Manx Sailing and Cruising Club’s annual IOM Copiers Easter Regatta took place last weekend, writes Keith Poole.

The weather forecast for the event looked promising, 12 to 15 knots with occasional sunshine, which certainly encouraged plenty of people to turn up to the club in Ramsey.

In reality, the 14 to 17 knots from the southeast that was generating some quite large waves made some opt to change their plans for the day.

The competitors were initially held back on the beach for the committee boat to arrive on station and allow the race officer to assess whether the conditions were favourable enough for racing. Decision made, the remaining 18 dinghies made their way to the startline.

This is a mixed handicap event and the mix was certainly varied. Peter Cope brought out his Foiling Waszp (shown right), Keiron Blamey, Nathan Bradley and Nigel Collins arrived with the huge three-man National 18, with many other classes down to the little Tera Sport of Jimmy Cope.

Race one was a windward/leeward course and it started with the wind increasing by a further two or three knots. The conditions proved a test for all with many taking a dip, keeping the patrol boats busy darting from one capsized boat to another to see if assistance was necessary.

This led to one retirement on the first lap and a further two before the end of the second lap - to add to the issues of the day, the large waves were causing the committee boat to drag its anchor.

In the end Simon Pressly (Radial), who enjoys this kind of weather, secured first place with Angus Jolly (Aero 7) second and Bob Love third.

After a hasty repositioning of the committee boat, race two got under way on a similar course in very slightly less wind and with less people falling over this produced a much tighter race.

After the handicaps were applied, with only a second or two separating many of the boats, Pressly once again shone to take first with Andrew Dean (Radial) rising through the ranks for second and the National 18 of Blamey, Bradley and Collins in third.

For the final race the course was shortened to take into account the now very tired competitors and the wind had by now thankfully eased to the 10/12 knots range.

But this didn’t slow Pressly down any as he once again took the top slot and he was joined again on the podium by Jolly. There was a very impressive performance from junior sailor Tom Watterson in his Tera Pro to secure third.

Overall, obviously with three wins Pressly took home the John Dean Trophy, while in second place was Jolly with Cope in the impressive Waszp third.

In the junior class, a consistent performance by Tom Watterson gave him first with Elsie Hyett (Radial) second just beating her sisters Roo and Lettie Hyett (Feva XL) who came in third.

Many thanks to all involved in the event, Emily Kee, Jade Leach, Ebo Lomas and Peter Hooson-Owen in the patrol boats, Keith Poole and Neil Rawlinson on the committee boat, Niamh Poole and her crew for the much-needed sustenance post-race and of course event sponsor Mark Corrin from IOM Copiers.

Full result available here https://www.halsail.com/Result/Public/70947