Vernon Dawson race, Saturday 2nd August

The sailing this weekend was the annual competition between Whitby and Scarborough yacht clubs for the Vernon Dawson Cup. It is sailed over a course from Scarborough back to Whitby. Ten boats prepositioned themselves down to Scarborough on the Friday and crews were up good and early on the Saturday to ready their boats for the return passage.

With forecasts of heavy rain and strong winds later in the day, the actual weather was very pleasant with a gentle easterly wind, but rain could be seen in the distance. With a long distance to sail, the start wasn’t closely contested, but Whitby boats led by Icon and Cold Steel were well to the fore at the first turning mark in the south of the bay. The boats then came hard on the wind to beat to the Wheatcroft Buoy, their final turning point in Scarborough South Bay. This windward sail caused the fleet to spread out and the SYC boats, Nemo followed by Ruffian were first to make the mark, but Icon and Cold steel were snapping at their heels. With the wind now behind them, the bay burst in to colour as the majority of the boats popped their spinnakers.

This change of direction was to determine the outcome of the race. The lead boats would continue to lead and even extend the lead, but these faster boats had a lot of handicap to overcome and the trailing boats had now picked up speed and were not losing much ground. The wind picked up and boats rolled wildly, but still had fast speed and there was just one short spell of rain. They arrived at the Whitby bell buoy, Nemo well in the lead, followed by Ruffian and the three Sigma 33s, Icon, Cold Steel and Revenge who were tied in a close struggle which would continue to the finish line, so close that the Race Officer had to declare Icon and Revenge as a dead heat. It then became obvious that the winner would come from the back as the fleet streamed across the line in a very short time. 

Overall Winner – Serenade of Parkstone

Result: Class 1 1^st Ruffian Pete MacIntire, SYC, 2^nd Samaki, Nigel Robinson, WYC, 3^rd Icon, Neil & Lorraine Williamson, WYC & Revenge, Alan Smith, SYC. 

Class 2 1^st Serenade of Parkstone, Chris Hamlett & Les Franks, WYC, 2^nd BOB, Andy Martland & Bill Uppington, WYC, 3^rd Teemane, Mike & Marilyn Dixon, WYC.