J70 Regatta at Bembridge Sailing Club

This year's J70 Regatta run by Bembridge SC coincided with the second day of the Club Regatta for the second year running. Certainly makes it busier on the Committee Boat and also on the launches getting everyone out to their boats at low water!

However despite a paucity of wind, a great time was had by all and we managed to get nine races completed which qualifies for 2 discards in the overall results. Congratulations to Tim Wakefield, Ed Eddy and Tom Preston's teams who took the top places overall.

J70 Regatta at Bembridge SC - photo © Mike Samuelson

As always a huge vote to thanks to Andrew Eddy without whose meticulous organisation both ashore and afloat this event would simply not be possible. Last winter Andrew was presented with an RYA Impact Award for his outstanding contribution to all the previous J70 Regattas run by Bembridge SC. The success of this year's event undoubtedly deserves another one!

After the usual 08:30 briefing on Saturday morning, the crews for the twelve boats were taken out to the boats moored at Under Tyne by a combination of RIBs and launches. With the Committee Boat (Sea Breeze) stationed off Fitzwilliam all twelve boats made it for their first start at 10:30. The course was round the cans with Derrick as the windward mark, Under Tyne as a wing mark and Cochrane as the leeward mark. The original plan was twice round but this was shortened to once as the breeze began to drop off and there was sufficient time to start a second race before the other keelboats needed the line. The top three finishers were No 7 (Ed Eddy), No 10 (Henry Cecil) and No 1 (Tim Wakefield.

J70 BSC Regatta start

Race 2 was twice round a windward leeward course using a laid gate just forward of the start/finish line with Derrick as the windward mark for the first round and Janson for the second. The top three finishers were No 6 (Xander Huber), No 7 (Ed Eddy) and No 9 (Monty Orange).

J70 Race 2 start

Although touch and go as the first Redwing came in to finish in the last minute of the start sequence, Race 3 was another windward/leeward course using a laid windward mark and the gate again with the finish at Under Tyne. Slow work as the breeze was dropping all the time. The top three were No 7 (Ed Eddy), No 1 (Tim Wakefield) and No 9 (Monty Orange).

J70 Regatta at Bembridge SC - photo © Mike Samuelson

With the breeze all but disappeared, there was then a prolonged postponement which was eventually resolved by towing all the boats to pick up a breeze off Seaview. With a start line half was between Wreck and Derrick, the fourth race became another windward leeward. Three quarters of the way to Wreck the breeze did a 180 and the beat became a run and the run to Derrick became a beat. Caught out by the tide and shortage of wind, No 8 (Jos Laughton-Scott) and No 6 (Xander Huber) failed to start so although they finished they were not scored. The top three were No 5 (Tom Preston), No 1 (Tim Wakefield) and No 4 (Max Aylmer).

J70 Race 4 start

With the start at Derrick and using Britton as the windward mark (twice), the fifth race of the day saw some very very close finishes especially between 3rd (Tim Wakefield) and 4th Henry Cecil. The top three finishing were No 8 (Jos Laughton-Scott), No 5 (Tom Preston) and No 7 (Ed Eddy).

J70 Race 5 start

The final race of the day was a one legged dash from Britton to Under Tyne. After a General Recall, the re-start under Flag U saw No 6 (Xander Huber) and No 11 (Alec Ridgwell) both OCS within the final minute so they were disqualified.

J70 Race 6 start - General Recall

J70 Race 6 second start

After an excellent party at the Club on Saturday evening, Sunday morning saw more light airs which was a bit disappointing as the J70 is more fun when its windy! The plan was to get another six races completed, with the penultimate one being a race to the SVYC line and the final one being from the SVYC line as part of their Regatta to Cowes. In the event, Race 7 and Race 8 were both windward leeward courses from Under Tyne to Tara and back through a leeward gate twice round. Again some close finishes with the top three for Race 7 as No 7 (Ed Eddy), No 5 (Tom Preston) and No 9 (Monty Orange) and No 1 (Tim Wakefield), No 6 (Xander Huber) and No5 (Tom Preston) in Race 8.

J70 Race 7 start

Race 9 was meant to be to SVYC, however with the time ticking past, the course was changed to miss out Seaview and go direct to Cowes via the Red post off No Man's Land Fort and the Ryde Sands Red post. Although progress was slow, all managed to keep their spinnakers filled until the leading group were just past Norris, so with a 16:00 deadline to be back at Shepards Wharf Marina, the race was finished with a virtual line between 'Miss Rosie' and Norris Castle. The first three to finish were No 6 (Xander Huber), No 8 (Jos L-S)and No 10 (Henry Cecil). The back half of the fleet were awarded places based on the order they were prior to being put under tow.

J70 Race 9 start

Recovery of all 12 boats to Shepards went very smoothly, helped by the supporting RIBs, Nick Wakefield in Ursa Major and Ali Gornall in Duma. Mind you the tide was slack which made it considerably easier that when the boats were towed down to Bembridge last Thursday afternoon when it was running very strongly.

J70 Regatta at Bembridge SC - photo © Mike Samuelson

An excellent weekend much enjoyed by all; profuse thanks to the multitude of helpers and of course to Andrew Eddy, without who the Regatta would in all likelihood not be possible. Dates for 2027 will hopefully be available in the autumn.

Overall Results: