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Burnham Week 2024 Day 2
24-31 August 2024
Sunny, windy, and very choppy were the perfect adjectives to describe the second day of Burnham Week 2024.
The dinghies raced on an hourglass-shaped course for three races, with the Race Officer ensuring a good vantage point from the town’s quay.
In the Laser/ILCA category, James Hutton-Penman dominated with three wins, benefiting from his impressive record of completing the day without capsizing, earning him the overnight lead.
Although he ended the day wet after jumping in to recover an unattended Laser, he was closely followed by Duncan De Boltz, who secured three 2nd place finishes, and Corinthian sailor Nathan Flynn, who achieved placements of 4th, 3rd, and 5th.
The Dinghy Fast Handicap overnight leaders include Flynn and Niamh Davies, who raced their Merlin Rocket to top speeds near 20 knots, resulting in two 2nds and one 3rd.
The standout performers of the day were juniors Noah Mathers and Rory Luddington, who clinched two wins and a 4th in their RS Feva XL, positioning them in a well-deserved 2nd place overnight. Jo Tribe and Marcus Collingbourne, sailing an RS200, achieved two 3rds and a 2nd, placing them 3rd overall.
The gusty conditions took a toll on the RS Tera fleet, which faced challenges in the first race when none of the sailors followed the proper course. Arthur Bullen emerged as the day’s winner with two wins, while Fergus Anderson finished with two 2nds and Harry Bew secured two 3rds.
The fierce competition saw the top three boats separated by only four points, creating high stakes as they headed into the final day of the Bank Holiday Weekend, with Fergus in first, followed by Harry and Arthur.
The RS Elites kicked off the next race at the Pile House under westerly winds, with four boats gaining an edge by choosing the middle of the river over one solitary boat on the north shore.
Serious Moonlight, helmed by Richard Bavin, Joey Thompson, and Duncan Haley, triumphed after three laps around Pinto and Ron Pipe marks. Excalibur followed closely in 2nd, helmed by Roger Martin, while Blind Squirrel claimed 3rd.
In the second race, which involved two laps, Blind Squirrel performed well in the stronger winds to win again, with Serious Moonlight and Excalibur following.
Serious Moonlight led the standings overnight, closely chased by Blind Squirrel and Excalibur, all within four points of each other.
With 24 boats at the start, the Squibs offered a colorful display with their spinnakers. Nemesis 806, helmed by Ray Apthorp and Ian Simons, took an early lead, while Humphrey 823, skippered by Robert Coyle and Marc Rawinsky, unfortunately returned to the start line due to being OCS.
The race, which took the fleet up the Roach, to Wallaseaness and across the tide to Holliwell for two laps, was eventually won by Budgies Tongue 105, helmed by Jack Grogan and Gina Vince. They were closely followed by What’s the Story 779, piloted by Nic Tolhurst and Ross Corbett, with Lady Penelope 819 in 3rd.
In the second race for the Squibs, Budgies Tongue continued its winning streak, followed by National Champions, Spoof 811, sailed by Micky Wright and Alex Porteous, while Nemesis finished in 3rd.
Overnight, Budgies Tongue claimed the top spot, with Nemesis in 2nd, Spoof in 3rd, What’s the Story in 4th, and last year’s National Champions, Hawk Tuah 142, in 5th, all within just four points, showcasing the competitiveness of the Squib Class.
The Sandhopper class raced on the same courses as the Squibs, with Sea Phantom 33, helmed by Peter Thompson and Clara Mintern, capturing the first win, followed by Aeolus 161 and Wild Gull 29. In the second race, The Dogs 5 156, skippered by Mark Jewell and Paul Farrel, took the top prize, with Sea Phantom and Wild Gull securing 2nd and 3rd.
Sea Phantom maintained a strong overnight lead, but the fluctuating results across races suggest that anything can happen in tomorrow’s competition.
Unfortunately, the Multihull fleet faced difficulties, reduced to just two boats after Wandering Glider had to retire from its first race due to damage. Origami, helmed by Nick Wood, Bobby Wells, and Nick Geaves, won both races and sits top overnight, followed by Triassic in 2nd.
In the Cruiser class 1 & 2, Cobra, skippered by Phil Collard, claimed victory after a race around Inner Crouch and Outer Crouch 3 marks. They were followed by Paul Trueman’s Exile and Digger Harden’s Sorcerer, while Outlaw, helmed by Jack Mills, had to retire with a broken mast.
Class 5 had a shorter race around Inner Crouch and Crouch marks, with Richard Taylor’s Rondo taking the win on both line and corrected time, edging Philip Harbott’s Mantra. The Royal Corinthian Yacht Club 707, helmed by Alex Hill, finished in 3rd.
Overnight, Rondo leads class 5, with Mantra in 2nd place and John Saunders’ Jeannie in 3rd, closely pursued by the 707 in 4th.
Class 6 followed the same course as class 5, where Ian Keam-George’s Lucy Lee secured another win, followed by Mick Hill’s Ningaloo and Nicholas Moulton’s Dabtoe in 3rd, with Danielle Southey’s Jodeanni following closely behind.
Overnight, Lucy Lee sits in 1st, followed by Ningaloo, Jodeanni in 3rd, and Dabtoe in 4th.
The Dragons faced challenging conditions in their sole scheduled race, with Hands Off 760, helmed by Andy Moss, losing its mast. The race was won by Beauty and the Beast 746, followed by Avalanche 722 and Still Crazy 827 in 3rd.
Only eight Phantoms managed to race, resulting in a slippery and exhilarating competition, with Mark Spruce taking the win, followed by Richard Nurse and Titch.
The demanding conditions offered Ospreys an opportunity for planning, with Roger and James Blake finishing in 1st overnight, followed by Robert Shaw and Ian Little, while Basher Marshall and Jonathan Osgood unfortunately retired.
The Royal Corinthian One Design, the Royal Burnham One Design, and the East Coast One Design all competed on the same course. The RCOD race was won by Justin Waples, Steve Rands, and Vicky Brookes on Cormorant, securing them the overnight lead.
Following was Clive and Graeme Page’s Corpo Santo in 2nd, and Martin Makey, Philip Green, and Rosemary Archer in Corinna in 3rd.
In the RBOD race, Aquamarine, ridden by Angela Shephard, Matt Shephard, and Sarah Hastwell, emerged victorious, with Will Dallimore’s Mandarin in 2nd and Whimbrel in 3rd.
The forecast for Monday promises champagne sailing conditions, providing the perfect finale for the Bank Holiday Weekend, and with many classes featuring tight results, there is everything still to compete for.
Results are available at www.burnhamweek.com/results-2024
Source
Oliver Hayes, a seasoned sailor and marine journalist from Southampton, has a profound love for the sea that has shaped his career. Holding a degree in Marine Journalism from the University of Portsmouth, Oliver is celebrated for his compelling and insightful storytelling. His work vividly captures the excitement of sailing and the rich maritime heritage of the United Kingdom, making him a respected figure in the sailing community. When not writing, Oliver enjoys exploring the British Isles’ diverse coastlines and participating in local regattas, always on the lookout for his next nautical adventure.
