Lydia Coffey and her crew of new members were rewarded for their efforts this season by finishing as 1st Marconi boat, in 6th place overall in BJRC race 6 last Saturday.
Ned Kelly, regularly seen training on none race weekends, have gradually moved up towards the fleet as the crews skills and teamwork have developed throughout the season, and on Saturday they made their mark. The teams day of success began by beating both McGregor 3 (Steve Purdue) and Caroline (Andy Ellis) to the first mark off Tollesbury, (WMYC No3) after kedging right on the start line. Then as the breeze returned on the passage out into the estuary, Ned Kelly was well ahead of similarly handicapped boats.
John Littlewoods crew on Crazy Suzy were once again leading the fleet on both passes of North Eagle, whilst Richard Robarts on Blue Moon chased down IRC rivals Evolution (Maylandsea), who were themselves trying to shake off Triton (Blackwater).
On the long return to the Tollesbury mark the lighter asymmetric boats of the local handicap class were seen to be doing battle among the IRC class. ‘It’s a pity that these boats didn’t have an IRC rating as seeing them in the result sheet would have made for interesting reading’, one Marconi member commented.
Once past Bradwell, Crazy Suzy at the head of the fleet was the first to suffer the failing breeze. Luckily the tide pushed the fleet back towards the line, but off Marconi many of the leading pack of boats became tightly bunched as they tried to make the line at Osea.
Only 30 minutes covered the 20 boat fleet after 6.5 hours of racing and in the local handicap result the Maldon YC Salver was won by Rod Martin on Moondance a First 21.7 from Harlow BSC.
In the IRC class Triton (Peter Copsey BSC) came first, with Blue Moon (Richard Robarts) in 2nd ahead of Absolution (Eric Reynolds MBSC)
But the honours of being 1st Marconi boat in the local handicap result went to Ned Kelly. Congratulations guys, and very well done!
The Marconi cruiser race fleet will next race the Harwich passage race weekend on 13-14th August. Anyone interested in getting involved in cruiser racing should contact Peter Ward. There are team places available on a number of our boats.