Swallow Class Inshore Championship & build up to the 75th Anniversary Regatta.
Published 09:15 on 30 May 2023
This year the National Swallow Class is celebrating the 75th Anniversary of the 1948 Olympic Regatta when K7 Swift, sailed by Stewart Morris and David Bond, won gold. With a fleet of thirty Swallows expected at the Anniversary Championships to be hosted by the Royal Yacht Squadron on the 15/16th July something quite special is expected. This event will be the largest gathering of these modern classics in recent memory.
Over the late May bank holiday weekend twenty four National Swallows enjoyed sparkling one design racing at Itchenor Sailing Club as the perfect build up to Anniversary Championships. The Norman Moore trophy is the unofficial in-harbour class championship. The depth of talent on show was reflected in the results, where neither the current National Champion nor last years winner made it to the podium.
The racing on both days was held in a shifting north easterly breeze keeping all the competitors on their toes. Carolyn Briggs Marengo secured the first race by a huge margin and went on to another convincing win in race three making her the overnight leader but Osprey, helmed by James Hartley, after a difficult first race, was hot on their tails with a win in race two. On Sunday the north easterly breeze was stronger, but just as shifty. Hugo Fisher and Nigel Masdings Svala maintained their consistency never dropping out of the top three and Mike Wigmores Gwaihir kept the pressure on with another second in race four but, in the end, it was Osprey that moved up to another gear to take the last two races, and with that the coveted Norman Moore trophy. Completing the podium was Buccaneer S66 built by Mike Bond in 1978 and skilfully sailed by him this weekend showing that neither a brand new boat nor a brand new helm is required to do well in this classic dayboat class.
Full results are at https://www.itchenorsc.co.uk/swallow-results-2023/untitled-160
All photos: Kirsty Bang.
Last updated 10:46 on 25 June 2024
