In a spectacular, breezy race in winds that reached 23kts and accompanying rough seas on the challenging 32-mile Town Cup course, it was a real test of stamina for big boat racing teams in IRC.
The Merewethers, however, together with their seasoned Burnham-based crew including Harry Hastwell, John Oliver, Simon Kiddle, Colin Harris and Jan Brant, managed to recover from a poor start and claim the coveted Town Cup for the second time in three years. Their biggest race-long threat was Digger Hardman and team on J/80 Glorious Fools who had to settle for second. In third place was Phillip and Sally Harbott’s well-sailed, pretty Aphrodite 101 – Mantra – winners of the Mid Week series.
Having announced he was hanging up his racing boots after today’s Town Cup, an emotional Tony Merewether, commented: “This is our 40th Burnham Week and because I am retiring at the end of the year, we have decided to go cruising next year. We are going to sell our lovely racing Amazon and buy a cruising Amazon. It is a bit sad but we have certainly ended on a good note. It has been a great sail today despite choosing the wrong shore at the start. We had a close tussle with the J/80 all the way round, which really made it. Now looking forward to filling the Cup up with our favourite tipple – the Amazon Dark ’n Stormy – and as is traditional with the Town Cup – parading around town.”
Elsewhere on the River Crouch, the remaining fleets contesting Trophy Day enjoyed similar conditions to how the week started eight days ago – sun and a fresh breeze with powerful gusts – which made for a particularly exciting ride in some of the smaller dayboat classes.
The Squib class has been battling it out all week but the star performer of the week, who not only won the first Bank Holiday Weekend series, and the Mid-Week Series but also Saturday’s final Burnham Week Bowl, was Robert Coyle former Royal Corinthian YC (Burnham) commodore, and Marc Rawinsky.
Another consistent performer this week was local Royal Burnham One-Design hot-shot Chip Cole and his team of Nicola Hastwell, Quentin Warren, Simon Holland-Brown and Zandy Hobday on RB1 – White Rose. They won the Bank Holiday Series, the Midweek Series, and concluded with a final win of the Lards Cup after a close race with Will and Barty Dallimore on Mandarin.
Commenting on the secret of his success, Cole said: “Ninety per cent of it was on the starts. We nailed most of the starts and just managed to get away get in clear air and had the option to cover, which was the key. Also, although knowing the river is really important, we did, I have to confess, end up on the Redward flats on one occasion. Running down there in a Force 5 and coming to an abrupt halt in a wooden-masted, 85-year-old RBOD is not recommended. Thankfully all ended well and we only lost two places on that occasion.”
Saturday’s Bar YC Trophy for the Royal Corinthian One-Design class was by Stephen and Kate Rands, and Justin and Amanda Waples on Cormorant. Although Cormorant and the team on Corpo Santo – John and Tracey Waples together with John Waterhouse and Mike Lewis – enjoyed close racing all week finishing the series on equal points, Rands rounded off the week with another win on Saturday.
Peter Marchant, Dave Sheppard and Jono Brown on Beauty and the Beast, joined the ultra competitive Dragon fleet on the last day. They sailed well in the breezy conditions and, after a close race, were able to hold off Martin Makey and Tim and Teresa Wilkes on Ganador to win the Daily Telegraph Cup.
Consistent performers from the week series, however, were Clive and Graeme Page, and Nigel Cole on Pageboy XI, who were able to take the top spot overall from Makey.
Chatting about his win, Clive Page said: “It was tough because we had some great competition in the fleet as always. It was a very close run thing with Martin [Makey] and his crew, but I think the key to winning here, on the notable long Burnham Week Dragon courses, was to get a good start and hang on in.”
The winner of the RS Elite Lakedale Marine Trophy was Angus Bates and team on Flo, while in the 707 class Neil Connelly on Racehorse won the Patricia Bowl from Bill Wright on Little Red Rooster. Bates commented: “Although getting a good start on the run, was crucial today it wasn’t all roses for us because Richard Bavin in Serious Moonlight sailed a good, tactical second round and got ahead. Thankfully for us, however, we managed to roll them on the final, shattering eight-mile beat back to the finish.”
Clive Cherry and Daryl Mylroie on their Nimbus Maxi Eclipse concluded the week how they started in Class 5 with an overall win, for the Harry Crocker Bowl, while in Class 6 Len Cole and team on the Bavaria 37 Amanda Louise sailed an impressive race to clinch the Roach Trophy.
James Hutton-Penman sailing his Aero 5 was the star of the fast handicap dinghy in the breezy final race, although Scarlett Anderson and crew in her RS200 were always in close contention.
The Burnham Week prize giving ceremony took place at Crouch Yacht Club with Ron Pratt, the Mayor, presenting the Town Cup to Team Amazon who went on to celebrate in style.
David Smith (Commodore Crouch YC), and Jo Barker (Chairman Joint Clubs Committee) presented the remaining trophies. In her closing speech, Barker reported that nearly £2,000 had been raised for the Essex Air Ambulance through the sale of Burnham Week polo shirts kindly donated by Dave Smith at Dewhirst Group.
Activities around town culminated with a grand fireworks display to mark the end of the 2016 Burnham Week festival.
In his summing up of the week, Edwin Buckley – Principal Race Officer – said 2016 will go down in the history books as one of the best Burnham Weeks yet. “I have been involved in this regatta for many years and never can I remember so many Champagne sailing days with sunshine and good breeze every single day. There has been a real buzz around town and so much enthusiasm. We are now looking forward to next year’s grand 125th anniversary event. Dates are already in place, and plans are underway with the hope of welcoming a spirit of tradition class and any other class that wants to be part of this historic event.”
For results, and further event information, go to: http://www.burnhamweek.com
Report & Image: Sue Pelling