Burnham Week got off to a good start at the weekend and the 707 nationals start today 29/8/07
Burnham Week, the East Coast’s premier late season regatta, got off to a good start at the weekend with scorching sunshine and light, erratic breezes giving competitors plenty of tactical challenges.
Now halfway through the regatta the fleets are settling down with results showing some interesting patterns. In addition to the week-long points series, many classes enjoyed a Weekend Series Regatta designed to allow those who are unable to take part in the full seven-day series, the chance to win some silverware over the first weekend.
In Class 1 R. and R. Gozzett’s Phantom sailed a consistent series beating Richard Matthews Oystercatcher XXVI by three points. Class 1 is now preparing for the premier event of the week the long distance race for the Town Cup which takes place on the final Saturday.
M. and B. Harrison’s Jiminy Cricket leads the week series with three first places over M. and S. Owens Nemo, while Kim Allen and team on Pelorus leads Class 6 (Family Handicap Cruisers, no spinnakers or cruising chutes).
Competitors in the 20-strong Hunter 707 fleet enjoyed some extremely close racing with Doddle (R. Wells) looking promising at the start of the weekend series with two firsts in the first two races. However, a 21st in race three in the no-discard series left Team Dooddle in 5th place overall behind the more consistent players. With a scoreline of 2,3,4 John Lewis and team on Baby Beluga were able to claim first place overall, seven points ahead of Team Race Horse (Richard Bavin).
The 707 fleet are currently heading to the outer Crouch for the first four races of their 12-race national championship series which starts today. Lewis and team on Baby Beluga are in shining form but with the likes of other local teams such as Race Horse, Braveheart, Beaver Hunter, and an influx of top visiting teams, some close, competitive racing is guaranteed.
In the local Royal Burnham One-Design fleet Annette (T. Chambers) won the weekend series, while Steve Adams (Quartz) is leading the pack in the week series with David Beale in Bluejacket in second, and Will Dallimore in Mandarin third.