Heartbeat III
After a mixed season of weather, Heartbeat 3 was looking forward to the Burnham Town Cup this year as it's one of the trophies that means a lot to all East Coast sailors. The team members were all in good heart, having won the Beadle's Cup race to Ramsgate a couple of weeks earlier in nasty conditions.
The course was a respectable 30 miles +. Weather conditions were, for once this year, perfect and after a good pin-end windward start, we were able to commence the foul tide beat out towards the Swin and South Whitaker, before the tide turned, resulting in a return foul tide downwind leg.
The wind held above the 10 knots that Heartbeat 3 needs to have to optimise her performance. Flat water allowed maximum speeds and the crew of ten helped keep the boat flat. Visibility was very poor, down to about 1/4 mile at one point which made it difficult keeping track of other boats. Oystercatcher XXVI was our pace boat - when we could see her, and we were being pressed hard by Skipjack of Cowes, downwind, tacking to try and get through.
We decided on a south shore route, often only a couple of metres from the bank all the way back up-river (not normally to be recommended on a strong ebb tide) dead downwind as the windspeed was good enough for Heartbeat to run effectively, and prevented Skipjack crossing us. We were very pleased that they could not get through although rating much higher.
The Heartbeat crew were banned from doing any timing of other boats, although there were some concerns about Holding Pattern behind us, but they appeared to drop back considerably. The original course was intended to pass through the Royal Corinthian line, through the town down to Fairway 15 and then return. We saw Oystercatcher manoeuvre ahead and drop her kite, and it was only as we reached the line that we realised that the course had been shortened. At that point we were not aware that Oystercatcher had made contact with a moored boat and had to retire, so we continued deliberately close in on the South Shore, being the second boat to cross the line.
We knew we'd sailed a pretty immaculate race (for once!), but had no idea of the outcome. It was only as we came ashore that we were texted by Chuffy and Tony Merewether, saying, "Congratulations!" that we were aware we might have won. And we had! The team, Tim Girvan, Harry Hastwell, Denis Cartie, Dani Southey, Adam Hunter Sue Pelling, Sarah Watson, Jason Foxhall, Judy Payne-James and myself allowed ourselves a small six hour celebration with the Town Cup, around the clubs, pubs, restaurants of Burnham.
A great day and night and a great honour. In the words of Mr Hastwell - 'Job done'.
Jason Payne-James