A Busy Race Weekend for Marconi Cruisers at the Marconi Cruiser Cup Race
21 boats took to the startline of the Marconi Cruiser Cup race on Sunday 10th May. The race, part of the Blackwater Joint Racing Committee race series and the first leg of the Blackwater & Colne Open series, started off Bradwell from committee boat Charlotte by Frank Burgess and Roger Mander.
The white sail fleet started first, followed by the joint local handicap and IRC boats who set spinnakers across to Mersea beach. The fleet took a course out to Bench Head and up the Colne before returning back to the line and then completing a second shorter lap.
Competitors, represented seven sailing clubs from the Rivers Blackwater & Colne, and once again Marconi’s Blue Moon (Richard Robarts) fought for top spot with Absolution sailed by Eric Reynolds and his crew from the Maylandsea Bay SC. The two boats came home in first and second place in both the IRC class and the local handicap class, Absolution just getting the better of Blue Moon.
McGregor IV (Peter Ward) and Crazy Suzy (John Littlewood) finished at the back of the fleet on corrected time in IRC and LH, whilst Caroline (Andy Ellis) and his crew sailed well to finish in 4th place in the LH class.
The white sail class was won by Peter Pangbourne sailing Symbol of Lleyn from West Mersea YC.
The Marconi Cruiser Cup is awarded to the boat that wins this race using the BJRC handicap system and in 2015 it will be presented to ‘Soprano’ (Pat Murphy) of the Blackwater SC
The full results can be found here:
IRC class: http://bcoss.org/images/bcoss/results/colne15irc.htm
LH class: http://bcoss.org/images/bcoss/results/colne15lh.htm
Many thanks to Frank & Roger for running the race and to Arthur Brown who made Charlotte available as committee boat. Also Dave Clarke for laying the distance marks and getting our photographer on the water.
EAORA Offshore Weekend
Marconi boats Woozle Hunter (Ian & Laura Ivermee) and McGregor IV started their offshore racing season on the day before the Marconi cruiser cup race when winds were constantly in the mid 20’s and gusting 30knots. Racing around the top of the Gunfleet sands from West Mersea to Burnham, Woozle Hunter finished 2nd in IRC class 3 whilst McGregor retired.
On the following day in the returning leg from Burnham to West Mersea, Woozle Hunter went one better, winning IRC class 3 after 8 hours of racing picking up their first offshore silverware of the season as they set about to repeat last years winning season.
The full results can be found here:
Pattinson Cup Race: http://www.eaora.org.uk/templates/files/pattinson-cup-2015-class-3-1551081005.html