Zippy Zero on tour at the 181st Dartmouth Royal Regatta

Liz Potter and Zippy Zero win their class in the Dartmouth Royal Regatta © Paul Gibbins Photography

Hello folks from D-Zero 333 aka Zippy, checking in with you after a magical 600 mile summer tour to the stunning sailing club of Dittisham on the West Bank of the tidal Dart, some 2 miles upstream of Dartmouth. Here, the friendly locals run the most excellent dinghy regatta as part of Dartmouth Royal regatta and this year, once again it was sponsored by Moore Kingston Smith, Ancasta and Salcombe Gin.

Over 60 dinghies entered the event, plus one huge Thames A Rater, who rather stole the show (and wind and daylight, but more of that later).

The D-Zero fleet were there to welcome me upon arrival and found me a prime spot in their boat park where I could interfere with the ILCA rigging spot. We had seven boats this year, so once again had our own class racing, though we shared a start with the general handicap, and sometimes the solos too, if we got our lap timing wrong.

Day one started with light winds. RO Arky Wainwright had a frustrating first day, with the wind shuffling around every point of the compass, but managed to get us away in 10 knots. Martin Thomas got away sharply, with me and Owner Liz Potter chasing him on the triangle course, followed closely by Jon Wood. Jon passed us upwind and we cruised by downwind lap by lap, until the finish, where we clinched the 2nd place behind Martin, with Jon in third.

There was a delay going into race 2, as the wind swung wildly and the RIB zoomed back and forth with the windward mark. Then the flags were hoisted and off we went, on a huge shift which took us straight to the orange dumpy. Up went the abandoned flag and we returned to wait another half hour as the wind gods played chess. Finally the course was reset and Ged Yardy got off to a great start, with Jon and Seb Prowse chasing.

Seb had an unfortunate capsize, as he got caught out sitting too far forward downwind and a sharp unexpected zephyr sent him pitch-poling over his finely chiselled nose. By the next reach, I had ninja'd into second place ahead of Jon, but was overtaken by Paul Green who found new wind on the right side of the course on the last beat. Ged went on to win from Paul and me.

Day two started off very light, but by the time we launched it had increased to 10-15 knots, with stronger gusts during the races.

Roger Morley took an early lead after from the start in race 3, holding on to lead the fleet until the final part of the second lap, where he was passed by Seb on the reach. Seb held his lead to the finish, followed by me and Jon.

D-Zeros in the Dartmouth Royal Regatta at Dittisham SC - photo © Paul Gibbins Photography

The fourth race was shifty and very gusty. Seb was looking for an opening on the start line that wasn't filled by a 27ft long 43ft tall wind sucking Thames A Rater. Unfortunately he was on port tack, there were 10 seconds to go till the start and I was occupying a prime spot where he'd like to have gone.

His boat rather rudely grabbed my boom with its mainsheet, which then somehow looped under my rudder too, as I was doing some dramatic heeling at that stage. Then he flipped me over like some soggy kind of pancake and shot off into the space I had once occupied. Owner was playing slides on my gunwale, whooshing with speed and merriment into the water along my shiny nose profile, landing a boat length ahead of my bow. Seb's boat did some merry-go-round stuff and ran off to play with the other kids in the playground and I lay in the water waiting for someone to race me professionally.

By the time I had recovered my hapless Owner and set off to race, the fleet was long gone. The wind Gods took pity and helped poor Zippy keep its nose pointed at the Dumpy (by now renamed the "Windless Mark") regardless of which tack we chose, whilst the other D-Zeros were enticed into a nice little hole beneath the hills.

I rounded in a very close third behind Ged and Martin and eventually passed them on a lucky shift via the Solo start, which caused some more mayhem.

I won the race from Ged and Jon to clinch my Zero to Hero day.

Day 3 was very windy. The Owners arrived at the club, where the dark skies, white horses and 30 knots were on full display. They had a fleet chat, said "Nah" to the RO and went off to find better things to do for the day. The official abandonment for the rest of the dinghies came later that day.

Meanwhile I need to add an update on this years wildlife incident after last years bat and spider. This time a toad inspecting my baggage allowance sticker; probably preparing to move in. He was quickly moved on.

Toad inspecting the baggage allowance sticker on Zippy Zero - photo © Liz Potter

Day 4 was still dark, but sailably windy. Owner paced about debating the merits of a masthead float she'd been offered. I was rather horrified and humiliated, feeling I was beyond the need for water wings at my age. "Put them on Her" I mumbled to the other boats around me. They argued back that it would save my mast from her incompetence, as the oozing clay sediments were well known for causing issues. Indeed, a laser shaped spreader mark had appeared for at least two laps by the windless mark on Day 2.

Then followed a long debate; float tethered or flying free? Which would damage my airflow the least?

In the end, she took it down and woman-ed up in the breezy fifth race, which was not without its drama.

Ged's boat shredded its traveller on the way to the start and Seb had found drier activities to entertain him for the day, so we were just five.

Martin got off to a quick start to lead from Roger and Jon. During the next lap, a capsize from Jon allowed Paul and me to pass, with Martin taking the win from Paul with me in third.

As the wind dropped at the end of race 5, the curtain rose for the final showdown in race 6. We led from Jon and Paul. Martin's tiller extension gave up before he did, with his eventual retirement on the final lap. I hung onto the lead to take the win, with only four boats making the finish line.

So concluded the Regatta, with me and Owner Liz winning overall, Jon runner up, and Martin in third.

So thank you to our principle sponsors, Moore Kingston Smith.

Thank you to the RO Arky and team, safety boat crews, the fabulous food offered each day as part of the regatta entry. So many volunteers and lovely people, but a special mention to The Wonderful Commodore, Steven Black, who really makes this event fun and happening. It's an honour to have been part of your club for the week.

Overall Results:

Competitors in the Dartmouth Royal Regatta at Dittisham SC - photo © Paul Gibbins Photography