OGA Swallows and Amazons at Walton & Frinton Yacht Club 2008
I woke to the sound of strong wind and rain and thought – today we are forecast to have the best weather of the weekend – sounds like we’re not sailing at all to me! However a few hours later we agreed with the race officer, Alec Moss that we could set a shortened race course and try to at least have a sail across the Wade and back, we suggested that reefing should be the fashion for the day.

Sophie Blackburn had volunteered to sit down river in the wind and rain to see everyone home which meant we could start at the club, turn round Honeypot and come back with a finish line at the junction of the Walton Channel-Twizzle – a much easier course than usual. Amazingly, out of thirty entrants we had twenty-six boats on the start line including crews of ages 2 to 89 and several four footed friends – it was a wonderful sight at the club as all the little boats jockeyed for position on a down wind start. Unfortunately Sula capsized before the start, finding the wind just too much for her, and Happy Days managed to break her tiller, but sailed the rest of the course with an oar over the stern (what is it about Smacks Boats and breakages?) And so the fleet took off, haring down river and across the Wade. At this stage some of the smaller boats were getting very wet – Oppy (the Optimist and true to her name) was gradually filling up and head butting each wave, however Felix threw across a bailer, which was quickly put to good use. The lead boat was local Jewel, Black Pearl. Unfortunately she lead the fleet the wrong way round Honeypot which put it as a jybe mark, then the safety boats and fleet started to follow her. This was a fatal mistake for second boat Moonstone who sadly capsized – I guess on the jybe. Felicis was one of the first to realise the mistake and having gone the wrong way round the island, she turned and then went correctly around the island, the back markers all then correctly followed her. The fleet then flew back across the wade to the finish line and back to the club for lunch and a rest!

After lunch the paper boat race was more competitive than ever before - this year for the first time ever there was a Fathers section. This was a great idea as the fathers could benefit from their children's imaginative skills and vice versa. Saturday evening was prize giving, supper in the club and a swinging evening led by the local Onion Band in great style.

Sunday dawned windy as ever, and kicked off with a small boat jumble around the club. Due to the inclement weather conditions the Sunday sailing event became a rowing race but the rules remained the same. Ten rowing boats of all shapes and sizes rowed from the club jetty to Bedwells jetty where they had to collect a sealed envelope. Inside was a photo of a sea bird. They then had to find the boat with the matching card and row to arrive at the finishing line together. Extra points were awarded to those who could impersonate their chosen bird. Without a doubt the winners were Tessa and Vicky rowing Splice together with Sue and Mike rowing Lettuce . Their amazing geese honks blended with the howling of the wind, the barking of dogs, the shouting of contestants and the clashing of oars. A great time had by all.

As ever the Walton and Frinton Yacht Club hosted this event with great generosity of facilities and members time, not to mention the local club members who allowed the campers in their gardens. Many thanks to all.

RESULTS
ROUND THE ISLAND
Black Pearl First overall S&A cup

Traditional Gaffer
Melisande First in class Downs Road Half Model
Apprenticeship Second in class
Woozle Third in class
Felicis

Spirit of Tradition
Oppy First in class Spirit Barrel
Coot Second in class
Black Betty Third in class
Un-named
Dabchick
Felix

Smacks boat Willow First in class Morning Cloud Half Model
Lettuce Second in class
Sabi Third in class
Happy Days
AWOL
Whoopee
Splice
Ripple

New classic One fifths First in class Old sailor
Tide Race Second in class
Orca Third in class
Gracie J

PAPER BOATS
Fathers Section :
1st "Oars d'Oevre "by Paul a Roman galley design built upon a single oar
2nd "Jolly Roger" by Roger - based on a traditional pirate ship
3rd" Muriel1" by Martin - based upon a wine bottle !
A handsome pair of pirate socks was awarded to each winner .

Children's Section :
1st prize "Apple Bag" by William
2nd prize "The Amazon " by George,Maddie ,Olivia and Zac
3rd prize " Winnie the Winner" by Josie and Victoria
Other prizes were awarded to :
"Kojy 1 and Kojy 2 " by Josh ,Oliver and Kit for long distance sailing
"Spots" by Anna for having built the most beautiful boat
"Death and Glory" by Joanna for the boat that wouldnt give up
Many thanks go to Julie in the Rescue boat !

SWALLOWS AND AMAZONS 2008








Boat Handicap time / min corrected time Class











OVERALL








Black Pearl 0.804 59.55 47.88 Spirit of Tradition



Oppy 0.650 75.03 48.77 Spirit of Tradition



Willow 0.742 65.83 48.83 Smacks boat



One fifths 0.850 58.13 49.41 New classic



Coot 0.735 67.37 49.51 Spirit of Tradition



Tide Race 0.744 66.58 49.54 New classic



Black Betty 0.735 68.08 50.04 Spirit of Tradition



Lettuce 0.742 68.38 50.72 Smacks boat



Melisande 0.840 60.67 50.96 Traditional Gaffer



Orca 0.744 68.63 51.07 New classic



Un-named 0.800 64.60 51.68 Spirit of Tradition



Sabi 0.742 70.67 52.42 Smacks boat



Dabchick 0.735 71.62 52.64 Spirit of Tradition



Happy Days 0.742 71.12 52.75 Smacks boat



AWOL 0.742 71.75 53.22 Smacks boat



Apprenticeship 0.730 73.62 53.74 Traditional Gaffer



Whoopee 0.742 72.52 53.79 Smacks boat



Felix 0.700 78.93 55.25 Spirit of Tradition



Woozle 0.730 75.87 55.38 Traditional Gaffer



Splice 0.742 74.75 55.45 Smacks boat



Ripple 0.742 74.83 55.51 Smacks boat



Felicis 0.745 74.67 55.63 Traditional Gaffer



Gracie J 0.744 100.00 74.41 New classic












Retired







Macavity Sula Moonstone VII














Boat Handicap time / min corrected time Class











IN CLASS








Melisande 0.840 60.67 50.96 Traditional Gaffer First in class Downs Road Half Model

Apprenticeship 0.730 73.62 53.74 Traditional Gaffer Second in class


Woozle 0.730 75.87 55.38 Traditional Gaffer Third in class


Felicis 0.745 74.67 55.63 Traditional Gaffer



Black Pearl 0.804 59.55 47.88 Spirit of Tradition First overall S&A cup

Oppy 0.650 75.03 48.77 Spirit of Tradition First in class Spirit Barrel

Coot 0.735 67.37 49.51 Spirit of Tradition Second in class


Black Betty 0.735 68.08 50.04 Spirit of Tradition Third in class


Un-named 0.800 64.60 51.68 Spirit of Tradition



Dabchick 0.735 71.62 52.64 Spirit of Tradition



Felix 0.700 78.93 55.25 Spirit of Tradition



Willow 0.742 65.83 48.83 Smacks boat First in class Morning Cloud Half Model

Lettuce 0.742 68.38 50.72 Smacks boat Second in class


Sabi 0.742 70.67 52.42 Smacks boat Third in class


Happy Days 0.742 71.12 52.75 Smacks boat



AWOL 0.742 71.75 53.22 Smacks boat



Whoopee 0.742 72.52 53.79 Smacks boat



Splice 0.742 74.75 55.45 Smacks boat



Ripple 0.742 74.83 55.51 Smacks boat



One fifths 0.850 58.13 49.41 New classic First in class Old sailor

Tide Race 0.744 66.58 49.54 New classic Second in class


Orca 0.744 68.63 51.07 New classic Third in class


Gracie J 0.744 100.00 74.41 New classic