South East Sailability Regatta Hailed Success 

Mariners of Bewl hosted a three-way local Sailability event in October

Wealden Sailability's Kim Sparkes took the honours as around 50 competitors, volunteers and supporters gathered at Bewl Valley SC for a three-way Mariners of Bewl-hosted Kent Sailability regatta on 18 October.

10 boats from Mariners of Bewl (MoB), Wealden Sailability (WS) near Sevenoaks and Westbere Sailing Opportunities (WSO) near Canterbury battled increasingly strong gusts before Kim in her Hansa Access W303 was declared the overall winner.

Victory was far from plain sailing for Kim however.

After the competitors had received a course briefing from Race Officer, Jeff Warley, with Jeff explaining the starting sequence for the inexperienced racers, it was unfortunate the race start then coincided with the worst weather of the day!

Not all helms noticed the Race Officers black/yellow chequered flag (L) telling all to return to the Committee boats for directions on the shortened course.

With the wind strengthening and gusting up to 20 knots, it was tricky for the helms as they jockeyed for position along the start line. One or two boats were judged to be over the line when the start signal sounded and had to return to the start line and re-cross it. 

With the strong, gusty wind and helms deciding their own tacking strategy en route to the windward mark, the fleet was soon spread out across the lake. 

Ivor Nash (MOB) and Paul and Justin Phillips (WS) battled hard but conditions meant that they soon required some outside help and were towed back to the pontoon. 

Oblivious to all this action going on behind her, Kim Sparkes (WS) in her Hansa Access W303 was making good progress and after beating all the way up the lake, led round the first mark to start a tricky run, dead downwind, to the second mark. 

After gybing round the second mark, an equally tricky run/very broad reach led to the next mark and another gybe before a fast reach across to the downwind mark, near the Committee Boat. 

However, just after Kim had rounded that mark to start her second lap, her boat’s steering gear failed. This resulted in her losing some five minutes whilst, with the help of a rescue boat standing nearby, she was able to fix the problem and resume the race.  

This meant Trevor Webb (WSO) in his Whammel swept into the lead and was making good progress up the lake.  Ian Crawford  (MOB) in his Challenger also took advantage to catch up as did John Whybrew (MOB) in his Drascombe Lugger. 

Trevor managed to retain his advantage, but with Kim closing in quickly on his transom, crossed the finish line in first place.

 Eight boats had managed to finish the course and Kim was declared the overall winner with Trevor second, and Ian third.

Fleur Bryant, RYA Sailability South East Regional Organiser, attended the event. She said: "What a great event. It was lovely to see and hear three different sites exchanging ideas and stories throughout the day.”

Peter Ashwell (WS) concluded: “We left Bewl having had a marvellous time and grateful that the sun had stayed shining throughout the day.

"The wind had enabled everybody to test themselves on the water, and we all fully enjoyed our time together off the water also. Thank you very much Mariners of Bewl and we look forward to next year’s Regatta."