Musto Skiff Open at Blackwater SC. 2-3 July 2011

The weekend of 2-3 July saw 21 Skiffs converge on Blackwater SC. The weather charts showed a noticeable lack of isobars so all hopes were for a sea breeze. This came in fitfully with the tide and race 1 saw Dan Henderson,guest appearing in his old boat and still wearing the yellow jersey from Melbourne, make a cracking start and lead for the first lap and a half. On the run to the finish however he got mixed up with a fishing smack racing in Heybridge Basin regatta and James McIntosh sneaked through to win while Mike Palfreman took 3rd place from Nigel Walbank.

Race 2 started in an even lighter breeze and Tim Chapman led the race for the shore but then proceeded to plough up Essex. Nigel Walbank held a healthy lead round the first two marks but with the wind veering lsot first place to James McIntosh on the final run. Mike Keates finished 3rd and Dan Henderson 4th.

With the tale end of the fleet becalmed in the lee of Osea Island and the tide starting to ebb racing was called off for the day. Back at the club an excellent fish and chip supper was enjoyed sitting in the sun on the club’s terrace. Most of the fleet then took the short walk up to the pubs at Heybridge Lock where the smack fleet were celebrating their day on the water.

Sunday morning was spent recovering from hangovers and waiting for the wind and tide. With the wind still light a shorter course was set so that each race went the full 3 laps. Mike Palfreman led heat 3 with local youngster Julian Wild in persute. James McIntosh again pulled through the fleet to eventually take 2nd place while Julian held off Tim Chapman for 3rd and 4th.

Heat 4 was all about Dan Vincent who finished the race half a leg of the course ahead of Dave Poston, Paul Molesworth and Mike Palfreman. Going into the last race James McIntosh was still in the driving seat to win overall but at the start he got entangled with Tim Chapman. Mike Keates led at the first mark with Mike Palfreman, Mark Wild and Nigel Walbank close behind whilst the rest of the fleet were some way behind. Mike Palfreman overhauled Mike Keates on the 2nd lap and Nigel Walbank had got past Mark Wild. On the final run both Mark Wild and Nigel Walbank got through Mike Keates. James McIntosh recovered to finish 6th behind Dan Vincent which was one place short of what was required to win the event.

The Stokes Bay fleet provided the winner of every race however from the other end of the Solent, Lymington Town’s Nigel Walbank, results were more consistent, despite taking on Tim Chapman in a ploughing match of Northey Island in heat 4, than Dan Vincent’s to take 3rd place overall behind Mike Palfreman and James McIntosh

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