KSSA Regatta 2006

On Saturday 18^th September Minis Bay sailing club hosted the KSSA Regatta.  A fleet of 35 boats made up of a wide range of ages and abilities gathered to start the 1^st race, under the command of race officer “Jolly Roger” Phillips. With clean starts all day Roger was most disappointed he wasn’t able to put up his favourite black flag! A light breeze combined with the tidal current made racing very close and tactical throughout the mixed handicap fleet. The 1^st race was sailed during the most breeze of the day, ranging from a force two to a force three. Tim Ellis and Mitch Webb of Downs SC pulled away in their RS400 having to sail particularly well to keep their lead from Katie Restall and Zara Brazil sailing in an RS200 (Downs SC) and the Bewl Valley SC Laser boys Paul Turnill and Callum McKenzie. After a short race Callum took the bullet, Katie and Zara came 2^nd and Paul 3^rd. Further down the fleet there were many other contests, Peter Gay and Chloe Martin were fighting it out in their Radials, and the boys from Dover Water Sports Centre sailed ferociously to dominate the Topaz fleet. The 2^nd race was back to back and started very promptly by the race committee as lunchtime was fast approaching. It was again the RS400 followed by the RS200 pulling away after starting at the favourable pin end of the start line. Tim Ellis and Mitch Webb again sailed swiftly to beat the Laser boys Paul and Callum but not doing enough to beat Katie and Zara on handicap. After a great lunch put on by the lovely ladies of Minis Bay SC canteen the fleet launched off the wide, flat, sandy beach. The race committee followed after their buckets and spades were confiscated! The 3^rd race started in less breeze then the morning and steadily died throughout the afternoon. With a run against the tide the spinnaker boats crept away. Katie and Zara again took honours with Tim Ellis and Mitch Webb coming a handsome 2^nd. This time Paul Turnill got the better of Callum McKenzie both sailing Lasers to come 3^rd. As the wind had dropped dramatically the race committee abandoned all further racing and the fleet paddled, pumped and drifted ashore. However all was not over! Fiery redhead Ed Cowell lodged a protest against not one but two boats! But in the good spirit of the day all was resolved reasonably. With two out of three of the races being counted Katie Restall and Zara Brazil came first overall as well as being the first all girl crew and first double handed boat, Callum McKenzie second and winning the prize for 1^st single handed boat and Tim Ellis and Mitch Webb third place. Chloe Martin came 5^th overall winning the Radials. The prize for sailing a school boat went to Andrew Lewis and Max Durke sailing a Kings School 420 coming 9^th overall. Andrew and Lewis also won the School team prize in combination with Peter Gay who came 6^th in this Laser Radial. Further mentions go to: Richard Thomas who won the Topper fleet and came 10^th overall, Michael Lead who came 16^th sailing his Laser in his first year of competition and Hannah Fagg who sailed her topper to 22^nd place overall and first under 14. Despite the gentle winds everyone had a really good time, many thanks must go to all the mums and dads and to Minis Bay Sailing Club for putting on a great day and making everyone feel very welcome. It was the last KSSA event for a group of us and on behalf of all the oldies I would just like to thank everyone involved with KSSA who help make it what it is.

Mitch Webb