40th Anniversary Regatta
It happened – due to the amazing energy of Adrian Fluker who at times seemed to be doing everything himself, including nanny boat driving and washing up!
47 Squibs entered for the Regatta, June 8–13 under the burgee of the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club. The event on the water was won by Bryan and Jenny Riley from Waveney & Oulton Broad Yacht Club sailing Brimstone 73 but another winner was Nick Tolhurst from the Burnham fleet who won a brand new Squib in the raffle. The raffle prize Squib, named ‘By the Lee’ in honour of Oliver Lee designer of the Squib, will be sailed bearing its sponsors’ logos for the next couple of seasons. The generosity of the sponsors not only enabled the amazing raffle prize but also the donation of three Toppers for sail training at Burnham.
The sponsors included Super Spars, Holts, White Marine Services, The Franklin Group, Colman Coyle, Geaves, Hickory Docks, Lonton and Gray, Hyde Sails, Mailspeed Marine, The Anglian Group and Parker Boats as well as the operators of Bradwell Power Station.
The week commenced with three days of predominantly light winds which made for tricky navigation in the Rivers Crouch and Roach and left David White and Pete Ballam from Felixstowe Ferry Yacht Club sailing Easy 83 in a strong position after a 1-1-3 start.
In stronger winds as the week progressed, particularly the force 5 to 6 on Thursday, other crews came to the fore, notably Pete Marchant / Paul Austin of the home club in Tears for Fears 801 and Gerard Dyson / Tony Saltonstall from Royal Yorkshire Yacht Club sailing Alchemy 800, the latter finishing second overall as Easy dropped back a place. However, no one could match the consistent excellence of the winners whose impressive series, having discarded an 18th, read 2, 2, 1, 4, 1.
In fourth place came the 2007 National Squib Champions, Mike and Penny Fenwick, from Weymouth Sailing Club in Ghost Rider 758 who, despite their light weight, always seem to do better in stronger winds. The first local boat home was Lady Penelope 819, sailed by Malcolm Hutchins and Andy Ramsey in fifth place – somewhat surprising given expectations that local knowledge would triumph in the tricky tidal currents.
Squibs travelled from far and wide, Alkypops 836 driving down from the Royal Tay Yacht Club in Dundee. Crewing High Scott, was Sandy Bremner who had learned to sail at Burnham and was driven by nostalgia to return.
The fleet was highly appreciative of the skill of Endeavour Trophy Race Officer Kim Allen who set good courses each day despite the winds mainly from the North and of Rice & Coles Boatyard who craned out the Squibs while their crews were enjoying yet more hospitality from the Royal Corinthian.
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1
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73
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Brimstone
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Bryan Riley
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Jenny Riley
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W&OBYC
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2
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800
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Alchemy
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Gerard Dyson
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Tony Saltonstall
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RYYC
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3
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83
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Easy
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David White
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Peter Ballam
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FFSC
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4
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758
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Ghost Rider
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Mike Fenwick
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Penny Fenwick
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WSC
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5
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819
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Lady Penelope
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Malcolm Hutchins
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Andy Ramsey
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RCYC
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6
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105
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Helmut Shooing II
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Nigel Grogan
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Jack Grogan
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RCYC
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7
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858
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Bacchante VIII
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Harvey Worden
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Andy Brown
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RAYC
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8
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823
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Humphrey
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Robert Coyle
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Mel Titmus
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RCYC
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9
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84
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Sroda
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Nick Tolhurst
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Richard Tucker
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RCYC
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10
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132
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Cariad Bach
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Alan Johnson
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David Garlick
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SCYC
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