Whitstable Yacht Club Easter Regatta
by Steve Gray 8 Apr 07:20 NZST
29 March - 1 April 2024
Christian Brewer during the Whitstable YC Easter Regatta © Steve Gray
After a windy start to the season, it was good to hold three of the planned four races of our Easter regatta. After a blow off on Friday, Saturday saw gentle breezes with Ralph Hadley taking the handicap race in his Topper and Christian Brewer the Lasers.
Sunday saw a little more wind which gradually increased through the race - Phil Emery and Pheobe Paine won the handicap race in their Merlin Rocket with Dickie Ledger and Sarah Oliver in their Dart 18 2nd. Charles Campion revelled in the stronger breeze to win the Lasers by some margin from Max Hunt in his radial.
Monday's forecast was for a strong breeze but a rain shower just before the start led to light winds which built during the race to fresh to frightening on the last lap. The handicap race was close with the Fireball of Adam Whitehouse and Mike Hanson finishing just 13 seconds ahead to Dickie and Sarah on corrected time. The Lasers saw a win for Nigel Brown ahead of Christian Brewer.
Overall Dickie and Sarah won the handicap fleet with two seconds from Ralph Hadley and the consistent John Cooper and Hilary Bradshaw in a Merlin Rocket. The Lasers were won by Christian Brewer with a first and a second, from Charles Campion and Steve Gray.
It was good to see 19 handicap boats and 20 Lasers compete over the Easter weekend with some close racing throughout the fleets. We look forward to an increased turnout and great racing as the warmer weather approaches!