60th celebrations

The fist of several events celebrating the Swallow 60th Anniversary took place at Itchenor

The weather flung just about everything at the 26 boats that contested the 51st Norman Moore Open at Itchenor SC over the May Bank holiday weekend which was the first of this evergreen class’s 60th Anniversary events.

Gwaihir (Mike Wigmore) made her intentions clear from the outset with a convincing victory in the opening race of the five race series, leading throughout in a building breeze that gusted to 30 knots. Skua (Harry Roome) had been challenging strongly when they lost their mast and Bluff (Olly Gilchrist) came through strongly to take second. The wind continued to strengthen forcing the postponement of the second race to the third and final day.

Despite a marginal forecast for Sunday the rain cleared overnight and the wind dropped to give two much lighter races. The substantial change appeared to have no effect on the performance of Gwaihir (new in 2007) and Bluff (30 years old) who vied for the lead until the newer boat with a lighter crew began to pull away as the wind faltered. After a harbour tour race it all but turned off on the final run and Bluff fell back and Kansu (James Birkett) seized second place on the line. The sea breeze was reluctant to arrive but after a postponement the third race got underway in a sunny force two. Migrant (Charles Fisher) was quick out of the blocks and just sailed away denying the quickly recovering Gwaihir a hat-trick – but second was another excellent result.

The aftermath of an overnight monsoon, driving rain and a cold northeastery force seven was an unattractive package for the final day’s planned two back to back races and the Race Offcer wisely cancelled. With an outstanding scoreline of two firsts and a second achieved in such contrasting conditions Gwaihir (with her three man crew variously comprising past RS 200, International 14, Finn and current 420 sailors) thoroughly deserved their victory. The final day’s racing had supposedly offered a chance for others to offer a last-ditch challenge for the splendid trophy but Gwaihir had seemed imperious throughout with excellent boat speed, faultless tactics and slick teamwork. The next Open event is the National Championships at Seaview in mid-June.

Results:

1-Gwaihir (Mike Wigmore, Roddy Bridge, Mark Struckett, William Kalderon, Andy Pinkham)
2-Migrant (Charles Fisher, Richard Thompson, Simon Brimacombe, Jim Jerwood)
3-Marengo (Carolyn Brigg, Sue Glover and Christine Graves)