Sussex Police Regatta
Wednesday, 6th August, 2008
Venue: Bexhill Sailing Club,
Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex

Sussex Police Open Dinghy Sailing Championship
Wednesday, 6th August, 2008

Two entrants from the Metropolitan Police and three from Sussex made this year's regatta. A marked low turnout but nevertheless an enjoyable day when the sun made an appearance! Regrettably the wind was not so obliging but enough to complete three races!

Launching for Race 1 at 1100 saw the reefs exposed at low water and a pull across the foreshore. Out on the water and a large square course was set with a start to westwards. Alistair Glen sailing a Laser (Rooster rig) Ken Daniels on a Phantom and Dusty Miller/Andy Bullen on a RS 400 pulled ahead in light airs. Phil Mears on a Laser and Freya Carter/Bob Trevis on a Laser 2000 brought up the rear. Spring tides with light airs meant that tidal considerations were a large factor for the entire day. On handicap Alistair Glen came in first - a feat which he repeated for Race 2! Ken Daniels was second followed by Dusty Miller/Andy Bullen in third place

Lunch was followed by a 1330 Race 2 with a smaller course. Hopes were raised as the wind strengthened slightly to a Force 2 and backed to the south east. Five laps were completed but the wind started to drop back towards the last lap. Result order was the same with the exception of Freya Carter/Bob Trevis who had an extended lunch break!

For Race 3 at 1500 the direction of the course was reversed with a start to eastwards. With his commanding lead Alistair Glen chose to take time out. A minor drama on the water when the main halyard on the RS 400 broke. An odd mishap on such a fine day but unfortunately one which put Dusty Miller/Andy Bullen into fourth place for the final results. Ken Daniels took first place in this final race giving Phil Mears a second place. By the final lap the wind had again petered out and the club rescue boats were busy towing in slow handicap boats participating in the Bexhill Sea Week which runs alongside the Sussex Police Open

Overall Alistair Glen emerged as the clear winner followed by Ken Daniels in second and Phil Mears in third places. Malcolm Brookes, the Race Officer and all the team provided a great day sailing. Light winds can be frustrating but they do test certain skills. Who knows? Next year we might be battling with the more usual heavy weather! Many thanks to those who took part and we look forward to the next Sussex Police Open in 2009!

P.M.

Event Contact:
   Dusty Miller or Tel: 01424-456139 (from Oct 2008: 01323 414163
   or the local contact, Phil Mears Tel: 0845-607099

Sussex Police Regatta
Wednesday, 15th August, 2007
Venue: Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex

This year's regatta cancelled due to high winds.

 
Event Contact:
   Dusty Miller or Tel: 01424-456139
   or the local contact, Sgt Phil Mears, Tel: 0845-607099

Sussex Police have their own website and this can now be viewed at:
http://mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/sxpdsc
  

Sussex Police Regatta
Wednesday, 9th August, 2006
Venue: Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex

The Sussex Police Regatta takes place during Bexhill Family Sea Week.   Thus, some 40 odd boats take to the water. The police regatta has the preference of first of a number of club starts.

Race One. With the start line set as a transit from the shore plus an outer distance mark, the police fleet of nine boats got away on a close reach in extremely light winds, making for the first buoy of a triangular course incorporating the outer distance mark (ODM). The wind direction on the first to legs had allowed the RS400's to get well clear of the rest with Rob Jones (Hampshire) leading, followed by Dusty Miller (Sussex). Also clear ahead, Ken Daniels (Met) in his Phantom followed by Len Gooch (Met) Albacore. Then, a gaggle of Lasers.

The easterly wind made the leg from Buoy C to Buoy A via the outer limit mark, a beat. This leg sorted out the fleet and the Lasers started to stretch out led by Nick Mason (Met). After the first lap Jones was 20 seconds ahead of Miller. On the downwind leg from Buoy B to C the Laser 2 helmed by Alan Parker (Met) made a spurt through the field but, coming inshore on the beat, lost out from the effect of the tide. This left a close mid-fleet fight between Mason and Roger Glass (Met) sailing his Laser with a borrowed boom, while the boats ahead stretched out their lead in conditions that appeared to be affected more by tide than by the wind which remained light throughout the race.

On the broad reach from Buoy A to B, Mason decided to sail high while Glass remained low. Mason was eventually forced to gybe as he found himself drifting away in the tide and only just made the mark ahead of Glass. On the downwind leg following, planing conditions were marginal and this allowed Glass to get ahead by 10 seconds by Buoy C. It would all remain on the last beat. With grey clouds and light rain, the wind remained somewhat indeterminate but Glass managed to cover Mason to the line.

Conditions had made it difficult to effect positions in the race which was won convincingly by Jones with Miller second and Daniels third.

Race Two held after lunch was set as a rectangle. For this race the police boats had the sea to themselves. By this time the sky had brightened, the rain stopped and the wind picked up. The wind direction had change to onshore, making the start a close reach but this time on port tack, then a beat to the next mark. Those that started from the outer distance mark end, got the advantage and first round the A mark was Glass followed by Gooch.

By the end of the beat Jones was again well clear but Glass led the rest. With the wind slightly increasing the broad reach following gave the opportunity to the asymmetrics to forge ahead together with Daniels in the Phantom.

By lap 2 the fleet had spread out to a procession, the only boats in close contention being the Met boats of Mason (Laser), Parker (Laser 2) and Mark Saunders (Laser). Mercifully the race was shortened to two laps, the leading RS400 (Jones) finishing in 27mins 17secs. Next came Miller (29:21), Daniels (32:40), Glass (35:14), Gooch (35:55). All was not over - As Mason come through next, behind him and neck-and-neck, Parker managed to squeeze Saunders the wrong side of buoy 4. Saunders re-rounded correctly and made the finish line, still beating Parker on corrected time.

For the police Race Three was sailed back-to-back though they joined on the sea by club racers. The police still had their own start. A similar course but with buoy positions moved. The police fleet got away except Saunders who mistook the police' start sequence for a club race. Again a reach on port tack to start with, but this time the RS400's were ahead from the start with the Albacore just behind. After the first buoy, the fleet was confronted with the beat. Glass and Gooch tacked to the left. There was lots of furious tacking up the difficult beat but the left side appeared to pay off as the Albacore rounded third after the RS's, only to be overhauled by the Lasers of Glass and Mason with Daniels in the Phantom also catching up. Lap 2 commenced with the RS's well ahead and enjoying the reaches as the wind increased slightly once more. Mason managed to lead the rest of the fleet. In the Miracle, Bob Trevis (Sussex) with daughter Katie were doing well in the conditions though they managed to hit a buoy and did circles, nevertheless staying well ahead of the last Laser.

It was taking quite a while to complete the beat from buoy A to buoy B. At this point Mason lead the rest by 50 yards at buoy B but the reach was to change the situation.  The wind had slowly increased throughout the afternoon until a few white horses started to appear. Jones and Miller were obviously enjoying the fast reaches and Glass once more got ahead of the following group. Daniels' Phantom started to come though, overtaking the Albacore but it was always too late to sail up to his handicap.

Meanwhile at the back of the fleet Saunders, Parker and Trevis were having their own little battle. Only just behind and catching the back markers was Jones relishing the conditions; Rob & Liz were already some two legs ahead of the rest of the fleet. Miller lay second and by now Daniels was eventually working his way through the fleet. Behind, the Miracle was still keeping ahead of the Laser 2.

After four laps, 59 minutes had passed and there was still a lap to go. By now the Police boats were mixed up with club boats and the Race Officer did well to identify the police finishers. Jones finished the race well ahead on 1hr 13mins 55secs, ahead of Miller (1:19:35). Behind the RS's the fight went on, with Glass still ahead of the Phantom on the reach from buoy B to C. Positions were reversed but Glass stayed close enough to gain 3rd on corrected time. Next over the line came the Albacore but not far enough ahead to stop Mason gaining 4th place on corrected time. The slower boats were finished a lap early, with Trevis still remaining ahead of the Laser 2 which had suffered a capsize on the reach. It had been a long, hard race as Liz Jones' red-raw hands gave witness.

By now the tide was well out and helms coming ashore were confronted with the long haul up the beach. Thank goodness for the hand winch which made the job easy. The regatta had ended on a bright and breezy note; a much more pleasant experience than the last two years.

Click here to view

Pictures of the Event

Event Contact:
   Dusty Miller or Tel: 01424-456139
   or the local contact, Phil Mears Tel: 0845-607099

Sussex Police have their own website and this can now be viewed at:
http://spdsc.weebly.com/

The 'Bexwatch' site provides excellent detail of the local weather conditions.
If you want to know what the weather is like at this moment:
"CLICK HERE", the site also has a webcam video view of the sea and beach.

Sussex Police Regatta
Wednesday, 24th August, 2005
Venue: Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex

This year's regatta did not take place due to high winds.

Event Contact:
   Dusty Miller or Tel: 01424-456139
   or the local contact, Sgt Phil Mears, Tel: 0845-607099

Sussex Police have their own website and this can now be viewed at:
http://spdsc.weebly.com/
(This is the new location as from March, 2009)

Sussex Police Regatta
Wednesday, 18th August, 2004
Venue: Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex

So you thought that Worthing was tricky. Despite threatened gales and disasters in the West Country, seven boats turned out on the water for the Sussex Police Regatta held during Bexhill Sea Week.

Those that arrived early saw the incoming tide present a sea of white breakers which promised to make launching - and later landing ashore - a difficult task. Phil Mears (Sussex) had his Laser sail up early onshore and this gave some clue to the winds. It was probably around Force 4, but steady and the forecast had been for the gales to arrive in the afternoon. There were others attending who considered the conditions and voted to stay on land.

A little later than scheduled, competitors got afloat with assistance for Race One. The course was a sort of elongated triangle. The wind was directly onshore which made for the usual reaching start from a start-line based on transit marks ashore and an outer limit mark which had to be passed on each lap.

The start was tricky in the conditions with everyone being more or less near the start-line. Andy Taverner (Laser) got captured by Rob Jones (RS400) and was obliged to do circles before setting off in earnest. Jones in the faster handicap dinghy flew well ahead but the Lasers of Stuart Jenkins & Roger Glass were in hot pursuit in the company of Dusty Miller & Chris Young in the Laser 2000. Up the beat and around the top mark out to sea, then a long reach to the gybe mark. Sailing along the reach was a fairly unique and demanding experience with a constant but strong wind and a wave pattern that was rather more than bumpy, hitting the boats from the side. Jenkins felt there were times when his Laser was only in contact with the wave by the rudder; it was certainly exhilarating but needed huge amounts of concentration.

The RS always looked fairly much in control and coped with the gybes efficiently with little loss of pace and Jenkins was certainly in contact on handicap on the first lap. Two leading Lasers and the Laser 2000 gybed pretty well together. The Lasers capsized, giving Bob Trevis (Laser) following behind, the opportunity to overtake. However it was not long before Trevis found himself in the water but being dragged along solely by one leg hooked under the toe-strap. It was going to be a matter of surviving to finish the race.

As it was there were only three finishers. Jones had slowly stretched out his lead. On the reach with his crew hardly being able to see through the spray, Miller found himself in the water and the boat capsizing to windward. After recovering they failed to finish correctly. Trevis with lots of pressure on an old Laser eventually succumbed when the boom fitting for the kicker became completely detached and he needed to be brought ashore by the rescue boat. Also needing the rescue services was Phil Mears when the top section of his Laser mast snapped in the usual place, ripping the sail.

The race lasted for 3 laps. At the finish Rob Jones was some 10 minutes ahead of Stuart Jenkins with Andy Taverner nearly 5 further minutes behind.

Coming ashore was another trial and boats landed individually in order to be helped by the sterling assistance of those making up a beach crew. There is a 'correct' way to come ashore in these circumstances and the local Radials competing in a separate Sea Week race, showed how it should be done by broad-reaching up the beach and turning into wind ashore. However, it is not everyone who has a brand-new Laser and after taking such care in its selection, resents the slightest scratch to the hull. Stuart, waiting to be the last boat ashore and commanding the full attention of the beach party, just managed to get his dinghy from sea to launching trolley, with boat and body perfectly intact. It had been a tough race and it only took a little time for the race officer to decide that one race makes a regatta and that was the end of the day for Police and local sailors alike.

R.S.

Event Contact:
   Dusty Miller or Tel: 01424-456139
   or the local contact, Sgt Phil Mears, Tel: 0845-607099

June 16th -18th, 2004
Sussex hosted the 2004 Dinghy Sailing Championships at Worthing S.C. under the auspices of "Police Sport UK".

For details see: National Police Dinghy Sailing Championships, 2004

Sussex Police Regatta
Wednesday, 13th August, 2003
Venue: Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex

The Sussex Police Regatta was duly held; this time in wind to suit most competitors - neither too much nor too little. Also this year, the tides were just right with High tide around 1pm.

The start of racing was delayed when a sea mist came in with the rising tide. This soon dispersed and the clubs excellent buoys were placed on the course. The first race was a 'P' shape from a running, shore-based start. With the wind filling in, this made for a beat, a tight fetch and two runs. The RS600 of Rob Jones (now transferred from Sussex to Hampshire) stormed away at the beginning never to be seen again with the rest of the fleet pretty well keeping up to handicap. The next leading boat on the water for much of the race was Stuart Bradbeer (Kent) who had a splendid start working the tide and slight wind shifts. Behind, the competition developed between the two Lasers of Jenkins and Sivers together with the Albacore of Len Gooch using a new crew, Adrian Morris - an old Traffic colleague. The runs were a little tricky on the sea and it was important to keep concentration with the waves starting to catch up from behind. With just half a lap to go, Stuart Jenkins capsized and allowed Sivers and Gooch racing side by side to overtake. Coming round the leeward buoy off the run and making for the line, Gooch broached, put his crew in the water and ended up bringing the boat ashore alone. Jones had won by nearly a minute on corrected time and this indicated that it was going to be his day. Sivers was 2nd and Dusty Miller 3rd.

In Race Two, a triangle,  Jones got caught trying to get away on port through the start line which ended in a minor capsize, coming in contact with the limit buoy and the required turns. Meanwhile Bob Trevis in the Miracle took great advantage of the tide change and succeeded in reaching the windward buoy first. He was then overtaken by the recovering RS which, on rounding the wing mark headed inland towards the limit line and seemingly missing out the leeward mark. Jones quickly realised the error but by now had lost too much on handicap to be successful. By now Dusty Miller and Alan Costello in the Sussex assymetric were well in contention with the front boats but the lumpy sea did not help him to get the advantage on the down-wind legs. Len Gooch's Albacore was again in trouble and they had to give up the ghost for the day. Jenkins overhauled Sivers early on to take a good lead and take the race. This time Jones was 2nd, Sivers 3rd and Keith Baldwin in the Sussex Topaz, 4th.

Race Three was sailed back to back and again a triangle. Once again, with a clear start Jones powered ahead. By now the waves were having more influence than the wind and with the tide turned to go down-Channel the art was to pick the route of least resistance up-wind and stay balanced and upright on the downwind legs. Jenkins succumbed to another 'rogue' wave on the run and although recovering well, ended up fourth behind Jones and Sivers and Miller.

The Race Officer was Malcolm Brooks and prizes were awarded to the first three helms overall by the Commodore of Bexhill S.C., Jeremy Maynard.

Sussex Police Regatta
Wednesday, 14th August, 2002
Venue: Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex

The Sussex Police Regatta took place during Bexhill Sea Week. Despite the whole of south-east England being bathed in bright sunshine, Fate designated that the event should be wrapped in sea mist and hardly a breath of wind - all day. Unlike last year's high winds when the event was blown off the water, the Race Officer,  Malcolm Brookes managed to get 3 races completed. Due to the misty conditions it was difficult to see the start flags on the clubhouse and the competitors relied on a very efficient light sequence operating from the clubhouse.

The Course

The first race started promptly at 10.30. The course comprised a square A,B,C,D passing through the start/limit line, E to the Clubhouse. The wind, or what there was of it,  was onshore and this made for a running start, with A to B a very tricky beat and C to D a dead run. Pete Goodman (Sussex) in his Albacore and local knowledge stretching back many years made excellent headway up the beat to B and was never seen again, getting a long way ahead of the rest of the fleet. His main contenders against handicap were Rob Jones (Sussex) in his RS600 and Andy Taverner (Met) in a Laser neither of whom found the extremely light conditions to their liking but nevertheless read the conditions to come second and third respectively. The race originally planned for 5 laps was cut to 2 as the fleet had already been racing for over an hour.

Race 2 & 3 were run back to back. Wind conditions did not improve. With the second race starting promptly, some boats were struggling to make the start line and just 3 boats, Andy Taverner, Dick Sivers (Northants) Laser, Len Gooch (Met) Albacore were on the limit buoy to sail a fine reach to A. However, Pete Goodman and Rob Jones starting nearer the clubhouse found a breath of wind which was enough to sail them into a lead on the water at the first mark. This time the course was a triangle of A,B,D and passing through the limit line at E. Rob Jones spending most of the time standing in front of the mast of his RS600 spying out for wind, closely accompanied by Andy Taverner. These two managed to get away whilst the two Albacores fought out the third place. The conditions made for much sitting still, and searching for the odd dark patch of water that just might hold enough of a zephyr to make headway against the slight (fortunately) influence of the tide. The race was shortened to just one lap but even that had been quite a trial of patience and determination.

The fleet having stayed out on the water for Race 3, were joined by local members who were involved in the club's Sea Week activities. They had a separate start. By the third race most competitors had realised the importance at being on the E buoy for the start and this made for a lot of tacking and weaving at the pin end in wind Force zero. For the three main protagonists, Taverner (5 points after 2 races), Goodman (4 pts) and Jones (3 pts), a good start was crucial.

The course was reverted to the morning's ABCDE. 2 laps. Again there was hardly any wind. It became a test of concentration to be first to the A buoy. This was nearly too much for Chris Young (Sussex) in his Blaze who was trying to get comfortable and managed to fall overboard. Apart from a few ripples, this had little effect on surrounding boats. Nevertheless, Taverner and Goodman were able to work their way ahead and round the course while Jones in his RS400 fell back into the fleet. It became evident that local know-how was an advantage when a number of the local members managed to catch up with the Police fleet on the second lap. This made for a busy finishing line for the Race Officer.

The conditions throughout the day had been frustrating for all, particularly Mike Scrivener (Sussex) in the International Contender who was never able to use the advantage of his trapeze, also the asymmetrics who were obliged to wander off the course on the running legs without the aid of any positive breeze. Even more so for Len Gooch in his Albacore that had promised to cope well on the sea but found that his 2nd and 3rd race results did not count as he had not signed on... Frustrating indeed.

With the completion of the last race, the three leading competitors were all on the same number of points and positions in the last race decided the outcome. Congratulations to Andy Taverner on a hard-earned win.

Prizes were awarded to the top six boats by the Commodore of Bexhill S.C., Bill Eele. The event was organised by Dusty  Miller and Bob Trevis, the Sussex Police Sailing Sec.