Heatwave wins the 2010 Moore Stephens Douglas Regatta
A fleet of 13 yachts took part in the Douglas Regatta on Saturday and Sunday 26th & 27th June. The event was once again generously sponsored by Moore Stephens Isle of Man.
The conditions certainly tested out both boats and crews, with light winds on Saturday and fresh to strong winds with big seas on Sunday.
Saturday’s race was a battle between Eauvation, Heatwave, Minuet and Brahms & List who all managed to get away from the pack and demonstrate their light airs skills to good effect. In the main field were First Knight, Drumbeat, Quackers, Quantum and Nice One.
Skoosh, Talisker and Sheila Bear rounded out the fleet.
Heatwave was the winner with Eauvation second and Minuet third.
The first race on Sunday was hectic with winds gusting up to Force 5 and big seas rolling into the Bay. Punching out to the windward mark was hard and wet. Surfing down the waves on the downwind leg to the Number 4 inshore mark was exhilarating!
Unfortunately it was too much for Quackers which was dismasted and had to be towed in by the Club Rib. Fortunately no one was injured. Brahms & Liszt, Skoosh and Talisker all retired and did not start the third race. Eauvation won with Heatwave second and Nice One third. Unfortunately Nice One then retired and did not sail again.
For the final race the wind appeared to have eased somewhat at the start but became strong and gusty once again. First Knight had a bad broach in which crewman Chris Hall
trapped his left arm and the vessel retired to return Chris to the harbour.
Heatwave had a very big broach on the second downwind run, breaking the tiller extension and the spinnaker pole end fitting. She continued the race by flying the spinnaker without a pole and went on to win. Drumbeat did well in the rough conditions and took second place with Eauvation third.
Minuet, Drumbeat and Quantum were all very competitive throughout the Regatta, taking third, fourth and fifth places.
Results, Race Scores and Overall Points
1, Heatwave (Mike McMahon) 1-2-1. 4pts. 2, Eauvation (Jason & Debbie Corlett) 2-1-3. 6pts. 3, Minuet (Mike Bailey) 3-6-4. 13pts. 4, Drumbeat (Dave Luton) 7-5-2. 14pts.
5, Quantum (Bobby Moore) 8-4-5. 17pts. 6, First Knight (Peder Nielsen) 5-8-R. 21pts.
7, Nice One (Ben Witchell) 9-3-DNS. 26pts. 8, Airy Dick (Martyn Perkins) DNS-7-6. 27pts. 9, Brahms & Liszt (Kieth Lord) 4-R-DNS. 31pts. 10, Quackers (James Walker) 6-R-DNS. 33pts. 11, Skoosh (Doug Williamson) 10-R-DNS. 37 pts. 12, Talisker (Mike Newby) 11-R-DNS. 38pts.13, Sheila Beat (Len Arnold) 12-DNS-DNS. 40 pts.
Retirements incurred 13 points, Did Not Starts 14 points.
Grateful thanks to the sponsors Moore Stephens, the Race Officers and Rib Crews and
especially to Steve Buttery for the use of his boat Caramba as the Committee Boat.