Report by Dylan Noble
Despite the slightly uninspiring forecast, 10 Musto Skiffs arrived at Ullswater for the 2023 Daffodil Regatta, with a couple of notable pre-entrants missing the event. Alistair Conn with hopefully just a temporary sickness bug, and the slightly longer-term absentee, Jono Shelly, who had a ruptured Achilles tendon. I’m sure I speak on the whole fleet’s behalf to say we wish you a speedy recovery, and we hope to see you on the water again soon!
Saturday
The forecast turned out to be fairly accurate, but the Race Officer didn’t want to hang around and got Saturday’s first race away in a very light SW. The jury was undecided if Euan’s altercation on the start line forced him out to the right early or whether that was by choice, either way he led us round the windward mark and the first lap, only for the wind to completely drop. This led to the light wind specialist, Danny Boatman, taking the lead from the left side of the second beat, which he held to the finish. It seemed a fitting present for the birthday boy, although Jamie Hilton also drifted well to almost spoil the celebrations right at the end taking 2nd place, with Euan Hurter settling for 3rd.
With that one race taking nearly 2 hours, the PRO decided that was enough for one day and sent us all home, only for the wind to fill in nicely as we headed home. The birthday boy had a swift hydrating pint, then took a few of us out for a bit of a play in fairly consistent SW evening breeze, which made up for the day’s earlier events. This was swiftly followed by several more hydrating pints and a steak pie dinner at the club house, topped up with birthday cheers for Danny and plenty of singing, much to the delight of everyone in the sailing club.
Sunday
Sunday started much the same wind wise, but with nice sunny skies easing the majority of the fleet’s sore heads from the festivities the night before. This time the PRO decided to delay the start until midday where they got the first race away in a light Northerly with plenty of shifts to make it interesting. Local boy, Josh Moran, decided he wasn’t in the mood to make the first race close, and held a healthy lead from start to finish. I also tried to make it an Ullswater 1-2 from start to finish, but Danny took over when the wind dropped around the last windward mark, only to take a quick swim to let me take 2nd, and Euan slip into 3rd.
It was similar conditions for the second race of the day, which looked like it was going to be a different Ullswater 1-2 combo at the first windward mark with me leading from Ian Turnbull, only for Richard Smith to sneak into 2nd at the last moment from the port layline. I decided to gybe set, which turned out to be the right decision, with Jamie also heading that way to take over the 2nd position with a tight tussle behind. It continued to be very close at the front with only a knot in my kite downhaul on the last hoist being enough for Jamie to slip through and introduce Scottish Champion, Mikey Matthews, to the party, sneaking through to 2nd. It was very close at the last leeward mark with Jamie and Mikey having a close battle for line honours. Jamie did well to fend off Mikey, and this match racing gave me the opportunity to slip by Mikey for 2nd. Ian, unfortunately, ended up snapping his tiller in this race, meaning Richard took 4th.
As it was now passed 2pm, we couldn’t take the opportunity to squeeze a 4th race in, so we went for a 4-lap race as the decider, which was still all to play for, with myself holding a slender 1-point lead over both Jamie Hilton and Danny Boatman. I removed myself from contention early by starting prematurely, but with the wind dropping and Ullswater being as shifty as it is, there was opportunities still out there for everyone. By the last “windward” mark the wind had completely dropped with no one knowing where it would come from next. The final zephyr spun 180 to make it an upwind drift to the finish, where again, Danny showed his light wind skills to take the bullet, with Jamie taking full advantage of this shift to go from last place to 2nd place on this leg and ultimately the finish, with Josh Moran taking 3rd.
The wind did decide to play ball, albeit after the racing had finished, which the majority of the fleet stayed out for to give us all a good blast, not to leave the event completely empty handed. This 2nd place was enough for Jamie to take the event one point ahead of Danny, and I took the final step on the podium.
Big thanks to Ullswater YC for hosting the event and to all the volunteers. Also, thanks to Stewart Brewing for providing some great prizes as our 2023 Northern & Scottish Circuit Sponsor. We are all looking forward to the next Northern & Scottish Circuit event, which is taking place over the border at Largs SC on 20th and 21st May.
Overall Results - 2023 Daffodil Regatta
• 1st place – Jamie Hilton
• 2nd place – Danny Boatman
• 3rd place – Dylan Noble
Photo Gallery by Tim Olin Photography >>
Feature photo: Musto Skiffs at the 2023 Daffodil Regatta © Tim Olin, 2023
