Burnham Week 2024: Day 5 Activities and Highlights
Burnham Week 2024 Day 5
24-31 August 2024
Southeasterly gentle winds and sunshine sent the Burnham Week fleets down the Crouch, where they enjoyed close racing and a mass finish, thanks to the Race Officer’s planning. Meanwhile, the dinghies competed for the highly coveted John Torrance Trophy.
The Class 1 & 2 race involved laps around Clarks, Crouch, and Ron Pipe. Phil Collard’s Cobra won the race, continuing their impressive performance throughout the week, followed by Digger Harden in Sorcerer, who faced challenges in using “the big boys kite” on their return to the moorings.
In Class 5, the local handicap with spinnakers took place on the same course as Class 1 & 2. Richard Taylor’s Rondo took the top spot, closely followed by Jack Mills’ Outlaw, John Saunders’ Jeannie, and the Corinthian Otters’ 707.
Class 6, which featured local handicap races without spinnakers, saw Richard Moore’s Ophelia claim victory, edging out Philip Harbott’s Mantra and Daryl Mylroie’s Eclipse, who finished in second after a fourth-place finish that day.
The Dragons race included laps around Clarks, Inner Crouch, and Ron Pipe, where Mark Wade’s Avalanche took an early lead and managed to fend off challengers, with Peter Marchant’s Beauty and the Beast finishing in second place. Both boats went into the up-river race on Thursday with equal points.
The day boats raced on similar courses, tweaked for the envisioned mass finish, with the main triangle set between Clarks, Ron Pipe, and Redward. The Royal Corinthian One Design started first, with Clive and Graeme Page securing a win aboard Corpo Santo, followed by Justin Waples’ Cormorant. This left Cormorant in first place overnight, with Corpo Santo tied for second with Martin Makey’s Corinna on points.
Sixteen Squibs lined up for their race, with Nemesis 806 crewed by Ray Apthorp and Ian Simons emerging victorious by a substantial margin. The second spot was claimed by Guy Fawkes 72, helmed by Phillip and Marion Aspinall, leading to Nemesis in first place overnight, followed by National Champions Micky Wright and Alex Porteous on Spoof 811, who were tied on points with Malcolm and Jackie Hutchings’ Lady Penelope 819.
In the Royal Burnham One Design fleet, Stephen Herring’s red-hulled Red Jacket continued to dominate, securing a win ahead of Will Dallimore’s Mandarin and James Dallimore’s Whimbrel.
The East Coast One Design race featured seven boats, where Rhythm, helmed by Dan Halley, won, with local boat Wizard, helmed by David Smith, and Beccs Polden’s Delphine rounding out the top three boats based on countback.
After a short break, big boat sailors joined the dinghy competitors at the Burnham Sailing Club for the John Torrance Memorial Trophy, honoring the late John Torrance’s contributions to youth sailing in Burnham and beyond. A fleet of 36 boats participated, including RS Tera, Optimists, Blazes, RS200, Phantoms, Laser/ILCA boats, a Merlin Rocket, and a Hadron, showcasing a diverse mix of competitors.
Despite tricky wind conditions and the presence of a large commercial vessel during the start, the Race Officer successfully sent the fleet on their way after just two attempts, under glorious sunshine. Malcolm Hutchings emerged as the winner aboard a Blaze, keeping the prestigious John Torrance Trophy within the Burnham Blaze Fleet for another year.
Results are available at www.burnhamweek.com/results-2024.
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.