January 2020 Update

Happy New Year Everybody!

Lodestar(64) had a lovely restful Christmas and New Year  sitting unused on her muddy mid river mooring in the River Medway so that when she was re introduced to the joys of sailing on January 11th she wasn’t leaking a drop.  It was also a test of using a large dry crystals de-humidifier.   She was really dry inside, no condensation. So either thats just how the weather has been or the dehumidifier is working a treat.  The experiment continues.

We had a glorious sail to Burnham on saturday afternoon/ evening, in a good 2 reefs south westerly breeze, arriving in time to get served a meal in The White Hart. An 0545 departure on Sunday gave us a fantastic return trip into a 1 reef south wester, back at Hoo Ness YC in time for a 5pm  pint.

Winter Sail video click to play

If anyone else would like to share any winter trips or fit out stories I would be very happy to put them on the website.

The November AGM included a lively discussion about the calender.

2020 Racing Calendar

14 races. 7 to count.

SYH Classic Regatta. 4 races in all  fri 12th,  sat 13th, sun 14th June

During the day on fri 12th , there is a plan to have a Stella Pursuit Race, with start times based on previous SYH results. A case of Stella to the winner!

Mersea Week. 5 races  Sun16th Aug to Fri 21st Aug, no race wed.

Mersea Town Regatta. 1 race Sat 22nd Aug

Maldon Town Regatta. 2 races Sat 19th Sept

HPYC Autumn Classic Regatta. 2 races. Sat 29th, sun 30th Aug

Spring Fling

To be organised.  For the past two years it has been at The Lightship.  Previously it has been in West Mersea. I would be very pleased to receive suggestions of places and dates, destinations should be possible to reach by Stella.

 

 

 

 

Autumn Update 2019

Stella Worlds …

The SYH Classic Regatta back in June was, yet again, a wonderful event with excellent conditions on both days and all three races. Seven Stellas took part, up on last year, and an encouraging sign for the future. Andrew Gilmour and crew on Timoa once again won the Stella class but didn’t have it all their own way this year with Richard Matthews and crew on Scorpio beating them into second place in Sunday’s race.

Mersea Week was, once again, attended by three Stellas, this time Stardust, Stella Lyra, and Loadstar. The week was a mixed bag weather wise with Sundays race a very windy affair and Monday’s being postponed due to lack of wind and thus resulting in a DNC for all three boats. Tuesday’s race went ahead as planned to result in Lodestar finishing on top with a first, a second and a DNC, Stardust second with a first and two DNCs and Lyra third with a second a third and a DNC.

HPYC/SYH Autumn Classic Regatta was, once again, poorly attended despite Mersea Week moving forward to leave a clear gap between the two. Again, just four classic yachts attended, only one of which was a Stella, Stardust. 

Overall that meant that Phillip Waring and Stardust retained the Buxey Trophy by quite a margin. Trevor Spero’s Stella Lyra was second for the second year running and Mark Montgomery-Smith’s Lodestar finished in third place. 

2019 Stella Calendar 

I think that the SYH Classic Regatta and Mersea Week  are well enough supported to warrant their continued inclusion in the Stella Worlds. The last couple of seasons, however, have brought into question the SYH/HPYC Autumn Classics. Clearly this event has ceased to be popular, and not just with Stella owners. I don’t actually know why that is, as I would certainly have taken part had work commitments not have prevented me from doing so. One to think about and discuss at the AGM perhaps.

On the social side of things, the “Spring Fling” was repeated this year and with great success! An event that will, I hope, now become an annual fixture.

It would also be nice’ once again, to arrange something for mid-summer in the hiatus between the Spring Classics and Mersea week. Something to give some thought to perhaps. The 2020 programme will be an agenda item at next month’s AGM, so it would be greatly appreciated if members come with some proposals.

Diamond Jubilee Rally

Back in July, Philip Waring and team put a great deal of work into organising a rally to Burnham , the birthplace of the Stella, to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of the class. Unfortunately, the weather had plans of it’s own! After discussing the atrocious forecast in the days leading up to the event, the reluctant decision was taken to cancel.  The house party at No 1 The Quay, by kind invitation of Ed and Frances Maggs went ahead however and was a great success with an excellent evening enjoyed by all!

Website and Communication

Okay, broken record time (for those old enough to remember such arcane methods of music production…) As ever, I need input from yourselves to liven the website up. Thinking caps on and pens to paper or fingers to keyboards or whatever please! It doesn’t matter if it’s just in note form – I don’t mind knocking it into shape. And don’t forget that you can comment on any of the articles published or place adverts, request crew, look for a crewing position etc. etc. etc.… Just email me or Christian, our website manager. Thanks.

Annual General Meeting 2019

The 2019 AGM will take place in the upstairs room of The Butt & Oyster, Pin Mill on Friday 22nd November. 18.30 for prompt 19.00 start.  Please ensure that you arrive in plenty of time as, although at this stage, it doesn’t appear that we will have a packed agenda to deal with, I want to get the business of the evening out of the way before we eat at 20.30. To this end, once again, I intend to keep the pace of the meeting fairly brisk so please make all comments concise and through the chair… Thanks. If you have any items that you would like added to the agenda, please email me ASAP. This is obviously a much more efficient way to conduct the meeting than relying on AOB and running out of time!

I should have the appropriate documents with you in the next week or so, but in the meantime, I will e-mail out the Butt & Oyster’s pre-order menu as soon as I have it. Please email your choices to me ASAP and I will collate them and forward them to the Butt. Thanks.

Happy laying-up… See you at the AGM,

All the best,

Peter

Centaur #100

HPYC – SYH Autumn Classic Regatta 2019 Race Report

HPYC – SYH Autumn Classic Regatta 2019 Race Report

Once again there were only four yachts on the line on Saturday, Illyria, Whisper, Vashti and Stardust. The wind was SW 3 to 4. We started from the club line in an easterly direction, the others, being closer winded were towards the N end of the line, I thought it was better to be out of the tide on the S side, we were third around Collimer then a beat down to Orwell No. 1. A lively spinnaker run followed before a close reach up to Bay, then back down the river and round again for a second lap. Whisper, Illyria, Stardust and Vashti was the finishing order. A very enjoyable canter round the river.
Benedict, my son, helmed on Sunday when the wind was a notch stronger, NW 3 to 5. Whisper had some spreader damage the day before and didn’t race. The course was in the same area as the previous day and Stardust was first around the windward mark but this time nobody hoisted a spinnaker  The two larger boats overtook Stardust, three laps were completed and the race concluded with Illyria taking line honours, followed by  Vashti with Stardust third in close order. Handicap results are awaited with interest.

Philip Waring, Stardust

Final Race Results – Stardust Retains the Buxey Trophy!

Stella 2019 Worlds
SYH Classic Regatta Mersea Week SYH/HPYC Classics Points Place
Race 1 Race 2 Race 3 Race 4 Race 5 Race 6 Race 7 Race 8
Sail No Boat Name Owner 22 Jun 22 Jun 23 Jun 11 Aug 12 Aug 13 Aug 31 Aug 1 Sep
89 Stardust Phillip Waring / Jeffrey Bowles 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.0 DNC 3.0 DNC 1.0 1.0 1.0 18.0 1
75 Stella Lyra Trevor Spero 4.0 8.0 DNF 4.0 2.0 3.0 DNC 3.0 11.0 DNC 11.0 DNC 46.0 2
64 Lodestar Mark Montgomery-Smith 10.0 DNC 10.0 DNC 10.0 DNC 1 3.0 DNC 2 11.0 DNC 11.0 DNC 58.0 3
91 Timoa Andrew Gilmour 1.0 1.0 2.0 11.0 DNC 11.0 DNC 11.0 DNC 11.0 DNC 11.0 DNC 59.0 4
90 Scorpio Richard Matthews 2.0 2.0 1.0 11.0 DNC 11.0 DNC 11.0 DNC 11.0 DNC 11.0 DNC 60.0 5
6 Persephone Roger Reid 6.0 5.0 6.0 11.0 DNC 11.0 DNC 11.0 DNC 11.0 DNC 11.0 DNC 72.0 6
100 Centaur Peter Dyson 5.0 4.0 8.0 DNF 11.0 DNC 11.0 DNC 11.0 DNC 11.0 DNC 11.0 DNC 72.0 7
12 Rollicker Keith Ballantine 7.0 8.0 DNF 10.0 DNC 11.0 DNC 11.0 DNC 11.0 DNC 11.0 DNC 11.0 DNC 80.0 8
1 La Vie En Rose Peter Haldane 10.0 DNC 10.0 DNC 10.0 DNC 11.0 DNC 11.0 DNC 11.0 DNC 11.0 DNC 11.0 DNC 85.0 9
19 Acamar Julian Young 10.0 DNC 10.0 DNC 10.0 DNC 11.0 DNC 11.0 DNC 11.0 DNC 11.0 DNC 11.0 DNC 85.0 10

Well done(again!) Philip and crew!

Race report to follow

Don Pye Passes Away

Many of you will have learned of the sad passing on 20th August of Don Pye of Holman and Pye fame.

His Cremation will take place at Colchester Crematorium at 12.30 on Thursday 19th September. The family request no flowers and informal dress only please.

There will be a memorial celebration at West Mersea Yacht Club at 18.00 on Friday 20th September.

The following tribute by Richard Matthews has appeared widely in the yachting press.

 

Yacht designer Don Pye passes away

by Richard Matthews 24 Aug 15:44 BST

Eight Bells – Designer Don Pye

The flag atop the West Mersea Yacht Club was at half-mast this week noting the passing of yacht designer Don Pye who, following a heart attack, passed away on 20th August aged 93.

In partnership with Kim Holman in 1960, and later with David Cooper, the firm of Holman & Pye was respected throughout the sailing word for designing practical, sea-kindly yachts with lovely lines and excellent performance.

In addition to one-off custom yachts, Holman & Pye designed for several production yards including Bowman, Wauquiez, Seamaster, Hustler and Oyster.

The Oyster-UFO 34 design won its class in the infamous 1979 Fastnet race. As proof of their suitability for blue water ocean passage making, six of the eighteen yachts taking part in the 2018 Golden Globe race around the world were Holman & Pye designed Rustler 36’s, which went on to finish first, second and third.

Some 5,000 yachts from the Holman & Pye office are sailing the world and, thanks to Don Pye’s creativity, and their renowned longevity, these lovely yachts will be giving pleasure to their owners and crews for many generations.

Race Results – The Latest

Stella 2019 Worlds
SYH Classic Regatta Mersea Week SYH/HPYC Classics Points Place
Race 1 Race 2 Race 3 Race 4 Race 5 Race 6 Race 7 Race 8
Sail No Boat Name Owner 22 Jun 22 Jun 23 Jun 11 Aug 12 Aug 13 Aug 31 Aug 1 Sep
89 Stardust Phillip Waring / Jeffrey Bowles 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.0 DNC 3.0 DNC 1.0 16.0 1
75 Stella Lyra Trevor Spero 4.0 8.0 DNF 4.0 2.0 3.0 DNC 3.0 24.0 2
64 Lodestar Mark Montgomery-Smith 10.0 DNC 10.0 DNC 10.0 DNC 1 3.0 DNC 2 36.0 3
91 Timoa Andrew Gilmour 1.0 1.0 2.0 11.0 DNC 11.0 DNC 11.0 DNC 37.0 4
90 Scorpio Richard Matthews 2.0 2.0 1.0 11.0 DNC 11.0 DNC 11.0 DNC 38.0 5
6 Persephone Roger Reid 6.0 5.0 6.0 11.0 DNC 11.0 DNC 11.0 DNC 50.0 6
100 Centaur Peter Dyson 5.0 4.0 8.0 DNF 11.0 DNC 11.0 DNC 11.0 DNC 50.0 7
12 Rollicker Keith Ballantine 7.0 8.0 DNF 10.0 DNC 11.0 DNC 11.0 DNC 11.0 DNC 58.0 8
1 La Vie En Rose Peter Haldane 10.0 DNC 10.0 DNC 10.0 DNC 11.0 DNC 11.0 DNC 11.0 DNC 66.0 9
19 Acamar Julian Young 10.0 DNC 10.0 DNC 10.0 DNC 11.0 DNC 11.0 DNC 11.0 DNC 66.0 10

West Mersea Week 2019 Race Report

Stellas at Mersea Week 2019

Having moved back to early August, this year’s Mersea Week still seemed to manage a mixed bag of weather. Sunday’s race was a breezy affair with the remains of Saturday’s westerly still very much in evidence, Monday’s race was postponed due to lack of wind and the remaining days enjoyed good sailing breezes.

Once again, the Stellas were incorporated into the Classics and Gaffers B Division. The first three races of the week counted as races 4, 5 and 6 for the Stella Championship and were contested by three Stellas:  Stardust, Stella Lyra and Lodestar.

Stella Lyra and Lodestar took part in Sunday’s race, the DSC Regatta, with Lodestar prevailing and achieving a very creditable third overall. Stella Lyra achieved a well-deserved fifth overall.

By Monday the wind had gone completely, and after a postponement, the day’s racing was abandoned. This meant that Mersea week Points 1 would need to be raced later in the week if possible. Fingers were crossed in the Stella fleet in the hopes that it would take place on Tuesday, thus keeping it within the Stella Championship remit.

Tuesday dawned bright and breezy and Mersea Week Points 2 went ahead around one of the pre-set westerly courses. Stardust, Stella Lyra and Lodestar took part with Stardust winning the Stellas, Lodestar coming second and Stella Lyra third. This order followed through to the day’s overall results placing them fifth, sixth and seventh respectively. Unfortunately, it was decided that Mersea Week Points 1 would be run later in the week therefore putting it outside the race days that counted towards the Championships.

So, Stardust prevailed in the two races that counted for the Stella Worlds, with Lodestar second and Stella Lyra third. Stardust continued racing on the Wednesday and Thursday and enjoyed some excellent conditions, finishing a very creditable seventh overall for the week on 31 points. Well done all!

2019 SYH Classic Regatta Race Report

SYH Classic Regatta 2019 – Race Report

Suffolk Yacht Harbour’s 19th annual Classic Regatta, run in conjunction with Haven Ports Yacht Club took place over the weekend of 22nd-23rd June. The event sees classic yachts from across East Anglia and further afield – this year including a beautiful Spirit DH63 up from Guernsey – race in three classes; Fast, Slow and Stellas. Racing takes place across two days in Dovercourt Bay, Harwich Harbour, and the Orwell and Stour river estuaries.

Gaffers, Stellas and modern classics gathered at SYH on Friday 21st for pre-regatta drinks and socialising, before crews were up early for briefing and bacon sandwiches on Saturday morning.  After a postponed start to allow all the yachts to get out to the line (including Stealaway who had an unfortunate engine failure on the way out), the slow, Stella and fast classes all set off in 5-7 knots without a hitch.

With the tide now flooding and the wind shifting out of the east / south east, the yachts negotiated oncoming currents on their way upwind to Foxes.  Rounding the mark to starboard and hoisting spinnakers as they went, the fleet reached down to a shortened course finish line at Stone Banks. Timoa finished first with Scorpio second and Stardust third. Lyra finished fourth, Centaur fifth, Persephone sixth and Rollicker seventh.

After lunch on the water, afternoon racing commenced in 15 knots of wind. From a Stone Banks start, it was a beat up to Mark X to port followed by a reach across to Foxes. Unfortunately, Lyra and Rollicker had a port and starboard “coming together” during the beat and both retired with Rollicker having sustained significant damage.  Rounding the mark to port, the remaining Stellas hoisted spinnakers and set a course for Penny Hole.

After some debate on the radio, the race committee confirmed a starboard mark rounding to keep things interesting!  Spinnakers were dropped on the approach and the yachts made a 270 degree turn of Penny Hole before heading up and tacking round onto a reach down to Stone Banks.  From there, it was champagne sailing under spinnaker all the way to the finish at the Beacon Hill line. First, second and third places were as race one, with Centaur Fourth and Persephone fifth.

Upon its return to SYH, the fleet was greeted by music from local musician Peter Hepworth drifting across the sunny harbour.  Haven Ports Yacht Club lightship was bathed in afternoon sunshine as crews gathered for socialising and the usual post-racing analysis in the bar and on the dockside.

Day two began with light wind out of the east / north east and the three classes set off on time from the Beacon Hill line against the tide down to Stone Banks.  A few yachts could be seen making the most of the tight reach and flying spinnakers and code zeros in an effort to get ahead on the long leg down to the mark.

By the time the fleet had hardened up around Fox’s to port, the sun was out, and the breeze had kicked in and made for a fairly wet ride!

Bearing away around Foxes, spinnakers were hoisted en route to Penny Hole.  Rounding the mark to starboard, the fleet headed upwind to Outer Ridge, avoiding the channel on the leg home to the Beacon Hill line.

Scorpio prevailed in this race, with Timoa second, Stardust third, Lyra fourth, Persephone fifth and Centaur failing to finish.

Stella results overall: Timoa first, Scorpio second, Stardust third. With three boats finishing on sixteen points, the Sailwave scoring system placed the remaining boats in the following order; Lyra fourth, Centaur fifth, Persephone sixth and Rollicker seventh. Well done all for being there and contributing, once again, to a wonderful, memorable weekend.