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On Saturday and Sunday 8th and 9th of September, 12 Dutch competitors including the Dutch National Champion and the World Champion, accompanied by the creator of the Splash, Roel Wester, came to The Royal Harwich Yacht Club to challenge the 27 British competitors in the UK Open and National Championships. The ferry staff at Harwich, were more than a little surprised to greet the team coming off the ferry with 4 boats as 'hand luggage'! However, after some amusing exchanges, some of the British contingent were at hand to carry them off to Wolverstone and set up camp with everyone else on RHYC's front lawn - a privilege indeed! The wind throughout the weekend was a fresh, north westerly gusting up to force 7 on Sunday. Race one was abandoned after a freighter came down the channel and split the fleet in half! After a restart, the race was dominated by the Dutch. First place went to Stephan Veldman, with Dutch girl Gea Jutjens 2nd and Auke v.d. Werf 3rd. The first Brit was Scott Allen from Pitsford Sailing Club in seventh place. The Brits clearly had a lot to do!
The competition was hotting up by the start of the third race and Allen rose to the challenge by finishing 2nd, subsequently promoted to 1st due to the disqualification of Erwin V. with Jutjens 2nd and van der Werf 3rd, leaving Jutjens overnight leader with Allen third. The evening was extremely full, commencing with the UK Splash Class Association AGM, quickly followed by a superb BBQ, rounded off with a disco at the club.
The afternoon saw some really spectacular sailing and all the onlookers were enthralled with the sheer speeds the boats were doing.
Jutjens won race 5, (enough to give her the regatta title and Overseas Visitors Trophy), with Stephan 2nd and Erwin 3rd.
The course was shortened for the final race as tiredness was becoming an issue. This was duly despatched by van der Werf with Stephan 2nd and Erwin 3rd. Race officer Ewan Stamp felt everyone had been sent to the slipway in good time, only for a squall to hit the fleet halfway back. Those who stayed upright put on the most extraordinary display of speed, while unfortunately the others had a tough time of it with lost centreboards, rudders and some spectacular capsizes, including pitchpoles and San Francisco rolls. However, the attentive safety boats kept everyone safe and full of tales once ashore. With the first 4 places going to the Dutch (no surprises there!), Allen was the first Brit and so became UK National Champion, with strong performances from runner-up Alex Bentall (Norflok Broads Y.C.) and Andrew Friend (Norfolk Punt Club) 3rd. Last year's UK Champion, Georgie Hill (Ulley SC) was first lady helm in 4th position and Ross Harvey (Bowmoor SC) 5th and top under-16 helm. David Ling (NBYC) came 6th and took the 'over-25' prize, with Jonathan Frary putting in an impressive performance to win the under-14 section. Competitors and spectators alike had a cracking weekend, not least because of the gushing hospitality offered by RHYC and in particular the Sailing Secretary, Ewan Stamp, wife Mary and daughter Helen.
A fitting end to the event was an extended negotiation with the check-in staff at the Ferry terminal, who simply could not believe anyone could possibly take a boat on as hand luggage! Bet that gave him something to tell the wife when he went home! With the Worlds next year being hosted by the UK at Weymouth, this event has served as a motivator for our sailors to get some serious training in over the winter to wreak their revenge next July!
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The second race was a more relaxed affair as the rising tide allowed for the whole course to be set out of the shipping channel. Jutjens showed all the blokes how to do it, with Veldman's younger brother and World champion, Erwin, just beating him to 2nd place.
Seemingly unperturbed by the previous night's exertions, most people were raring to go on Sunday morning. However, even heavier winds than Saturday meant that racing was delayed and yachting did not begin until 1.30pm. Further complications were added when the news arrived that the Dutch may not get home, as the Sea Cat had been cancelled for the next 2 days.
