap 1st Mitch and Dan Webb (RS200) 2nd Ed Styles and Roger Phillips (Laser 2000) 3rd John Waterfall (RS Vareo) On Sunday, taking to the water was a welcome relief from the recent high temperatures and this encouraged a good turnout of seventeen boats. They were rewarded with a gentle Southerly breeze of Force 2-3. In the Pursuit race, Roger Phillips held on to his lead throughout to take the honours. Behind him, the faster boats were locked in a close battle, Tony Cook in his Contender managing to hold off most challengers until the final leg, when he was passed by Simon Cory and Chris Dutton. Results 1st Roger Phillips and Nick O'Dell (Laser 2000) 2nd Clare and Chris Stubbs (RS200) 3rd Simon Cory and Annie Smith (Buzz) 4th Chris Dutton and Martin Wyman (Buzz) 5th Tony Cook (Contender) 6th Mitch and Dan Webb (RS200). In the handicap race, the usual domination of the Buzzes was broken by the two Contenders who found the course to their liking. Ed Styles and Chris Dutton passed Simon Cory when he got in a tangle with his spinnaker, but were unable to catch Steve Restall. Roger Phillips again won the slow handicap. Results: Fast Handicap 1st Tony Cook (Contender) 2nd Nigel Cureton (Contender) 3rd Steve Restall and Sarah Styles (Buzz) 4th Ed and Sarah Styles (Buzz) 5th Chris Dutton and Martin Wyman (Buzz) 6th Simon Cory and Annie Smith (Buzz) Slow Handicap 1st Roger Phillips and Nick O'Dell (Laser 2000) 2nd Clare and Chris Stubbs (RS200) 3rd John Wilkinson and Mick Banks (Albacore) 4th Mitch and Dan Webb (RS200) 5th Pat Clarke and Alison Sharvill (Laser 2000) 6th John Sharvill and Tim Waite (Laser 2000)