The Season in Review
From Andrew Reid, Itchenor Class Captain.
And so the Swallow season has ended. It was great to have a full set of races after the disruption last year. It was generally a light winds summer, with the occasional race missed from either too much or too little wind.
We had an excellent Norman Moore Trophy weekend, won by Spectre, now regularly afloat and to be seen at the front of the fleet. The National Championships were held in light winds out in Hayling Bay and were won convincingly by Osprey, although a resurgent Svala pressed hard.
Itchenor Keelboat Week for the Buccaneer Trophy attracted 19 boats, and was another convincing victory for Osprey. A good number of Swallows went to Cowes for Classic Week and enjoyed nine fast and furious races in excellent conditions, with Skua coming out top.
The latter part of the season continued with the long series and occasional weekend trophy, and it was good to hold the Tony Bridgewater Trophy for the first time. All results can be found here [link] and congratulations to all the winners.
A quick analysis of the results for all racing from Itchenor, including IKW and the Championships, shows that 25 Swallows were actively racing. There were almost 80 races held and almost 800 boatstarts. Gwaihir made the most starts (and won the Swallow Trophy for the long series over the season with half to count), followed by Solitude, Marengo, Archon and Osprey. It was good to see Bluff with around 40 starts having come late into the season. It is clear that the class is in good heart and has enjoyed excellent competitive racing over 2021.
We look forward to 2022!
Aldeburgh News
From Richard Keane
I have been regularly racing in Jacana S56 this season in the keel boat handicap cup races mainly against K6s, Flying Fifteens and Dragons with Bobby Rusack, Catherine Walker and my Toby crewing.
We have also just completed a superb autumn series in perfect weather finishing 5th out of about 15. We had to drop one race otherwise we would have been in the chocolates. We are finding it very difficult to beat the modern Fifteens and, in a blow, the Dragons. Sadly we are the only Swallow on the river but many enjoy sailing her as they are such a good sail trainer and much more comfortable than a Loch Long of which we have over 40 cluttering the river!
I am also still racing my 12ft Aldeburgh Lapwing. I still have S53 Blithe Spirit in the Aldeburgh Boatyard stripped down and ready for a refit so if anybody would like her I am willing to part with her for a small fee.
NSCA Weekend January 2022
Our Hon Sec writes:
Saturday 15th January
Morning/Afternoon activity TBC
17:00 NSCA AGM at Itchenor Sailing Club in the Members Room (Agenda will be sent to members nearer the time)
19:30 for 20:00 Swallow Class Dinner
Sunday 16th January
11:00 Swallow circular walk in Duncton starting & finishing at the Cricketers. We have booked the function room for lunch.
Further details will follow nearer the time.
2022 Principal Events
The 2022 programme is still being developed but the dates you should keep free for the principal events are:
Saturday 26 March Opening weekend
Sat/Sun 16/17 April Deep End Trophy
Sat/Sun 30 April/1 May RYCdeB Plate
Sat/Sun 4/5 June Norman Moore Trophy
Mon-Fri 13-17 June Itchenor Keelboat Week
Mon-Fri 27 Jun – 1 Jul Cowes Classics Week
Sat/Sun 16/17 July National Championship, Bembridge
Sat/Sun 27/28 Aug Tony Bridgewater Trophy
Sat/Sun 24/25 Sept. Bob Massey Trophy
Sat 8 October Reach Trophy
Sat 22 October Finella Cup
Sat 29 October Laying Up Supper
In particular do note the National Championships will be held over the weekend of 16-17 July, hosted by Bembridge sailing Club.
We are always made very welcome by Bembridge, the racing area and race management are excellent, and we always have a good time. It is a great place for a weekend even for non-sailing other halves.
There will be a BBQ on Friday evening and gala dinner in their wonderful club dining room on Saturday. And excellent walks on the doorstep.
We may even be treated to the type of ‘Bembridge Sunset’ we saw at the same event in 2019. What’s not to like!?
So do start making your Bembridge plans in good time. More anon!
New Swallow Build
The new Swallow being built by David Heritage Racing Yachts in Cowes is now well under way.
The Newbuild Group led by Jon Perry and George Miller and funded by class members started the build in September. Since then, Philip Swatman has taken over the project and S96 will be on the water for the beginning of the 2022 season. Watch this space for the naming announcement and launch party.
Philip Swatman and David Heritage look over the newly moulded hull.
SW.ITCH22
Do you know someone who is maybe just beginning to think of a new sailing challenge as their dinghy racing career slows down, or perhaps their “weekend job” of supporting their children’s sailing is becoming manageable or has an end in sight at last? If so, we have a plan to help them to dip their toe into the wonderful world of Swallow Sailing at Itchenor without requiring a firm commitment to join a syndicate or buy a boat on day one.
For SW.ITCH22 the Swallow class will lend a competitive Swallow to a group for the entire 2022 season at ISC including the opportunity to compete in away events at Bembridge and at Cowes Classics week. With a programme of over 120 races on offer just at home a group of five or six will be able to enjoy as much, or as little, sailing as they like, and the shared running cost (About £600 each for the whole season shared between six, including race fees) will not break the bank.
The idea is that a group of probably existing members will be interested in taking up this proposal alongside their existing activities. If none of them like it at the end of the year we will have the boat back, but we think they will.
The Swallow fleet is now “The place to be” for dynamic keelboat sailing at ISC. We have two young teams, and a new boat, joining us next year in what is already a competitive fleet giving great racing at all levels. So, if you are interested, or know someone who might be, please contact Mike Wigmore at nationalswallowclass@gmail.com
Movers and Shakers Planned for 2022
We are pleased to report that many Swallow teams are making plans for 2022 already. Austen Sculley, Paul Durgan and Nick Warner have bought “Bluff” and plan to up their campaign for next year.
Philip Swatman is building a new boat and plans to strengthen his team sailing with new members Chris and Emma Grosscurth. These two newlyweds are already Dragon Sailors and Emma has a career as a professional kite surfer on her sailing CV. “Migrant” have an influx of new members with Jon Turner, Barnie Hartley and Ginny Fox joining that syndicate.
We hope to see more of Kit Glover and his team sailing Darter. And we are only November! Watch this space for more hot moves for 2022!
Class Socials Organiser(s)
We are delighted that Ginny Fox (Migrant) has agreed to be our Class Social lead. She will be assisted considerably by Ginny Kidd, Carol Thompson and others.
Any (reasonable) ideas for a revitalised social programme to Ginny please!