Burnham Week 2024: Day 7 – Exciting Events and Highlights
Burnham Week 2024 – Day 7 Highlights
24-31 August 2024
Choppy conditions greeted competitors, but the sun shone brightly, providing a decent breeze for the Squib fleet in a fierce contest on the penultimate day of this iconic East Coast regatta.
In Classes 1 and 2, Cobra, helmed by Phil Collard, continued its winning streak, finishing ahead of Digger Harden’s Sorcerer in the midweek series.
Class 5 saw Richard Taylor’s Rondo clinch the final race victory and the midweek series title while John Saunders, sailing Jeannie, secured second place, not enough to overtake Jack Mills in the midweek runner-up position, sailing a chartered Royal Corinthian Yacht Club 707.
Richard Moore, at the helm of Ophelia, concluded the week with a strong performance, winning the last race and the midweek series, finishing ahead of Philip Harbott’s Mantra, who took the runner-up spot.
The Dragon fleet had Mark Wade and Avalanche 722 adding another trophy to their collection with victories in the Burnham Week full series, while Peter Merchant’s Beauty and the Beast, despite a third-place finish in the last race, ended as runner-up for the midweek series.
In the East Coast One Design category, David Smith on Wizard won the final race and the midweek series, while Gi Gi, after a rest day on the previous muddy conditions, secured second, with Dan Halley’s Rhythm finishing third and claiming the series runner-up spot.
Rhythm won the overall Burnham Week regatta by just one point over Wizard.
In the Royal Burnham One Design series, Stephen Herring’s Red Jacket achieved a perfect score, while Will Dallimore’s Mandarin claimed the runner-up position on countback from James Dallimore’s Whimbrel.
Nick Bacon’s Corella won the series’ last race, but Justin Waples’ Cormorant secured the midweek series along with the overall regatta title, with Martin Makey’s Corinna following closely in the midweek rankings.
The Squibs delivered the most thrilling race of the day, with only a two-point margin separating Nemesis 806, helmed by Ray Apthorp and Ian Simons, from the national champions, Micky Wright and Alex Porteous aboard Spoof 811, prior to the race start and before discards were applied.
Nemsis initially surged ahead after a strong performance rounding Holliwell Point, but Spoof closed the gap, matching gybes, with the national champions arriving at the last downwind mark, Horse Shoal, first.
As the boats ascended to Pinto, Spoof maintained a clear path while Nemesis encountered congestion with the rest of the fleet still traveling downwind. Ultimately, the national champions, who also won last year’s Burnham Week, crossed the finish line first with a one minute and a half to spare.
Despite a disappointing day, Nemesis was crowned the winner of Burnham Week 2024, finishing with 19 points, ahead of Spoof’s 30.
As the regatta nears conclusion, one final day of sailing remains to complete the full eight days of Burnham Week 2024. Here’s hoping for another fantastic day of racing!
For complete results, visit 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.