A bumper Burnham Week bucked the trend for falling entries by recording 198 entries over the week which was, unlike similar regattas, an increase of significant proportions.
Burnham Week started on Saturday in a brisk and gusty breeze giving sailors a glorious days sailing. With near on 200 boats the river Crouch was a spectacular sight as boats of all types were broaching under spinnaker battling with the conditions. Classes 1, 2 and 3 were racing early on Saturday morning for the Houghton Cup. It was a tight and challenging race which was won by Class 3 boat Amazon -Tony and Chuffy Merewether who sailed an excellent race according to fellow competitors who all enjoyed the excellent course. Second place went to Class 2 Oyster Catcher Richard Matthews and third to WamBam and Eddie Clay in Class 3 so the overall places were spread across the three classes.
There were big fleets of Hunter 707s and Squibs over the first weekend. Indeed the Squib fleet remained large for the whole week with 14 boats racing in the week and enjoying some of the most competitive racing. In the end Lady Penelope, Malcolm Hutchings won the mid week points from Tears in Heaven, which Peter Marchant presented at the second prize giving of the week at the Royal Burnham Yacht Club on Friday evening. A big fleet of visiting Ospreys – a class which has built over recent years – also enjoyed the fast and furious conditions over the first weekend.
The multihull class built to a fleet of 12 – with many visitors joining the melee and enjoying the competitive racing and providing a great spectacle on the water.
All eleven RBODs competed for most of the week and the first two days provided some fierce competition. Quartz won the first two days but was beaten into third on Monday, leaving Annette to pick up the Straker Cup. The Stellas who celebrated their 50th anniversary this year had 9 in their fleet and Neil Pitman’s Rolliker dominated with two wins. The non spinnaker class was split into two fleets at both weekends as entries have increased in this class in recent years.
With the variety of craft all vying for the top slot in their own fleet and the gusty conditions it resulted in several incidents of contact between boats and local boat companies were busy repairing sails, hulls and replacement masts all in the first few days.
On Sunday with the wind in the South west, boats were sent up the Roach to get a beat. RS Elites, Dragons and Squibs were all sent up to the Roach buoy which proved to be a very busy spot with the low tide and number of boats going round.
Robbie Stewart’s new Class 1 boat ‘Booty’ had designer Andy Stewart onboard on the first Sunday who was reportedly pleased with her performance, believing she will prove to be a fast boat once the crew have grown familiar with her. She picked up the Paul Fleming Trophy for class 1 on the Bank Holiday Monday, a much prized trophy for all those who knew Paul, and there were several of his friends on Booty this year.
On Monday there was a slight change in wind direction to a more south to south easterly making it difficult to get a decent beat for all the river fleets. But there was sunshine and a bit more breeze so it was still good racing.
Although some fleets declined in number mid-week, those who remained – and there was a goodly number enjoyed both the sailing and the socialising – for which Burnham Week is justly famous. On Thursday the racing was abandoned for all as a fierce storm with extreme winds hit the town. There was racing on Friday although some of the more elderly yachts on the river – the traditional one design fleets at the Royal Burnham and the Royal Corinthian – decided not to race in the still fierce conditions.
The last Saturday produced a good sailing breeze and some sunshine for all competitors and some quite excellent racing – not least for those in Class 1 competing for the big trophy of the week – the Town Cup. It was yet another tight finish again this year with the eventual winner, Oystercatcher, Richard Matthews winning by just over 1 minute on corrected time from Assarin - Angus Bates and Robbie Stewart’s new boat, with Booty competing in just her third race, coming in third. The Commodore’s Cup, Class 2 was won by Amazon, Tony & Chuffy Merewether rounding off a very successful week.
Organizers were exceptionally pleased with the turnout and the racing in general. Competitors praised the courses set and there was something for everyone. The flexible programme of racing and mass of trophies handed out marked Burnham Week 2009 as something really special. A not-to-be-missed event!