Manx Sailing and Cruising Club held its Ramsey Bay Regatta over the Tynwald weekend, despite the forecasts of winds ranging from gale-force to zero.

As it turned out, on Saturday there was a very gentle breeze offshore, slightly overcast with very light occasional rain, superb conditions to ease the fabulous turnout of 26 crews into the first local regatta of the post-coronavirus 2020 season.

Competitors raced as a mixed fleet with three-crew National 18s (largest UK dinghy class) lining up with juniors in their tiny single-handed RS Teras.

For race one of a schedule of three races on the opening day, the National 18 of Phil Hardisty, Chris Hill and Peter Richardson were keen to show what they could do in their first regatta in the new dinghy, finishing some four-and-a-half minutes ahead of the next N18 of Michael Wilson, Donald Edwards and Rob Cowell.

Third on the water was the RS 400 of Russell and June Callister with Ffinlo Wright in his single-handed RS Aero-9 making up the finishers on four laps.

The N18 of Hardisty/Hill/Richardson was clear enough of the fleet to take the win after correction, while second place was taken by junior (GBR squad member) Teddy Dunn in his RS Aero-5 some 20 seconds ahead of Ffinlo Wright (RS Aero 9).

Race two over the same windward/leeward course was again dominated by the N18 of Hardisty/Hill/Richardson, followed again on the water by the other N18 and RS 400 of Russell and June Callister, the latter finishing second after correction with Dunn third.

For the third race over the same course, yet again the N18 of Hardisty/Hill/Richardson was first on the water and after correction Dave Batchelor RS Aero-7 - fifth finisher on the water - claimed second, with the ever-consistent junior Dunn in third.

Unfortunately, the Sunday racing was cancelled with wind strength of 20-plus knots and gusts near 30mph recorded at the end of the Queen’s Pier, therefore the overnight results stood.

First place was the National 18 of Hardisty, Hill and Richardson, while second was best junior Dunn ahead of the Aero-7 of Batchelor in third. The top three juniors were Dunn, Peter Cope and Elsie Hyett respectively.

Manx Sailing and Cruising Club would like to thank race officer Keith Poole, ably assisted by Dave Edwards and Esther Bailey, plus the patrol boat crews of Peter Hoosen-Owen, Graham Wilson, May Shiu Chan and Helen Kee. Thanks also to Niamh Poole for organising half-time tea and refreshments.

For full results visit www.msandcc.org and the club’s Facebook page for excellent photos from the day.

RALPH KEE