K6 Class Annual Regatta at Aldeburgh Yacht Club

by Nick Jones on 21 Aug 2016 Seven K6s enjoyed a week long series of five races at Aldeburgh from Sunday 14th to Friday 19th in great conditions as part of the Club’s annual regatta. Racing was well organised with plenty of variety in the courses – sailing both up and down river – and helped also by the fine warm sunny weather and favourable easterly or southerly winds between F2 and F5 all week.

This week was the first opportunity for new class member John Hallas to join the established Aldeburgh fleet (now the largest coastal centre for K6’s in the country) and he and son Rory put in a good showing eventually finishing fifth overall. Brothers Steve and Ian Liddell, Alex Cooper and father-in-law, Dan Hilling and John Adcroft and Steve Dewberry all challenged the front of the fleet periodically but by the time the scores were all in and counted at the end of the week occupied the remaining minor positions.

At the front Ian Robson and Sandy Johnson started well and generally mastered the conditions but not without pressure from both Nick and George Jones and Simon Sydenham sailing with a mixed crew drawn from wife Emma, Gavin and Anna Marshall and Chris Ritchie. Particularly on Wednesday when Ian and Sandy suffered from a number of gear and rigging issues, Simon showed his pace as he did again on Orford day, the windiest day of the week, when the class enjoyed a very fast, seven mile,broad reach and run down river past Orford, Round Havergate Island (completed in 45 minutes against the tide) followed by a two mile beat back to finish on Orford Sailing Club’s line. Nick and George saved their best for Friday when they pushed Ian hard all race to finish second but unfortunately it was just not quite enough to get them ahead of Simon overall.

So at the end of the week Ian and Sandy took first place on four points with Simon and crew in second on eight and Nick and George third on nine.

The social side of the week was not ignored either with the class enjoying drinks and nibbles at the invitation of class captain Nick Jones whose home has a rooftop terrace with almost 360 degree views of both the sea and river. There was also a great dinner at the club whilst the week ended with the traditional ball attended by some 200 club members and friends.

All in all everyone agreed that it had been a great week and we hope that the spectacle of seven K6’s – now the fastest boat regularly fleet racing on the Alde – will encourage other Aldeburgh members to join the class whilst owners of K6’s elsewhere in the country are also most welcome to join us for the 2017 edition which will run from 20-25 August 2017.

Results:

162 Cloud Nine Ian Robson and Sandy Johnson
211 Back in Black Simon and Emma Sydenham, Gavin and Anna Marshall
213 Galloper Nick and George Jones