YSC Reedham Regatta

A strong turnout saw 14 yachts contest the Yare Sailing Club's open regatta at Reedham on 12/13th June. A blustery force 4 for Saturday's Harriet of Reedham Trophy race cast the usual blight on the high handicap river racers. Henry Fillery in little Breeze, profited most, narrowly winning from David Smith, guesting in Golden Moon. David Walker's Dryad was the best of the bigger yachts, finishing third. Sunday morning's predicted wind failed to fill in, allowing the powerful tide on the Yare to become the defining element. Those who coped with it best prospered, resulting in a clear win for Matt Ellis in Bluejacket, with Peter Charlton's Henrietta pushing Di Branscombe and Anna into third place. Privateer was a clear winner of the final race from Henrietta, with Wisp third. The Rose Bowl was retained by last year's winner Henrietta, followed by Bluejacket and Privateer.

Race One - Harriet of Reedham Trophy (11 starters)
1 Breeze - Henry Fillery
2 Golden Moon - David Smith
3 Dryad - David Walker

Race 2 - Serenity Trophy & 1st race of Luna Barometer Series (13 starters)
1 Blue Jacket - Matthew Ellis
2 Henrietta - Peter Charlton
3 Anna - Di Branscombe

Race 3 - Silver Trophy (8 starters)
1 Privateer - Tim Child
2 Henrietta - Peter Charlton
3 Wisp - Chris Franks

Overall - (Rose Bowl)
1 Henrietta - Peter Charlton
2 Blue Jacket - Matthew Ellis
3 Privateer - Tim Child

Detailed results here (pdf)

Blazing sunshine, light breezes and competition so close it had to be settled by a tie-breaker.
That was Reedham Regatta, the Yare Sailing Club's open weekend for River Racing Cruisers, which attracted 13 competing traditional broads yachts to the middle reaches of the Yare, between Reedham and Cantley at the weekend.
The two yachts locked in contention were Tim Child's 70 year old topsail sloop Privateer, and Pete Charlton's GRP-hulled Henrietta.
When winds stay light for river racing, the tides often remain the compelling factor, and so it was for Reedham. The opening race, for the Harriet of Reedham trophy saw a clear win for Henrietta, the only early starter not to take time penalties as the powerful ebb pushed the others down to, and eventually over the line. Privateer was second from Chris Franks sailing Wisp.
Race Two, on Sunday morning saw the flood tide take an equally decisive role. Privateer had sailed into clear air leading the fleet towards Cantley and was subsequently able to round the target buoy and beat downriver against the tide, whilst others arriving en masse suffered the sort of mutual becalming which ten river yachts can so easily achieve when they arrive at the same mark. An emphatic win then for Privateer with Matt Ellis in Blue Jacket second to the third-placed Wisp.
Race three commenced on the tail of the same flood, but the southerly breeze filled, providing quick access to and exit from Hardley reach where the two racing marks constituted a loop or circuit. The only serious hazard to progress being the significant threat from sunburn.
Wisp won this final event on handicap with Henrietta narrowly beating Privateer for second place. These two yachts were even closer on points; being locked together in a dead heat. The tie-break method adopted was 'best last performance', so with Henrietta edging out Privateer in the final race, she was allocated the series.
The event was the first to qualify for the YSC's new open river racing championships for the Luna Trophy.