Double whammy for our Sigmas in the EAORA Pattinson Cup & Ralph Herring Trophy
by Paul Wood 31 May 05:09 PDT
25-26 May 2024
EAORA Pattinson Cup & Ralph Herring Trophy © Paul Wood
Race two for the EAORA season, the West Mersea YC's Pattinson Cup was won by a Sigma 33, Magic Moments and sailed two handed.
It was a slow start at the Branklet Buoy on the River Crouch for the fleet. Very little wind was forecast all day, Micheal Wheeler with Golden Fleece aired his frustrations saying that he had travelled three miles in four hours. A stalwart Burnham boat, Tigo IV owned by Bob Fawkes with Digger Harden on board, anchored in the shallows and kept out the strong tide. In the past anchoring up during previous Burnham Weeks when waiting for the sea breeze has played dividends for this local boat, and it played nicely on the day too to give Tigo IV a second overall. The committee boat spent most of the day watching on the AIS with the boats literally just going from one side to the other across the River Crouch. Eventually the course was shortened, and the yachts made it through the Spitway and over to the Mersea Quarters for the finish line. Most boats were racing for over 10 hours.
On corrected time the results were:
1st Magic Moments, Andy Etherington
2nd Tigo IV, Bob Fawkes
3rd Golden Fleece, Micheal & Jason Wheeler
4th Martinque, M Lyons
5th Cobra, Phill Collard
6th Spirit, Paul Scott
7th Arcadia of Harwich, Mark & Penelope Gillet
1st Mocra Fleet: Shockwave, Jon McColl
Sunday was the third race of the season, the Royal Burnham's YC Ralph Herring Trophy; it was a complete contrast from Saturday with 14 to 20 knots from the South/South West. Only seven starters. Tigo IV was enthusiastic about racing, and made the start with most of the crew still asleep. They retired and had a leisurely sail back. The Course was set for a fast broad reach/run up the Wallet to the top of the Gunfleet sands, at the start of the race the wind was more southerly it then turned more South Westerly and with an ebb tide rushing out the crouch the leg home for many took far longer than expected. The committee boat was on station three hours before any finisher. Spirit owned by Paul Scott was the first to finish, he had done well as the tide was just turning as he neared the finish line, for the rest of the fleet it was a tough tacking leg with most of the yachts trying to keep in the shallows. Sunday's race was about eight to eleven hours.
On corrected time the results are:
1st Spirit, Paul Scott
2nd Cobra, Phill Collard
3rd Golden Fleece, Micheal & Jason Wheeler
4th Arcadia of Harwich, Mark & Penelope Gillet
5th Martinque, M Lyons
6th Magic Moments, Andy Etherington
Ret. Tigo IV, Bob Fawkes
Mocra: Shockwave, Jon McColl
The Sigma's were built from 1979 to 1993. In total 400 Sigma 33's were made and 125 Sigma 38's. The Sigma 38 was born in 1985 when the Royal Ocean Racing Club & The Royal Thames Yacht Club in the wake of the tragic 1979 Fastnet Race agreed to sponsor a new one design that would stand up to tough Offshore conditions. At the time a committee of top yachtsmen decided to adopt the design of David Thomas who had already designed the Sigma 33. Over 40 years later they are regulars on the podium.
The EAORA season continues in mid June with the Janes Cup & Thames Estuary shield to the Medway and back to Burnham on Crouch. Ostend on the 6th of July with the East Coast Race followed by a week's racing in Southern Holland. Holland Week is not to be missed. On the 17th August there is a race from Harwich to Mersea (WMYC's Sunk Race) a feeder race for the start of Mersea Week and the East Coast IRC Nationals being held at Mersea this year.