Please select your home edition
Edition
Mackay Boats 728x90 TOP

Jersey Electricity Gorey Regatta 2024

by Philip Jeune 18 Jul 2024 04:10 PDT 13-14 July 2024

It may have been something to do with the weather gods, or possibly even the presence of two Buddhist monks on the quayside the day before, but for whatever reason the recent Jersey Electricity Gorey Regatta was blessed with excellent sailing conditions and plenty of sunshine.

Both days began with flat calm seas and limp flags but by the time regatta director Bill Harris and his starting team got into action a gentle breeze started to fill in, enabling nearly all the scheduled handicap races to go ahead in what was the 167th running of this historic event.

The cruiser skippers would have liked a stronger breeze for their early-morning Saturday race around from St Helier but once in the beautiful setting of the Royal Bay of Grouville, on Jersey's east coast, all the classes enjoyed great sailing in the challenging conditions.

Light airs provide a great test of tactical sailing skills and skippers of all ages rose to meet the challenge against a backdrop of sombre black rainclouds that thankfully avoided the racing arena. Tidal conditions become an even more important factor in light airs and this was no more evident than in the perseverance shown by George Edwards (9) and Jack Hewgill (10) as they battled their tiny Optimists against the tide around the large course.

The main honours in the cruiser and multihull races were shared by Filipene (Nick Bailhache's Moody 31) and Sunbeam (Justin Horton's Kelsall Suncat 30), who each took home three trophies, and Super Q (Julian Barber's Farr 727) and The Dog's (Allen Brown's Melges 24), who won two apiece.

In the dayboats - the 'red sails' class - Ben Jones' Baloo won the series of three races on Saturday while Will Carnegie's Soda took the honours in the two races on Sunday, in one recording the identical finishing time as his 84-year-old father, Peter, in Pod.

In the dinghy classes Laser sailor Kai Surcouf won three trophies while single awards went to Henry Edwards (Feva XL), Charlie Hewgill (Optimist), Marc Haslam (Laser), Paula Boyle (RS Aero 7), Pete Raimbault (Laser) and Ollie Haslam (Laser 4.7).

Sponsors Jersey Electricity were represented at the prize-giving dinner at the Dolphin Hotel by head of customer experience Kate Gosson, who said that the company was proud to sponsor the regatta and be a part of its long heritage. Staff members from JE were able to go out on a RIB, kindly provided by Gorey boat-owner Tony Able, to see the racing action at close quarters.

Gorey Regatta Association captain Justin Horton thanked JE for their continued sponsorship and also paid tribute to the work of his committee, the race starters and timekeepers, the beach crew and the safety RIB crews.

He concluded the formalities by announcing that 14-year-old Ollie Haslam had been awarded the Morning Cloud Trophy - a special award given at the discretion of the GRA captain - for the sportsmanship he had shown during the event.

CRUISERS/MULTIHULLS:

Filipene (Nick Bailhache) Betty Bruce Challenge Cup, 150th Regatta Trophy & C Austin Potter Cup
Sunbeam (Justin Horton) Fairey Cup, Horton Trophy & Yangtze Cup
Super Q (Julian Barber) De Faye Memorial Trophy & Commodore's Cup
The Dog's (Allen Brown) Glendewar Challenge Cup & Stevens Centenary Challenge Cup

DAYBOATS:

Baloo (Ben Jones) Orviss Challenge Cup
Soda (Will Carnegie) Frank Jeune Trophy

DINGHIES:

Henry Edwards (Feva XL) Fifth Gorey Cup
Kai Surcouf (Laser) Assinder Cup, Norman Challenge Cup & Gorey Cup
Charlie Hewgill (Optimist) Ecrehos Trophy
Marc Haslam (Laser) Fourth Gorey Cup
Paula Boyle (RS Aero 7) Marmotier Trophy
Pete Raimbault (Laser) Perchard Memorial Cup
Ollie Haslam (Laser 4.7) Rosel Bowl

MORNING CLOUD TROPHY:

Ollie Haslam (Laser 4.7)

Related Articles

Aussies hunt 'Ashes on Water' win
The BONDS Flying Roos are looking to bounce back with a vengeance in Portsmouth Fresh off a bruising weekend in New York, the BONDS Flying Roos are looking to bounce back with a vengeance as they take on long time rivals Great Britain in their home waters at the Emirates Great Britain Sail Grand Prix, held in Portsmouth. Posted on 18 Jul
4 Ultim rocketships to contest Rolex Fastnet Race
The giant 32m long by 23m wide flying trimarans are taking part in the 100th anniversary edition While the 50ft flying catamarans competing at SailGP Portsmouth this weekend will be impressive, charging out of the opposite western end of the Solent will be giant 32m long by 23m wide flying Ultim trimarans taking part in the 100th anniversary edition. Posted on 18 Jul
SailGP comes to Portsmouth!
We speak to the sailors ahead of the weekend The Emirates Great Britain Sail Grand Prix | Portsmouth takes place this weekend, with the 12 teams competing in F50 catamarans close to the waterfront, where a massive grandstand has been built for the spectators. Posted on 18 Jul
SailGP: No practice racing at Portsmouth
The Practice Race was a fizzer, however the future of the SailGP fleet development was revealed. The scheduled Practice Day failed to fire at SailGP Portsmouth, after the forecast, admittedly light, breeze failed to male an appearance. The self propelled start marks were making a much better speed than the F50s. Posted on 18 Jul
Elite Training at New Sailing Centre
Canash Beach, St Vincent, hosts international sailors The SVG Sailing Association held a successful High Performance Race Training Clinic, at the newly established High Performance Centre at Canash Beach, St Vincent. The four-day event ran from July 13th to 16th. Posted on 18 Jul
McIntyre Mini Globe Race Leg 3 Preview
The race to South Africa starts from Vuda Marina Fiji on 26th July In a world-first sailing challenge, 15 solo sailors from eight countries are navigating identical 5.8-meter (19-foot) self-built plywood yachts around the globe— The fleet has enjoyed a five week stopover in Fiji at the end of Leg 2. Posted on 18 Jul
Third time Finn World No.1 for Alessandro Marega
Maintaining the top spot in the Finn World Ranking List Italy's Alessandro Marega maintains the top spot in the Finn World Ranking List for the third consecutive release. He remains World No. 1 with an 80-point lead over France's Laurent Hay. Posted on 18 Jul
World Sailing Nations Cup to make grand return
After a seven-year hiatus, World Sailing has officially opened the bid process for host cities After a seven-year hiatus, the World Sailing Nations Cup, the ultimate event to crown the world's top match-racing nations, is making its much-anticipated return. Posted on 18 Jul
2025 WASZP Pre-Games in Weymouth Day 2
A classic British summer's day as sailors launched beneath a blanket of grey cloud and drizzle The second day of the WASZP Pre-Games served up a classic British summer's day as sailors launched beneath a blanket of grey cloud and with a hug of fresh drizzle. Posted on 18 Jul
Moth take a big step forward at Garda Worlds
The just concluded Int Moth Worlds at Lake Garda, Italy were technically much more complex than NZ The just concluded Int Moth Worlds at Lake Garda, Italy were technically much more complex than the 2024 World Championship, held just six months ago in New Zealand. Posted on 17 Jul
Henri-Lloyd Dynamic RangeArmstrong 728x90 - Wing FG Board Range - BOTTOMRooster 2025