HMS Echo challenge Mombasa Yacht Club for the Triumph Pint Trophy
by Fiona Holland 16 Feb 2012 20:43 NZDT
HMS Echo Sailing Team (l tor) Lt Mark Butcher, Lt Becca Burghall, Lt Richard Watsham, AB(SEA) Martin Dewhurst, Lt Marc Taylor © Royal Navy
Taunton’s Royal Navy warship, HMS Echo, recently paid a visit to Mombasa, Kenya in January as part of her on-going deep-water oceanographic tasking east of Suez.
During her short time in port, however, a number of the ship’s crew decided to challenge their reliance on modern engines and go back to their roots – with sail power!
The enthusiastic sailing team challenged Mombasa Yacht Club to compete for the Triumph Pint Trophy, presented to the club by aircraft carrier HMS Triumph in 1967 and raced for by visiting Royal Navy ships and members of the Mombasa Yacht Club.
On arrival in Mombasa, HMS Echo’s eager sailing team, led by Lt Rich Watsham invited the yacht club to compete for the trophy, last won by HMS Gloucester in 2001.
In light winds and a slight flooding tide, both RN and MYC teams took to the race start with two Laser class racing dinghies and one 420 class per team. It was decided that the cumulative best of four races would be the winner.
A figure of eight shaped course was set with the start and finish line off the club providing a great view for spectators. Wind was north easterly 5-10 knots at best, becoming almost a drifter by race four. HMS Echo was represented by Lt Rich Watsham and Lt Mark Taylor in the Lasers with AB Martyn Dewhurst, Lt Rebecca Burghall and Lt Mark Butcher crew swapping into the 420.
After four hours of racing, with the sun setting in the background, both teams retired to the slipway and made their way to the clubhouse for the obligatory post-race tea and cakes.
Results showed MYC winning races one, two and four on points, though HMS Echo’s team took best individual boat on the day with Lt Rich Watsham on 5.25 points after three wins and a third.
Unfortunately for the visitors, the Triumph Pint in this instance was retained by the club, with condolences made to Echo’s gutsy team. However, it was pleasing to note that Lt Rich Watsham was the overall individual winner with three wins out of the four.
Lt Marc Taylor thanked the yacht club for their hospitality towards Echo during her stay in Mombasa. The club had an open door policy for the ship’s company to use their facilities. In an act of good will, teams exchanged a burgee and ship’s crest.
HMS Echo sailed from Portsmouth at the end of January 2011 to embark on a two-year operational deployment which has include a significant amount of survey work and maintaining a high degree of readiness for such an extended period.
The ship has also recently visited The Seychelles after a significant period working alongside the islands’ coast guard, which has resulted in the successful disruption of illegal activities, including piracy.
HMS Echo was launched at Appledore in Devon in 2002, and was designed to carry out a wide range of survey work, including support to submarine and amphibious operations, through the collection of oceanographic and bathymetric (analysis of the ocean, its salinity and sound profile) data.
Her survey motor boat, Pathfinder, is capable of operating independently, supporting a small group of surveyors who can live and work ashore to carry out surveys.
Echo, which is based in Devonport, was the first Royal Navy ship to use azimuth thrusters, where the propellers are part of a swivelling pod, allowing for precise manouevring. Capable of collecting an array of military hydrographic and oceanographic data, due to her multi-role capability Echo is also equipped to support mine warfare and amphibious operations. To ensure she can operate in any environment she possesses a impressive array of weapons for force protection and carries a small detachment of Royal Marines.