THE spirit of the Jersey Electricity Gorey Regatta, which is 168 years old this year, is truly alive and well judging by last weekend’s event.
Sailors of all ages, ranging from youngsters getting a taste of the historic regatta for the first time, to highly experienced sailors, including two former skippers from round-the-world yacht races, faced challenging conditions that in no way diminished the sheer fun which makes the event so popular.
Saturday saw light and variable winds, though thankfully, there was enough to enable the cruiser fleet to enjoy a pleasant spinnaker run coming around from St Helier.
With the breeze rarely above ten knots and often lower, race officer Bill Harris and his team on the end of the pier had tricky decisions to make as to which courses to select.
But, like the sailors on the water battling light wind against tide, they rose to the challenge and succeeded in running the full programme of races.
Sunday, however, saw everyone facing a very different challenge with much stronger winds that had peaked at near gale-force during the night.
One cruiser, which was berthed near the harbour entrance, broke free from its mooring, but while bouncing around in the surf it managed to launch its own anchor and come to a stop just five yards from a reef of rocks.
The wind continued at Force 5-6 during the morning, but the race team’s patience was rewarded with a slight lull at lunchtime enabling racing to get under way about an hour later than scheduled.
Diminished fleets, in both the dinghies and cruisers, enjoyed fast and exhilarating sailing during the first session of races, but the wind picked up again and the rain arrived leading to difficult sailing conditions in the second session that saw gusts up to 32 knots (Force 7).
It was, perhaps, no coincidence that the only cruiser sailing at this time was Matchless helmed by Alex Thomson – who, in the 1998/99 Clipper Round the World Yacht Race became the youngest skipper to win the race aged 24.
The only dayboat left racing was Soda, helmed by Will Carnegie, skipper of the yacht Veritas in the 2000/21 BT Global Challenge.
At the Sunday evening prize-giving ceremony held at The Pembroke, Gorey Regatta Association Captain Justin Horton, just back from competing in the Island Games, spoke of the highs and lows that this year’s event had experienced.
“The conditions pushed the limits of our young sailors,’ he said before inviting Jersey Electricity’s head of customer experience, Kate Gosson, to present the youngest competitors – the “Transition Sailors” – with prizes “for just being out there today”.
Ms Gosson expressed that it was good to see so many young people participating in the Regatta: “It is clearly an important part of the Island’s maritime heritage and through its sponsorship, Jersey Electricity is delighted to help celebrate this fun event.”
Mr Horton concluded by thanking all the many people whose hard work had made the Regatta possible, including the race committee, the general committee, the shore team, the timekeepers and all the competitors.
The Morning Cloud Trophy – a special award in the gift off the GRA Captain – was then presented to 13-year-old Imogen Heart in recognition of the determination and enthusiasm she had shown throughout the weekend.
Results
- Cruisers:
- The Dog’s (Allen Brown) – Glendewar Challenge Cup, De Faye Memorial Cup and Stevens Centenary Challenge Cup.
- Indigo (Peter Crabb) – Richardson Trophy and Le Riche Challenge Cup.
- Matchless (Hani Salem) – Yangtze Cup, Betty Bruce Challenge Cup, Fairey Cup, C Austin Potter Trophy and 150th Regatta Cup.
- Dayboats:
- Tykki Duw (Gary Hollick) – Orviss Challenge Cup.
- Soda (Will Carnegie) – Frank Jeune Trophy.
- Dinghies:
- James Tilley – Norman Challenge Cup, Fourth Gorey Cup and Perchard Memorial Cup.
- Ollie Boyle – Assinder Cup and Gorey Cup.
- Lottie Ohlsson – Fifth Gorey Cup and Ecréhous Trophy.
- Richie Forbes and Liv Sherrington – Marmotier Trophy.
- Luke Haydon – Rosel Bowl.
Captains’ award: Imogen Heart – Morning Cloud Trophy.