April - May

Eleven boats competed for the Norman Atkins Trophy at Downs SC on Sunday. The conditions were excellent with a steady Force 3-4 from the South East which gradually dropped throughout the morning. The battle for the trophy was between the two Contenders of Tony Cook and Nigel Cureton and the Buzz of Ed and Sarah Styles with Ed winning the first and third races and Nigel winning the second. In the end there were only two points separating the top three boats with the trophy going to Ed and Sarah Styles. Best of the slower boats was Chris Shelton in fifth place.

Results 1st Ed and Sarah Styles (Buzz) 2nd Nigel Cureton (Contender) 3rd Tony Cook (Contender) 4th John Cass and Julia Brazil (Buzz) 5th Chris Shelton (Phantom) 6th Phil and Dave Spicer (Laser 2000)

The unusually mild conditions attracted a good entry of 43 boats for the Man of Kent competition at Downs SC. The early morning mist has started to clear and a light breeze had filled in from the North-West by the start of the first race. The race officer set a trapezoidal course with the first beat being with the tide in the direction of Ramsgate. Steve and Katie Restall in a Buzz got a good start at the favoured port end of the line, with the stronger tide out to sea not conveying much advantage to the starboard end starters. Also near the front were Richard White and Martyn Styles in an RS400. However the slower RS200 of Chris and Nikki Catt was keeping the faster boats in their sights and further back the Lasers of Tim Seward and Peter Gray were keeping pace with the other Buzzes and Merlin Rocket. As the race progressed the wind began to swing to the North and the beat became a fetch so the race officer shortened the course after 3 laps with Chris and Nikki Catt taking the honours on corrected time. There was a long delay before the start of the second race as the wind continued to swing to the East where it eventually stabilized and dropped in strength. The fleet got away cleanly, with the port end again being favoured and also further uptide. Richard White and Martyn Styles were first round, with the Merlin Rocket of Jon Silk not far behind. As the wind dropped the tide turned and became more of a factor, with the slower boats struggling to make headway in the direction of Ramsgate. The race officer shortened course with Richard White this time taking the honours ahead of Chris Catt. With the wind continuing to drop, the third race was abandoned with the Man of Kent trophy being decided on the first two races and going to Chris and Nikki Catt in their RS200. Home club competitors also took the second and third slots with the first visitor being Jon Silk from Whitstable SC in a Merlin Rocket in fourth place.

Results Man of Kent 1^st Chris and Nikki Catt (RS200, Downs SC) 2^nd Steve and Katie Restall (Buzz, Downs SC) 3^rd Richard White and Martyn Styles (RS400, Downs SC) 4^th Jon Silk and Credidh Higgs (Whitstable SC) 5^th Frank Catt and Judy Restall (Downs SC) 6^th Edward Cowell and Lewis Stone (VagoxD, Broadstairs SC) Master of Kent Richard White and Martyn Styles (RS400, Downs SC) Maid of Kent J. Mortimer and M. Essex (RS200, Hythe and Saltwood SC) 1^st Junior Edward Cowell and Lewis Stone (VagoxD, Broadstairs SC)

James Blackman (13 – 16 age group) and Sebastian Hansell (8 – 12 age group) represented Downs Sailing Club at the Honda RYA Youth Rib Regional Final hosted by Newhaven and Seaford Sailing Club at Piddinghoe, East Sussex, on Saturday 16th September 2006.

Conditions were excellent, clear skies and only a slight breeze coming across the course. Competitors were allocate start positions in one of the two boats provided for the competition. Six Sailing Clubs from around the South East region were represented. Organisers commented that “the standard of boat handling skill had risen yet again this year”.

The competition was keenly fought over a course involving a slalom, simulated man overboard exercise and a 360deg. reverse around a buoy. The quality of boat handling was very high, particularly on the slow speed manoeuvring elements of the course.

Thanks to Darren Field of Newhaven and Seaford SC for organising the event and making it a successful day for all.

1st Mark Lambert (Newhaven & Seaford SC) 1.34.28mins; 2nd James Blackman (Downs SC) 1.38.10mins; 3rd Martyn Wogan (Crawley Mariners YC) 1.45.03mins

1st Adam Bermingham (Wilsonian SC) 1.49.90mins; 2nd Sebastian Hansell (Downs SC) 1.54.72mins; 3rd Daniel Fenn (Newhaven & Seaford SC) 2.25.04mins

The winners now go on to the Southampton Boat show to compete in the National Final Next Saturday hoping to win the prize of a new RIB, outboard and trailer for their club.

The strong North-Easterly of earlier in the day had subsided by Tuesday evening to a gentle Southerly breeze at the Downs SC. Simon Cory and Steve Restall were first away at the start, but the latter pulled away on the run by gybing inshore out of the tide. John Cass was in third position and the order remained the same until the last lap when Simon opted to come inshore whilst John stayed out to sea where he found more breeze and pulled ahead. In the slow handicap, Clare Stubbs pulled far enough ahead of Roger Phillips to win the race. The Toppers of James Blackman and Nathan Brazil had a close battle with James just edging it at the end. Results Fast Handicap 1st Steve Restall and Sarah Styles (Buzz) 2nd John Cass and Julia Brazil (Buzz) 3rd Simon Cory and Claire Hansell (Buzz) 4th Steve Stagg and Kathryn Hewitt (Buzz) 5th Brain Cory (A-class catamaran) Slow Handicap 1st Clare and Chris Stubbs (RS200) 2nd Roger Phillips and Judy Restall (Laser 2000) 3rd James Blackman (Topper) 4th Nathan Brazil (Topper) 5th Zara Brazil (Topper). On Sunday, racing was cancelled due to inclement weather.

Lack of wind led to the cancellation of the Pursuit Race on Sunday at Downs SC, however by late morning a sea breeze had filled in from the South providing ideal conditions for the Points Race. Steve Restall crossed the fleet on Port at the start, but it was Richard White who was first to the windward mark followed by Chris Dutton and Martin Wyman. The Laser 4000 of Chris Stubbs went past the latter on the run followed by Steve Restall. The third leg was a reach inshore and when the wind increased slightly the boats were able to plane across the waves. At the finish Steve Restall and Chris Dutton were close enough to the faster boats to beat them on handicap.

In the Slow Handicap, Chris Shelton kept ahead of Clare Stubbs with Rosie Lord in third.

Results: Fast Handicap 1st Steve and Katie Restall (Buzz) 2nd Chris Dutton and Martin Wyman (Buzz) 3rd Richard White and Martyn Styles (RS400) 4th Chris Stubbs (Laser 4000) 5th John Cass and Julia Brazil (Buzz) 6th Henry Giboin (Contender) Slow Handicap 1st Chris Shelton (Phantom) 2nd Clare Stubbs and Judy Restall (RS200) 3rd Rosie Lord (Topper) 4th Clara Marce (Laser)

August - September 2006 6/8/06 8/8/06 16/9/06 17/9/06 24/9/06