Alderney Regatta Scrapbook 1998

The Alderney Sailing Club were hanging around - waiting for some twenty-two yachts with one hundred or more crew members from Poole, Dartmouth and Lymington to sail into Braye Harbour Friday 17th July for the island's first ever International Sailing Regatta. But the forecast was bad and the sea conditions so appalling that out of the twenty- two entrants from Poole, just eight boats decided to set sail for Alderney.

The boats by Alderney's harbour

However, five turned back and finally only three completed the trip to Alderney, to receive a very warm welcome and more food than they could cope with. Only one boat from nearby Guernsey sailed to Alderney and sadly there were none from Jersey. Friday night's vin d'honneur at the Alderney Sailing Club was almost a family affair, but the following morning a few more boats arrived to join the anticlockwise race around the land. Conditions were wet and misty, but everybody seemed to enjoy it.

The appearance of a basking shark near Longis Bay added some unexpected excitement to the race which was won, on handicap, by 'Tarquah V', a 1977-built Yamaha 33, skippered by Regatta committee chairman Peter Willoughby. The evening's sumptuous fruits de mer crowned the day and was a just reward for all those intrepid seamen. Early Sunday morning the competitors prepared for the race to Dielette, and again, because of negative weather forecasts and failing winds, some decided to drop out and sail back home.

Ragtime

At the last minute, those heading for Dielette were joined by the sail training ship 'Donald Searle' and her 20 strong young crew. Around noon, some 20 vessels and near 100 crew, including the support boats, sailed or motored into Dielette harbour, in bright sunshine, to a very ceremonial welcome by the Island of Jersey Marching Band who were surprised and disappointed to hear that no Jersey boat was among the competitors. Transfer coaches to the Salle des Fetes in Flamanville had been laid on by Monsieur Fouchon, the Mayor of Dielette-Flamanville, and at the vin d'honneur, again courtesy of the Mayor, the winners were presented with their 17 trophies and prizes. Winner of the race to Dielette (First and Last Plate), on handicap, was 'Ragtime', a Florida-built CSY-44.

The splendid Jim Wallin Memorial Bowl was presented to the overall winner 'Tarquah V'.

This 21 year old Japanese-built boat had completed many races across the China Sea, and her crew should also have received a medal for their hat trick: a perched tricolour cockerel hat which crowed at the most inappropriate moments, but so impressed the Mayor of Flamanville, who was still revelling in his country's World Cup Victory, that he simply had to have one, and was duly given one.

Torquah V

There were several more trophies, including one for the oldest crew (incl. the age of the yacht) which went to 'Periplus', skippered by Alderney States member John Russell, and a trophy for the youngest crew (excluding the age of the yacht) which was presented to the 'Donald Searle' sail training ship with an average crew age of 22 years. The Mayor of Dielette-Flamanvill presented the crew of 'Tigerlily' from Poole with 'La Coupe Panach' for their determination to get there, despite such appalling weather conditions, and the owner of nearby Les Pieux 'Restaurant de la Paix' trophy "pour le plus grand Horlicks" (translated in the best possible franglais), was awarded to 'Athene', another Poole crew. Both trophies will stay in Dielette and all other trophies will remain at the Alderney Sailing Club, because - after last weekend's resounding success - next year's Alderney International Regatta is definitely on and the word is out:

Racing around Alderney

The date has been set or 9th to 11th July 1999, and judging by the enthusiastic comments from competiters at this year's events, (described by Regatta Chairman Peter Willoughby as "a dress rehearsal for next year's international regatta"), those who didn't make it to Alderney this time, including our sailing friends from Guernsey and Jersey, will definitely not want to miss out on next year's competition, fruits de mer and celebrations.

At the debriefing there will be very little to criticise or improve on: Alderney Sailing Club can be proud, having secured generous sponsorship commitment from Bavaria Holland Beer, Reynards, Bucktrouts, Featherstone Leach, The First & Last, London House and several others. Our French host, the Mayor of Dielette-Flamanville is keen to see this regatta become an annual event which will put Dielette's new marina on the nautical map, and will do his utmost to encourage the participation of Normandy sailing clubs. There is just one thing that could be improved considerably - the weather.
So, what's new?

Comments from Visiting Yachtsmen

Thank you all so much for a trememdous Regatta. Everyone on board 'Erelisa' enjoyed every moment - the generosity of your sponsors, levels of organisation, hard work andthe hospitality show to us was very much appreciated.
I have left 'Erelisa' in Dielette and plan to return there next week. Both crews sailed back to Lymington in 'Connie' on Sunday and since returning (and after some very sound sleeping) have enthused about the weekend to all who we meet!
Very much looking forward to next year! Andrew Wilkes - 'Erelisa'

I would like to thank the Alderney Sailing Club for the wonderful hospitality we received during last weekend's regatta.
We all had a great time and thoroughly enjoyed the racing, especially the reception we received in Kielette. We will almost definitely be back for next year's regatta and would be pleased to receive an entry form as soon as these are available. Malcom Mitchell - 'Connie'

I am writing to thank you and all your members for the very enjoyable Regatta weekend. The three of us on board 'Tigerlily' know at first had how much hard work and organisation goes into an event such as this. Once we arrived at Alderney, we won't talk about the Friday crossing, the sun cam out and the party commenced. The sailing was first class, (how do you have favourable tide all the way round a small island?), the reception we received, the food, the continual enquiries about our health, drink, enjoyment, enough food, etc, etc, was stunning. Gerry Baxter - 'Tigerlily'

I would like to thank the Commodore and your Race Committee for giving us a most memorable weekend. It was clear that a lot of hard work and enthusiasm went into making your Regatta such a success. I know I can sy on behalf of the skippers and crew of 'Tigerlily', 'Rumpus', and my boat 'Athene' that we had a thoroughly good time and word is reputedly getting around the Poole yacht racers of a weekend not to be missed, although to befair eight other boats did intend to go to Alderney. Nick Treble - Poole Yacht Racing Association