Brightlingsea One Design

The Met Office currently informs us that Sunday will be sunny and dry with a few broken clouds and an easterly breeze of around 15-20 knots (possibly some bigger gusts later on).  The Osborne Cup starts at a little after 11.00 (not 14.10 as originally stated in this article) from the BSC line and once again we should have a good turnout so we’re looking forward to seeing as many of you there as possible.

Exciting news!  Rob White confirms that construction has now begun on C54 which is to be Alan Hicks’ new boat.  Alan confirms that they are very much hoping to have the boat completed in time for the start of Thursday night sailing next year and he has kindly agreed to send us through periodic photos and updates so we can keep up with how construction is going.  Stand by for more news soon.

The indefatigable Malcolm Goodwin has most generously produced a detailed and illustrated BOD Re-Building Guide to assist anyone who wishes to undertake a full re-build of an original Brightlingsea One Design.

Malcolm has several unrestored boats for sale and if you have some woodworking knowledge and fancy taking on a project that will result in owning a piece of yachting history that enables you to take part in some of the most competitive and fun racing on the east coast, this is the time to get started.  Check out the re-building guide below and see our For Sale page for your raw material!

BOD Re-Building Guide by Malcolm Goodwin

Huge thanks to Trevor Stone who took these images from the rescue boat during Sunday’s R Stone Chalice race.

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Sunday 22 September sees the Brightlingsea One Design fleet racing for the R Stone Chalice (named in honour of the boat’s designer Robbie Stone).  High tide is at 14.41 and the start is from the CYC/Bateman’s Tower line at 14.30.  The forecast is looking promising right now with temperatures rising again up to around 20 degrees and 11 knots from the NE.  It may be a little cloudy but no rain is currently expected so we’re all set for a great afternoon’s racing.

After their aborted attempt last week the girls are determined to get out in Grethe for the first time and having put in some practise in the big winds on Sunday we look forward to seeing Bob and Alistair on the line for their first race in Panic too.  The usual suspects will be out to give them a run for their money!

We’ve now managed to get hold of some more information about the Mini Series on Sunday and the good news is that the fleet in fact managed to get three races in before the wind came up too much.  Apologies for our earlier misleading report indicating only one race was possible.

Our front line reporter Chris Matthews confirms that conditions were indeed pretty hairy, but that didn’t stop the crews enjoying three really great close races with the boats finishing only inches apart on each occasion.  Race Officers Dick Stephens and Marilyn Hempstead set up the course between Point Clear (pin end of start line/leeward mark) and Stone (weather mark) which gave three nice windward leeward races of around 30 mins each.

Malcolm Goodwin summed up the day perfectly saying – “It was hectic but the crews showed great control in the conditions.  In the third race we all crossed the line together within inches.  Sadly it turned out I was just over the line at the start so had to retire, but it was a great race.”

The wind built steading through the races with some big shifts and increasingly fierce gusts and by the final run only Egret elected to carry her spinnaker.  There were a few small items of gear failure but overall everyone survived admirably.  Panic did come out to the race area but it was Bob and Alistair’s first sail in their new boat so they chose not to race and instead spent some time getting used to the new boat.

“I had considered running four races.” said Dick “But by the time they finished the third race it was so windy everyone just turned for home without giving me a second glance.  It was very shifty and gusty and probably the most difficult part of the day was getting back into the creek at half tide so the majority of the boats dropped their mains and sailed in under jib alone.”

RESULTS

Race 1
1st C27 Rebel – Chris Matthews
2nd C1 Jean – Malcolm Goodwin
3rd C8 Egret – Danny Fox
4th C53 White Spirit – Mark White
C20 Ruff – Trevor Stone/Mike Rees/Jim Bray – RTD
C9 Bidi – Colin Willett/Dan Willett – RTD

Race 2
1st C1 Jean – Malcolm Goodwin
2nd C27 Rebel – Chris Matthews
3rd C53 White Spirit – Mark White
4th C8 Egret – Danny Fox
5th C9 Bidi – Colin Willett/Dan Willett
6th C20 Ruff – Trevor Stone/Mike Rees/Jim Bray

Race 3
1st C27 Rebel – Chris Matthews
2nd C8 Egret – Danny Fox
3rd C9 Bidi – Colin Willett/Dan Willett
4th C20 Ruff – Trevor Stone/Mike Rees/Jim Bray
5th C53 White Spirit – Mark White
C1 Jean – Malcom Goodwin – OCS

Overall
1st C27 Rebel – Chris Matthews
2nd C1 Jean – Malcom Goodwin
3rd C8 Egret – Danny Fox

Just found this lovely little bit of video by Dylan Winter.  He takes a look at the BSC cadet sailing and then interviews Keith Clubb on the Prom as the BODs race in the background.

For a second clip of BODs racing in the creek click here