Tynemouth Week 2022
by Neil Schofield 22 Jun 2022 20:25 NZST
15-19 June 2022
Tynemouth week returned for its now annual slot in the calendar, we listened to feedback from last year's event and implemented some small changes to make this week even better and its fair to say it was a huge success both on and off the water.
Tynemouth week is all about getting a lot of sailing and socialising in without the need to take time off work, we sailed on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday evenings followed by a Super Saturday and long pursuit race on the Sunday. With all three categories carrying their own results people can pick and choose which works best for them. For this year our volunteers made a big effort to improve our shore side offering with delicious hot food available after sailing each weekday, a BBQ and live music on the Saturday night and afternoon tea following the racing on Sunday.
The evening race start times were brought forwards to 6.30pm to allow us to squeeze in a second race. Race 1 started with a light South Easterly blowing an average of 6 knots, with 39 boats from TSC and SSSC this was the highest turnout for a Wed in at least 20 years. Another change to last years' program saw class starts for RS400s and Lasers followed by the handicap fleet. At 3min intervals this allowed PRO Howard Steavenson and his team to offer good class racing along with a quick turnaround. With shipping planned throughout the evening racing was confined to the north side of the fairway allowing a figure of eight course to be set in the best of the breeze. Visitors Danny & Matthew Boatman from the 12 strong RS400 fleet led from the off and took the overall win in race 1, Batchelor/Schofield taking 2nd and Ainsworth/Roberts taking 3rd spot, 400's taking 8 out of the top 11 places. Chris Mayes was first Laser in 7th overall and Jon & Sally Cooper first handicap boat in 10th overall.
Race 2 utilized the same course in a slightly fading breeze. Batchelor/Schofield took an early lead and held on to it despite the fast charging Boatman/Boatman team closing in towards the line, Chris Mayes of the 17 strong laser fleet took the overall win on handicap, having figured out the tidal flow and used it to his advantage. Cooper/Cooper wining the handicap feet with an 8th overall.
This year each day's racing was followed by a 'chalk talk' in the bar after sailing where class winners are invited to share their thoughts on wind, tide and boat set up and answer questions from the group. This is standard practise at TSC, celebrating success and sharing knowledge and expertise
Thursday saw even lighter breeze with an average of 4 knots from the SE, a similar figure eight course to Wednesday was set with the start close to TSC beach and staying to the north side of the fairway. Batchelor/Schofield took the win in decreasing breeze followed by Boatman/Boatman and third went to the rapidly improving team of Oyston/Hiermeier. Richard Benson was top Laser in 7th and an impressive performance from Jane Lowrie and son Jack in their Enterprise taking top handicap spot in 8th overall. No second race on Thursday as the breeze had had enough which left the fleet paddling to the beach earlier than planned.
Friday evening was livelier with lovely warm weather and a nice 13 knots from the West. With no shipping planned until later in the evening the PRO was able to set a larger 'P' shaped course utilizing the best wind in the estuary. With several reaching legs on which the 400s could fly their kites it was another race for the 400s. Dave Gebhard & Nathan Batchelor taking the win in race 1 followed by Justin Smith & Sarah Kincaid and third place went to Oyston/Hiermeier. Richard Benson winning the Lasers with an impressive 4th overall and the stronger breeze favouring the International 14 of Adam Ovington and Stuart Keegan in the handicap fleet to give them the fleet win with an 8th overall.
Race 2 saw a change in course to a simple starboard hand triangle. With longer deeper legs this allowed the International 14 of Ovington/Keegan to stretch it legs and take the overall win followed by Gebhard/Batchelor in their RS400 who stole 2nd place from Smith/Kincaid by 1 second! Top Laser spot going to Jacks Claydon in her radial in 4th. After sailing there was the fun team Paddleboard racing held including handstands and beer drinking, quickly descending it a dodgems battle royale in which everyone swam at some point!
Overall the evening series winners were, Justin Smith & Sarah Kincaid, second was Alex Oyston & Uschi Hiermeier. Chris Mayes won the laser fleet with a strong 3rd overall and Ovington/Keegan won the handicap with 7th.
Full results for the evening series here...
Saturday morning dawned another glorious day. The plan was to hold the annual TSC Ladies Regatta in the morning followed by a short course super cup series in the afternoon. With many feeling the effects of 3 evenings of racing and socializing on top of work commitments, a select fleet of ladies took to the start line in a gusty 16knots. 2 races were sailed in challenging conditions, firstly a starboard hand triangle followed by a starboard hand w/l with strong current testing the boat handling to the limit. Mel Landamore took the series win with honorary lady crew Adamina, Jane & Jack Lowrie taking second and Jo Baker & Georgia Vessey in 3rd.
Ladies Regatta results here...
Super Saturday was sailed in a gusty westerly getting over 20 knots at times, 6 quick fire races over a short course tested boat handling to the limit and beyond! New member to the club, Rob Holmes in his Laser showing excellent technique to get 4 bullets and a 2nd place to take the overall win, 2nd place went to the very consistent team of Ainsworth/Roberts in their RS400 and 3rd spot going to Neal Piper in his Laser radial.
Saturday evening saw the main social event of the week with a BYO BBQ held outside the club in glorious sunshine with a cool northerly just taking the edge off. Local musician Richard Gardner provided live music into the evening, taking requests and keeping all entertained.
Full results from Super Saturday here...
Sunday wrapped up the week with a full 180-minute (yes 3hours!) pursuit race. The forecast 10-14 knots did not materialize with the race instead being sailed in an up and down 5-10 knots from the North. The PRO set a long course consisting of 3 works and 3 runs across the whole estuary which sufficiently spread out the fleet of 15 boats. Early contenders looked to be the hard charging laser of Rob Holmes and the RS400 of Ainsworth/Roberts both making good progress through the fleet in their first 90mins. Mid-way through the race and after a slow start the 505 of Batchelor/Ovington began to pull through the fleet as the breeze built slightly. With Ainsworth/Roberts overhauled with 30mins to go the push was on for the 505 to pull back the Laser before the time limit. It all came down to the wire on the last beat with Rob's Laser becalmed to the left as Batchelor/Ovington stayed slightly further right and in a little more pressure. The 505 took the win by a very tight margin after almost 3hrs racing from Holmes' Laser with Ainsworth/Roberts taking 3rd.
Sailors and other club members were treated to an afternoon tea when returning to the beach, laid on by the hugely supportive Ann Lee who put in a huge shift keeping all fed and watered throughout the week.
Full results of the Pursuit race here...