Stellas Do Well at the East Coast’s Classic Closer
Effectively the little brother of the Suffolk Yacht Harbour Classic Regatta in June, the “Levington Autumn Classics”, as it often referred to, is held on the first weekend of September and forms a nice finale to the East Coast classic racing scene. The regatta also brings to a close the Stella Worlds, our somewhat ironically named summer points series. It was a shame that, due to various issues only two Stellas made it, but such is life.
There are two races to contest, one on Saturday and one on Sunday. Ten classic yachts lined up for the 10.00 start of Race 1, ranging in size from the mighty aluminium, Laurent Giles offshore racer, Gulvain and the Spirit 52, Flight of Ufford down to the two Stellas La Vie en Rose and Centaur. Unlike the Spring Classics, courses for the Autumn Classics are always set within the rivers Orwell and Stour and with a light and variable “northerly” an easily shortenable three mark, three lap course was set on the Orwell. In a very light breeze, start line manoeuvres were tricky and helms were being cautious. The start sequence was called over the radio by HPYC’s excellent race officer, Claire Scott, adding with acid wit, “line very clear…”. Heading up river to the first mark, Orwell Number 4 Buoy, most hugged the western shore as close as they dare to keep out of the falling tide. Now spread out, the fleet rounded and hardened up for the short beat across the river to the second mark, Bay Buoy. Keeping high to avoid getting swept onto the mark Centaur rounded mid fleet with La Vie some way behind. Spinnakers were set for the reach down river to Orwell Buoy, the final mark of the lap, the Stellas doing well against the bigger boats in the light and variable conditions. Orwell having been reached with relative ease, the long beat/reach back up river against the tide in a light and fluky wind caused some difficulty and a few retirements, sadly including La Vie. Much to the relief of the remaining fleet, the course was shortened at the line on the second lap. Centaur had managed to stay in touch with the bigger boats throughout and the crew rated their chances of a top three finish on handicap. Back in the Lightship, Haven Port Yacht Club’s iconic clubhouse, the results were announced; Jonathan Dyke’s Robert Clark Mystery 40, Cereste third, Mark Wincer’s International One Design, Whisper second and Peter Dyson’s Stella, Centaur first! As ever on these occasions a great evening had been arranged aboard LV87 (The Lightship) and was enjoyed by many of the crews.
The weather on Sunday proved to be an entirely different kettle of fish for Race 2! The wind had gone around to the south and increased significantly. Eight boats made it to the start line for a course around the same marks as race one but using Orwell as the first mark followed by Orwell 4 and Bay to give a first leg beat followed by a run, a short reach and a beat back to the start line to complete a lap. Again, three laps were scheduled, but this time completed (by most!). The start line was more fiercely contested this time with two boats called back for being over. Having made a poor start Centaur had to play catch-up and La Vie got cleanly away. Halfway down the first run, Woodwind, the thirty-four-foot one-off, built by the owner’s father, went hard aground on the west shore on a falling tide where, despite the crew’s heroic efforts, she remained until the next tide! It was not to be Centaur’s day either – a crash jibe on a rolling second lap run sent a crewman overboard! Despite his swift recovery and instance to continue it was discovered that some rig damage had been sustained and her race was also run. The West Solent One Design, Vivacious also retired. Back in the bar for the final results round-up… Race 2, Sean Mc Millan’s Flight of Ufford third, Cereste second and Whisper the overall winner. And this too was the overall result, with Centaur managing fourth overall and La Vie en Rose sixth.
So, honours even between the two Stellas over the weekend, but what had this done to the final positions in the Stella Worlds? It was enough for Peter Haldane’s La Vie en Rose to emerge victorious, very narrowly beating Mark and Helen Montgomery-Smith’s Lodestar into second place with Centaur third. Well done PH and many thanks to all involved for organising a great weekend.
Peter Dyson
100 Centaur
General Secretary
Stella Class Association