L’Escargot Open Meeting, Aldeburgh, 2-3 July 2016 Report

A fleet of 10 registered for the L’Escargot open meeting, with 9 taking to the water in a breezy westerly for the first race, which saw an early foul tide beat up the north shore of the river with plenty of nip and tuck and incident as each sought an advantage.  Andrew and Tom Wilson in Restless (Datchet Water SC) stayed ahead of the fleet from the start and, undaunted by some of the local rules in the sailing instructions, were never caught.  Aldeburgh boats QED, Rupert and Eileen Sydenham, and Lammergeier IV, Luke and Nicky Andrews, took second and third place.

The second race in a similar 16-20 knots of wind again saw Restless first to the weather mark, followed by QED, Quiver and Hitch Hiker.  However, as the fleet approached the finish the wind dropped completely leaving helms with nerves shredded edging towards the finish line against the ebb trying to finish never mind hold their place.  Second Chance ended up being spun helplessly in circles, which Ben Davies explained to his crew Olivia in Second Chance was caused by the cyclonic conditions rather than his driving!  The first three home, the first two untroubled by the conditions, were Restless, QED and Hitch Hiker. 

Sunday morning saw a fine, warm light westerly breeze, edging south to provide a light airs foul tide beat from the start line.  Shortly after the start the 3 visiting boats realised that, with one exception, the locals were on the opposite east shore and so all 3 visitors took the hit to cross the river and leave only canny local helmsman Jono Christie in No Strings Attached on the west shore.  Invoking the wisdom of years Jono stuck to his guns and emerged at the weather mark well ahead of the rest of the fleet to shoot off down tide under spinnaker never to be seen again.  QED was second and Restless third.

By the fourth and final race the sea breeze was truly in and Restless showed the fleet the way taking a commanding lead to the weather mark, pursued by Lammergeier IV, which is how they finished, with Hitch Hiker edging third in a tight finish by half a boat length from Quiver.

Despite slightly disappointing numbers, the racing was excellent.  Many thanks to OOD John Chalker and his son, Tom, for the courses.  Overall Andrew and Tom Wilson were convincing winners with 3 wins and a third.  QED was second and Lammergeier IV on the owner’s first meeting in a Mark IV was third.