PSUK Offshore regattas

This year's annual Police Sport UK Offshore Yacht Championships were held in the Solent between the 13th and 18th May 2012. The very proud organisers of this prestigious event, for the second time in five years, were Cleveland Police.
The event organiser was Nick Hunt, assisted by a small committee of serving officers and staff in addition to retired colleagues. Thanks to the support of the race committee Nick was able to still compete, helming the Cleveland ‘A’ yacht.

As expected the Olympics had an impact on this year’s event and coupled with Sunsails prices, entries were disappointingly down on previous years making it difficult to keep entries fees down. Despite the lower entry levels, with some careful management and negotiation we did manage to match the entry fee of the previous year. With PSUK’s kind assistance, once all expenditure was covered, we were later able to reimburse each team to the sum of Ł100.

Teams were requested to support the ‘Olympic’ theme by dressing themselves in national costumes and their yachts in appropriate flags/bunting. Dress to impress! The teams as usual, surpassed themselves - many of them playing their ‘National’ anthems over the VHF sets.

Country	Sail No.	Force
New Zealand	38	Nottinghamshire A
Canada	5	Metropolitan Police A
Russia	6	Metropolitan Police B
Australia	37	Cleveland A
South Africa	33	Devon and Cornwall
Holland	9	West Midlands A
Brazil	11	Warwickshire
Mexico	34	Metropolitan Police D
Turkey	32	PSNI
America	14	Hampshire IOW
France	13	Sussex
Italy	41	West Midlands B
China	18	Hampshire
Japan	30	Metropolitan Police C
Spain	10	Hertfordshire
Denmark	27	Strathclyde
Germany	36	Cleveland B

The organisers would like to express their appreciation to Dave Nicholls who volunteered to offer his wealth of experience as the Race Officer. Dave has officiated at a number of previous PSUK offshore events and the organisers knew he would set good races, taking into account of all the elements. Dave’s knowledge and experience were invaluable, he made the absolute best of the conditions and his contribution had a huge impact on ensuring this was a successful and competitive event.
The organisers would also like to express their appreciation to John Irvine (Met Police Retired) who provided and skippered his beautiful Moody 38 as the committee boat.

Further to this the organisers could not have competed on the water without the additional support of Chris Oyston and Dave Hugill, serving Cleveland Police officers with very little sailing experience, who assisted Dave Nicholls and John Irvine on the committee boat.

The first day’s racing started in the vicinity of Brown Down. Gusty winds were the order of the day and the fleet completed two races in challenging winds. Pete Walters (Notts) set down his usual marker and bagged two firsts on the first day. The second and third places being split between Mason King (Met A) Tony Riordan (Cleveland A) and Graham Higginson (Devon and Cornwall).

The second day’s racing was set in the Solent area near to Bramble Bank, again two races were completed in good sailing conditions; Pete Walters coming first in Race Three, Mason King, bagging second and Tony Riordan claiming third. Race Four was challenging as the wind speed and the flood tide increased. The race was finally won by Peter Walters, but the following three places were split by only 10 seconds. Mason King grabbing second place and Stuart Jenkins (Met B) squeezing out Tony Riordan on the line to grab third place.

At this point an almighty squall descended on the fleet causing mayhem. Some skippers had not seen the black clouds descending behind them and were caught unawares with a few spinnakers being sacrificed.

The squall lasted only twenty minutes or so but created additional problems for the yachts manoeuvring and berthing in Yarmouth.

With mainsails reefed, Pete Walters (4038) pursues Ian Ingram (4009) round the mark.

The third day’s racing was met with no wind, clear blue skies and no chance of racing. The fleet remained in Yarmouth until 11am. On venturing out it was clear racing was not going to take place. The Race Officer asked the fleet to motor to the area of Poole Harbour (a good few hours) as we had reserved berthing for that evening in Poole. On arrival at Poole Dave Nicholls could smell a good breeze coming in from the west and set a course to a point close to Swanage. The fleet beat down to Swanage and then ran with the wind back up to Poole. Both Stuart Jenkins and Pete Walters took the lead during stages of the race, each trying to outdo each other by employing different tactics. Pete Walters came out on top in this particular battle claiming another first, closely followed by Stuart, Tony Riordan claiming third.

The fleet berthed in Poole overnight, many National Anthems being played over the deck speakers as the yachts came alongside, ‘Team Russia’ consistently being the loudest and proudest. The organisers were able to assist the competitors with the thirst that had been worked up during the day by offering some alcoholic refreshment!

Thursday, Race 6. The winds were strong and coming from the South West. Dave Nicholls set a challenging course, beating to the same point off Swanage as the day before, before reaching back to the start area off Poole. These legs were designed to split up the fleet before the long leg towards Christchurch Ledge. The consistently high sailing skills and the tenacity of the crews weren’t going to allow this plan to be achieved.

The race was long; the crews were cold and wet as they reached Christchurch Ledge. The next legs of the race consisted of beating and running across the entrance to the Solent (whilst waiting for the tidal gate) At this point the sun decided to make a welcome appearance. The lead in the race changed on a number of occasions because of the strength of the tide and the course.

As the tidal gate opened it was clear that the race was up for grabs on the final (and very long leg up the Solent to the finishing point at Cowes. At this point the rain returned and the wind changed to come from a Northerly direction. Whoever got through Hurst Castle first had the best chance of winning as long as they covered the following yachts. Stuart Jenkins and his crew did this brilliantly, fighting off initially, Mason King and Pete Walters. It was good to see a different name coming in first.
The fleet berthed in Cowes on the Thursday night and the organisers were honoured to host a dinner evening at the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club. The competing teams really got into the spirit of the ‘International’ theme. Each team appeared in various national costumes (some verging on the hilarious; Team Germany in Lederhosen) There was a lot of flag waving and ‘outbidding’ each other for some of the raffle prizes on offer.

The evening raised Ł1226 in aid of ‘Guide Dogs for the Blind’ in memory of Cleveland Police Detective Chief Superintendent Stuart Swinson who tragically died earlier that year.

The final race of the event took place the following morning, racing from Cowes back to Port Solent. Stuart Jenkins continued with his vastly improving performance, again bagging a first. Ian Ingram (West Mids) claiming a good second in difficult and fluky tidal conditions, with Graham Higginson again grabbing a third place.

The prize giving took place at Port Solent with the wards being presented by ACC Adrian Roberts of Cleveland Police (who competed during the week as well)

The first position was rightfully claimed by Pete Walters. Mason King took second place after a very good and consistent performance. Third place was awarded to Stuart Jenkins.

The organisers would like to thank everyone who assisted with putting the event on, but most importantly their thanks go to the competitors, without them there can be no event. Well done everyone and thank you.

Police Sport UK National Offshore Sailing Championships 13-18 May, 2012 - Solent Hosts = Cleveland Police Sailed: 7, Discards: 2, To count: 5, Entries: 17
Rank	Country	Sail No.	Force	Skipper	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	R6	R7	Total	Nett
1st	New Zealand	38	Notts A	Pete Walters	1.0	1.0	1.0	1.0	1.0	(2.0)	(18.0 DNS)	25.0	5.0
2nd	Canada	5	Metropolitan A	Mason King	2.0	(4.0)	2.0	2.0	4.0	3.0	(6.0)	23.0	13.0
3rd	Russia	6	Met B	Stuart Jenkins	8.0	(11.0)	(9.0)	3.0	2.0	1.0	1.0	35.0	15.0
4th	Australia	37	Cleveland A	Tony Riordan	3.0	2.0	3.0	(4.0)	3.0	4.0	(8.0)	27.0	15.0
5th	South Africa	33	Devon and Cornwall	Graham Higginson	(9.0)	3.0	(13.0)	6.0	8.0	5.0	3.0	47.0	25.0
6th	Holland	9	West Midlands A	Ian Ingram	6.0	(14.0)	6.0	5.0	(7.0)	7.0	2.0	47.0	26.0
7th	Brazil	11	Warwickshire	Henry Scutt	4.0	6.0	(11.0)	(16.0)	5.0	9.0	9.0	60.0	33.0
8th	Mexico	34	Met D	Roger Glass	(10.0)	7.0	7.0	(11.0)	9.0	6.0	4.0	54.0	33.0
9th	Turkey	32	PSNI	Phillip Quinn	7.0	9.0	5.0	7.0	(11.0)	(11.0)	5.0	55.0	33.0
10th	America	14	Hampshire IOW	Andrew Buchanan	5.0	5.0	(15.0)	8.0	10.0	8.0	(11.0)	62.0	36.0
11th	France	13	Sussex	Steve Rigby	11.0	8.0	4.0	9.0	(13.0)	(12.0)	10.0	67.0	42.0
12th	Italy	41	West Midlands B	Bryan Mermagen	(12.0)	(12.0)	8.0	12.0	6.0	10.0	7.0	67.0	43.0
13th	China	18	Hampshire	Steve Norcross	15.0	10.0	10.0	10.0	(16.0)	13.0	(18.0 DNF)	92.0	58.0
14th	Japan	30	Met C	Dave Hartshorn	(16.0)	13.0	12.0	15.0	14.0	(16.0)	12.0	98.0	66.0
15th	Spain	10	Hertfordshire	Stan Thingsaker	14.0	(15.0)	14.0	13.0	12.0	(15.0)	14.0	97.0	67.0
16th	Denmark	27	Strathclyde	John Morgan	13.0	(16.0)	(16.0)	14.0	15.0	14.0	15.0	103.0	71.0
17th	Germany	36	Cleveland B	Iain Tribick	(18.0 DNF)	17.0	17.0	(18.0 DNF)	17.0	17.0	13.0	117.0	81.0

Click Here for the Link to

Pictures from the Event

Click Here for the Link to

Pictures from the Event

For more information:

DS Nick Hunt
T. 01642 301794
E. Nick.hunt@cleveland.pnn.police.uk

DS Dave Clough
T. 01642 301449
E. Dave.clough@cleveland.pnn.police.uk

National Offshore regatta results only can also be viewed via the 'Stats' Section