Evesham Sailing Club have just had a particularly busy weekend. Travelling British Moth sailors joined up at Evesham for the Open meeting competing for the Clarke Cup. A cold blustery easterly wind greeted them and the race officer, Simon Styles, used the river to give a selection of trying courses for the three races.

In the first heat, Ian Edwards showed his liking for the conditions and took an immediate lead over the rest who all came together at the windward mark resulting in a fight for survival in an effort to clear the mark. John Pickford came out of it best before being closed down by Ian Haywood and Jeremy Higson. David Taylor(Upton Warren) came into the race and swept past Pickford and Higson. A catastrophic double capsize put Haywood out of the race and the final placings were: 1st Edwards, 2nd Taylor, 3rd Higson.

 

After a lunch break the second heat again saw Edwards take a good lead, with the chasing pack of Higson, Pickford and Haywood battling it out for the other places. Haywood again capsized putting him way back from the duo of Higson and Pickford who were having a battle royal with their positions changing on every lap, Haywood managed to close up enough so that on rounding the final gybe mark, a mistake by Higson allowed Haywood through to challenge Pickford on the beat to the line. The placings ending as 1st Edwards, 2nd Haywood, 3rd Pickford.

 

Having the cup in the bag, Edwards could have sat the last race out, but he was enjoying it so much, he went for the hat trick. He didn't have it all his own way this time as Higson got away off the line, into a good lead with Haywood, Mark Wiltshire (Frampton), Edwards and Taylor all vying for the other placings. Again, a capsize by Haywood (giving him his own hat trick) put him out of contention. Edwards persevered and closed down Higson, but it took him some time before he was able to pass, Higson almost regaining his position on the beat to the line. The race ending with Edwards 1st, Higson 2nd and Taylor 3rd.

After counting the points Edwards was declared the outright winner taking the Clarke Cup a first time for an Evesham sailor for several years, Higson 2nd, and Taylor 3rd. With some of the visitors coming from as far afield as Norfolk and Wiltshire, the conditions and tight competition on the river ensure that the popularity of the Evesham Club remains high.

 

After the high winds of the Saturday, the club met up on Sunday to compete for the Chelmay Cup in slightly calmer, but just as tricky conditions. The first race had a four way battle between Adam Styles (Lightning), Peter Green (Moth), Team Baylis (Enterprise) & Simon and Zoe Styles (Lark). Each managed to take the lead at some point in the race but eventually Green and Adam Styles opened up a lead to make it a duel for first place, the result being Green first, Adam Styles second and Team Baylis third.

 

The second race saw Team Baylis take an early lead before being closed down by the rest of the fleet. Styles junior took the initiative and drew away from the rest leaving Green to fight off the challenge of Simon & Zoe. The result; Adam first, Green second, and the now renamed Team Styles in third place. With all to race for and the competition wide open, the third race would provide the outright winner. Adam showed that he wanted the win and went into an immediate lead chased by Green, leaving Teams Baylis and Styles to battle it out for third place. The final outcome of the competition was Adam Styles the new winner of the Chelmay Cup, Green second and Team Baylis third. Pictures available in Photo section.

The forecast winds of 10 to 15 mph didn't arrive at Evesham in time for the sailing last Sunday afternoon but those taking part did enjoy some sunshine and good racing in the slighter winds that prevailed.

 

Both races programmed were handicaps; the first had a mass start down stream to the windward mark, with Ian Edwards taking advantage of a good start to create a slight lead but being pressed hard by team Baylis. Simon Newman and Norman Drew having their own duel further behind. Team Baylis managed to pass Edwards on the downwind leg, and thus set up a yo-yo race between the two leaders. Perseverance paid off in the end, when after the six laps, Edwards had managed to retake the lead and opened up a gap, finishing first with team Baylis second and Newman third.

 

The second race was almost a carbon copy of the first but with Clive Edwardes, crewed by his son Oliver, coming into the reckoning for a while until the boats of Edwards and team Baylis again took the lead from Newman, the finish ending in the same order as the first race.

Sunday 30th March 2008

Sunday 23rd March 2008

With a cold and brisk wind blowing from the north, plenty of action was required to keep the participating sailors warm down at the Evesham Sailing Club on Sunday.

 

Two handicap races were on the programme, the first providing a long beat up river had four different leaders before reaching the windward mark. Adam Styles (Lightning) in his first outing of the season was involved in a three way battle with Peter Green( Moth) and the husband and wife team of Paul & Anne Baylis, (Enterprise), Roger Middleton (Comet), being left out of the running as the leading three soon opened up a lead from the rest of the fleet with Styles showing the way, Green chasing hard, and the Baylis team trying to take the others wind. As the wind dropped towards the end of the race, Green managed to close the gap to take the win on handicap with Styles second and team Baylis third.

 

The second race started in lessening winds and again was very closely fought to the windward mark, Green pulling out a lead this time, being chased by Styles and team Baylis. The race continued in this order until, in the closing stages, the wind strengthened allowing Styles to catch up and pass Green to cross the line first. Green however still won on handicap with Styles second and team Baylis again bringing up third place.

With bright sunshine and a brisk wind blowing up over the weir, Evesham Sailing Club opened their season at Common Road with a pursuit race.

Simon Newman led away first in his Mirror, followed by Roger Middleton and Clive Edwardes in their Comets, Peter Green in his Moth, the Baylis team in their Enterprise and finally the Styles team in their Lark. After 35 minutes Newman succumbed to the trio of Comets and Moth, with a separate duel developing between the Styles and the Baylises. The Lark made good progress through the fleet, taking advantage of a capsize by Middleton, and then, with five minutes to go, a capsize by Green allowed the Lark to close up and, with ten seconds of the race remaining, the Styles in the Lark caught Green on starboard forcing him to give water and took the win. First Simon & Adam Styles, second Peter Green, and third, Roger Middleton.

The second race, a handicap, was headed by the Lark of the Styles, closely chased  by Green in the Moth with the  Enterprise having problems, being swamped in a near capsize requiring the Baylis crew to do some vigorous bailing in order to keep afloat and effectively putting them out of contention. The race developed into a three way battle, particularly towards the latter end as the wind dropped, leading to a very close finish with Green taking the honours followed by the Styles, and the Baylises coming in a well deserved third after recovering well from their earlier ducking.

 

2007 Sailing Awards

With the new sailing season almost upon them, the members of Evesham Sailing Club gathered at the Beckford Hotel for their annual presentation evening and dinner.

The past seasons competitions provided some thrilling sport which was enjoyed by all, despite the interruptions and damage due to the July floods. The many trophies were won by a wide spread of members, proving that their abilities and competitiveness are improving season after season.

The overall winner was 16yr old Adam Styles who had sailed consistently throughout the year both at club level, and nationally where he retained his title of junior national champion in the Lightning class. The future season will test him now that he is a year older and has to compete on equal terms with his seniors.

The new season commences on the 9th March with members hoping for a better year after the devastating damage to the club in last year's floods. The resolution of the members is to keep a successful and active sailing club in its unique position on the River Avon in the town of Evesham.