It has been our recent custom to gather the clan in January for a weekend of fun and games with just a passing reference to boating in the form of our AGM. So what did we do this year? To start the three day extravaganza the card sharks had a bridge session on Friday evening at the Old Rectory, courtesy of Liz Fox, battling for the title of Class champion. Nothing on the water is more important than this.
On a bright Saturday morning the focus moved to the water where Swallow sailors went on the 'Twitchers Special' – the Conservancy solar boat - which glided in virtual silence to Pilsey. Everyone of the birds in the guide provided was obligingly on parade and the splendour of the harbour and the countryside colours were wonderfully clear. Such a pity boats blight it all in the summer!
WAGS then had a date at the Salon du Chocolat in Chichester for a course on the art of chocolate making. After an absorbing presentation everyone set to creating their own individual masterpieces of white and dark Belgian chocolate with amazingly artistic designs and scrumptious fillings – and you got to keep them.
Bibendum Wines once again supported our informal wine-tasting – a good method of ensuring a convivial AGM to follow. Clearly there are some bon viveurs, wine buffs and blatant blaggers in the class but the range of wines, opinion and comment were all hugely entertaining.
Of course we had to devote just a little time to talking about Swallows at the AGM, conducted with aplomb by Chairman Andrew Reid. The National Championships are at home this year
Antony and Pia and their team produced an excellent meal for the 53 diners which preceded the annual Cowes Week prizegiving. This is really an occasion for Harry and Prue and team Skua to clean the array of trophies, return them and then collect them once again, such is their vice-like grip on the event. However a special salute went to Rebecca Kalderon for her amazing achievements in the bursary boat Dart, finishing 2nd overall and collecting an array of trophies and the Lord Mayor's prize too – all collected by proud mum Sue.
Everyone was on parade at 09.45 on a crisp sunny Sunday morning in Funtington (joined by the Sunbeams) for 'the walk'. Masterminded by Jo Boulton, we set out for Woodend then across the main route from Kingley Vale to the tumuli before ascending through the yews to arrive at the tumuli from the east. Great all-round views from the top – as good as they ever get. From there westward to Adsdean and eventually to the Fox and Hounds once again for an excellent carvery lunch – for 60 of us!
A fantastic weekend – what are the organisers possibly going to come up with next year? Put the date in your diary immediately, 11-13 January 2013. If all this sounds good fun and the photos inspire you why not find out more about Swallow sailing – it's not just a summer thing!
MAIN SWALLOW EVENTS FOR 2012
Racing starts March 24
Belgian Plate May 5 & 6
Mark Rushall Training Sunday 13 May
Norman Moore June 2 -4
Points Week June 18-22
Oxford v Cambridge Centenary Match 5 & 6 July (in Swallows)
Swallow Championship 14 & 15 July, at Itchenor
Cowes Week August 11-18
Itchenor Regatta Saturday 25 August
Bob Massey September 15 & 16
Reach Trophy Saturday 6 October, and autumn class meeting
Racing ends October 28
The Olympic Sailing Regatta at Weymouth runs from 28 July until 11 August.
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3 Oct
FENELLA TROPHY, SATURDAY 1st OCTOBER 2011
How many Fenella's do you know? Fenella Fielding? Do you remember that beautiful beguiling husky voice of hers? Contemplating such things was a useful pastime as we basked under azure skies in glorious conditions but sadly with not a lot of wind. So any ideas how and why this Trophy (originally for the Firefly Class – and even competed for in days of yore by Swallow sailors of today) was thus named? Where is the Fenella now?
PRO Andy Fitzgerald had a difficult task all day long trying to second guess the oscillating SE breeze and get the three race all-to-count trophy programme completed. A good old-style mini-Olympic course was the opener which Gwaihir took after rolling Darter at the wing mark gybe. It was all over after just 32 minutes with Goosander in third. Migrant started from the pin for the follow-on back to back having thoughtfully noted the probable arrival of some pressure which followed a 15 degree shift not long before the start and which enabled them to make just one tack before reaching Rookwood and waltzing off to Ellanore before a change of course – to F! Gwaihir harried (!) Migrant to the last but Richard knew what he had to do to keep the faster boat behind. Goosander added yet another 3rd. For the afternoon finale it was an interesting course that required a lot of space on the tape and a lot of spatial awareness as all three fleets mixed it in the tight mid-section. Darter lead, then temporarily surrendered it to the shirtless Snell in Whimbrel, then Gwaihir attacked until they decided to try and fly the kite to windward and Darter escaped with Goosander and Gwaihir next up.
Overall1st Gwaihir Mike Wigmore and Charles Hyatt, 6 points
2nd Darter Tony Glover and Richard Jackson, 8 points
3rd Goosander Douglas Pattison, Elizabeth Pattison and Bob Turner, 8 points
Noted when being passed
Goosander appeared under new management, son and mother enjoying the limelight. Captain Bligh followed events closely from the support boat.
Never more than a max of 10 knots – and that only when finishing the final race
It really didn't make any difference if you were 2 or 3 up – or did it?
It wasn't the most exciting day's sailing but better a cooler day on the water than a hot day in town?
Commiserations to Carolyn: her back to basics problems meant that she has been laid up early (it's no laughing matter)
Dudley is curious to know why it is only the boat that he sails on that has spinnaker problems
Obviously not wanting to deter anybody but the forecast for next Saturday's similar format Reach Trophy is rather more breeze and roughly half the temperature. Well this was a bonus.
19 Sept
BOB MASSEY TROPHY
With 4 races (3 to count) for the lovely Bob Massey picture, the elements served up two contrasting days.
On Saturday a forecast of 24 knots gusting 37 and several key players representing ISC Team Racing in Holland, it was not surprisingly only 12 boats turned up to race. In race 1, Marengo (Carolyn Brigg ) and Cockersootie ( Paul Ward ) had a good battle for the lead on the course of Dunes to Peacock twice. Marengo came out on top as a result of some superior spinnaker work at Dunes. Third was Blue Tit (Tom Clarence-Smith).
For race 2 the wind had increased to a playful force 5-6 with stronger gusts. Initially Treloar was set as the first mark but we balked at the idea with the ebb beginning so a similar course to the morning was set. The same battle between Marengo and Cockersootie developed until the latter lost her main halyard; 2nd was Swift and 3rd the consistent Curlew (Simon Slater).
Extra Entertainment.
Skua shredded her spinnaker halyard on the drop and we enjoyed wonderful antics from George Miller balancing on the boom up the 2nd beat trying to get the last 10 feet of the spinnaker down.
Swift (Jon Perry) decided 3 times to do some survey work on the depth of the sandbank between East Head and Dunes. His remarks about "fault of crew" were not appreciated by all!
Migrant did the broach of the weekend, filled up completely and had to drop her main to avoid playing sandcastles on East Head.
On Saturday evening we had excellent roast beef and apple and pear crumble at the Club.
Sunday was a totally different day. We sailed 2 races back-to-back in a nice force 2-3 north-westerly with a little sun. Race 3 was a beat/fetch/beat to SW Pilsey and a run back to Itchenor. Darter (Tony Glover) was the early leader but the downwind flyer Marengo snatched the lead on the way home thus securing the trophy. The consistent Curlew (Olly Gilchrist to-day) was 3rd. Darter then won a short race 4 in the Gallon Reach.
Overall Results
1. Marengo Carolyn Brigg; Sue Glover; Olly Sloper
2. Curlew Simon Slater; Olly Gilchrist; Chris David
3. Migrant Charles Fisher; Richard and Carol Thompson; Susie Upton-Brown
Thank you to the race officers Tim Hill and Charles Fisher.
12 Sept
TEAM RACING AT ALDEBURGH
Just to report that a most convivial visit to Aldeburgh was had over the weekend of 10/11 September by Mark Struckett, Paul Ward, Richard Thompson (Solitude) and Mike Wigmore. We are pleased to report back that our sister fleet is alive and well and continue to be a most fun friendly group.
Itchenor were on form with their two boat team racing skills and, in a good sailing breeze, our four helm team secured a 4-0 win on Saturday afternoon at which point Richard Keane and Bobby Rusack graciously conceded defeat and the Dennis Wells salver will have another ISC engraved on it for another year.
After a fine evenings entertainment and with some sore heads Sunday was then spent sailing with the Aldeburgh Swallows in a cup race through the withies to the head of their navigable waters and back in some very breezy conditions resulting in Bobby Rusack securing that club trophy.
We very much look forward to next year or when they come to see us next.
1 sept
NORMAN MOORE REPORT Our roving reporters been at it again and here is the Norman Moore report! Please click to download
On Saturday July 23rd 17 Swallows assesmbled for the postponed Ponder Trophy. In contrast to the previous w/e the wind was force 2-3 and dry.
Race 1. PRO Nigel Pattison set a good course of Star - East Head. Skua ( Harry Roome ) picked up an early wind shift and led round Star but lost out on the 2nd beat to the wily lads in Bluff (Hugo Fisher) who then held on to the finsih with Skua 2nd and Marengo 3rd, with Joanna helming in Carolyn's absence; Gwaihir (Mike Wigmore ) was 4th. Whimbrel (Peter Snell) did not improve his chances by spending a lengthy time on 'Malcolm's hump' on the eastern side of the Thorney Channel.
Race 2. A short beat to Wear followed by a reach to Dunes enabled everyone to check their new this year jib sheeting arrangements for reaches. After a testing beat to Mill Rhythe and sand dodging run back to East Head where the course was shortended with 1st Skua; 2nd Bluff; 3rd Buccaneer; 4th Migrant
Race 3 -- all to play for between Skua and Bluff.. A highish water course to Mill Rhythe via Johns Folly and Dunes. Gwaihir shot out of the start to take a lead that was never challenged; Bluff got boxed in at the start, and although she worked her way up the fleet could never get near enough to Skua to be a threat. A spinnaker run home in the evening sunshine finished a near perfect day. 1st Gwaihir; 2nd Skua; 3rd Bluff; 4th Migrant.
Thank you Nigel for giving us such good courses.
Overall with all 3 races counting
1st 5 points Skua. Harry Roome; George Miller; Mark Chilton
2nd 6 points Bluff Hugo Fisher; Al Langhorne; Mark Timberlake
3rd 16 points Gwaihir Mike Wigmore; Rachael Struckett; Charles Hyatt
4th 16 points Marengo Joanna Brigg; Sue Glover; Ginny Fox
5th 16 points Migrant Charles Fisher; Richard and Carol Thompson
Swans
1st 24 points Blue Phantom Nigel Glennie
2nd 25 points Cockersootie Paul Ward
3rd 25 points Blue Tit Tom Clarence-Smith
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11 July
Swallows Migrate South
Instead of the programmed OH race on July 10th six Swallows migrated in a gentle force 1-2 to Bembridge for lunch!
Merlin (David Leon) was the early leader down the harbour; until she led the whole fleet (and the Sunbeams ) to SW Pilsey instead of Freddie Brooks, which allowed Darter, who had been OCS and taken 2.1/2 minutes to re cross the line, to catch up... Tacking out to West Pole close to the Hayling shore proved a better option with a gentle chop over the bar -- very different from 3 weeks ago. Those who then tacked West picked up a favourable lift to Dean Elbow and thence to the finish at Bembridge to be greeted by friendly calls of "we are the Customs; have you got your passports!"
An excellent lunch was had by all in the Bembridge Club followed by the Prize Giving to celebrate their 125th anniversary which had been blown off on June 18/19 . We then had a lovely spinnaker run home in the late afternoon sun.
Many thanks to PRO Peter Nicholson and his team who ran the day and escorted us all to and from Bembridge; and to Mike Samuelson and Louise Jackson who cor-ordinated the whole exercise.
Results
1. Darter Tony Glover; Richard Jackson; Sarah Varvill;
2. Merlin David Leon; Christian Bang; Julian Kinross
3. Avocet Michael Briggs ; John Houghton
Lessons learned by Harrier - Charles Prescott and Dudley Howard; never go to sea without a chart ; they would have been 3rd but passed to starboard of Dean Elbow rather than Port. Dudley was still asking at Bembridge "where was that crown?"
SWALLOW TRIAL SAILS Comments from Swallow sailors who have used the sails so far are attached below. This page will be updated through the season
Comments from Aldeburgh YC
"Feedback was very good. 4 of the 5 active boats have tried them and the fifth has seen them. They all felt they went better in light weather, pointing higher and going faster and the main was more responsive and controllable; they had up to a force 6 and found it easier to depower. The one owner who was possibly against also now appears to be for. They had 2 enquiries about Swallows for the first time for ages which they attributed to the better looking boat."
