The day started with fantastic conditions – a decent westerly breeze, lovely morning sunshine, and the start out at Ballast Hill buoy just after 09:00 meant the tide had turned and was heading out with the competitors. We had 6 SSC boats take advantage of the beautiful conditions to get out racing.
The varied fleet of 6, from Cuckoo Hawk the Hawk 20 to Dolma the Westerly Pentland Ketch to Makeda the catamaran, had a down wind down tide leg out of the Stour via Harwich Shelf and out into Dovercourt Bay to round Landguard, Outer Ridge, and Pennyhole, before returning to the Stour via Harwich Shelf again to finish with a 180 bearing to Stour No. 2.
From all accounts the boats had a lovely sail in the sun until the turn back towards the Stour and the finish. The wind had increased, clouds had descended and it was hard going beating back up the river, particularly whilst watching a nasty dark cloud and rain heading down river towards them! Most boats had finished by the time the squall hit, but were still caught out in the rain either at Stutton or Wrabness whilst waiting for the tide to rise enough to return home to Mistley/Manningtree. Before all could head further up river in the light wind and sunshine following the squall, a second thunder storm rolled in with horizontal rain.
All in all, the competitors faced almost all weather conditions on the day of the race, bar snow and hail, but still enjoyed the day.
The results for the day were:
1st place – Cuckoo Hawk (Skipper Will Langton)
2nd place – Dolma (Skipper Richard Martin)
3rd place – Pebble (Skipper Tim Goodwin)
4th place – Bushwakka (Skipper Simon Garner)
5th place – Makeda (Skipper Jerry Garner)
6th place – Samphire (Skipper Chris Whittington)
Thanks to all who were out on the water!
