Light winds and a slightly moody sky greeted sailors for the inaugural Mayor’s Shield, a new event created as part of the Sporting Lyme initiative.
The concept behind the event was simple: bring racing as close to the shore as possible, allowing the public to see the action and promoting both the club and the sport of sailing. Rather than racing several miles offshore and out of sight, the event was designed to provide a spectacular display that could be enjoyed from the beach, harbour and Marine Parade.
The race also provided a rare opportunity for the club’s dinghy and cruiser fleets to compete together in a single race and a single start.
It seemed fitting that the race should start from the old club line at the end of Victoria Pier, beside the Cobb building. The location has particular significance for the club, as the building was once home to the Lyme Regis Sailing Club.
With an impressive fleet of 19 dinghies and six cruisers taking part, there was plenty of anticipation as the sailors prepared for the start. As the fleet left the harbour, members of the public began gathering along the shoreline, intrigued by the unusual spectacle taking place so close to shore.
The wind, however, remained extremely light. A little confusion over exactly where the end of the start line lay resulted in the majority of the fleet crossing early, prompting a general recall for a false start.
There was no such problem at the second attempt. The fleet judged the line perfectly and, as a slight gust filled the sails, the boats headed towards the first mark – providing an excellent spectacle for spectators watching from the pier and shoreline.
Adding to the experience was past Commodore and sailing club stalwart Jeremy Wallace, who provided excellent commentary throughout the race.
At the first mark, Sailing Club Commodore Andy Robinson, sailing an Albacore with new member Sarah Wallis, led the fleet. Close behind were Vice Commodore Allan Tyler, also in an Albacore, crewed by his wife Chris Tyler and granddaughter Lily.
In third place was Rear Commodore Graham Cook, sailing his Laser.
The fleet then headed towards the South Cardinal mark, which was clearly visible from the beach, before turning back towards the harbour and the finish line.
With the wind remaining light, the decision was made to sail just one lap. The short course and challenging conditions produced some close racing, with Graham Cook making up considerable ground in his Laser.
Cook eventually crossed the finish line just seconds behind Andy Robinson, but his performance was enough to secure a decisive win on handicap. Despite being considered the slower boat on paper, the Laser proved particularly competitive in the conditions.
Jeff Vanderbought, sailing his K1, also made significant gains on the light downwind leg to claim second place on handicap, while Andy Robinson took third overall on handicap, despite being the first boat across the finishing line.
Team Tyler provided one of the more memorable moments of the race.
With the course taking the fleet close to the shore and swimming area, Chris and granddaughter Lily decided to take advantage of the opportunity for some mid-race weight shedding – jumping overboard for a quick dip before swimming the short distance back to the beach!
Skipper Allan was left sailing the now considerably lighter “Superleggera Albacore”, making good speed back towards the harbour and, no doubt, a well-earned refreshing beverage.
There was also an excellent performance from Youth Member Rhys Roscoe, who finished fifth overall to claim the top youth spot.
The top cruiser prize went to Rob and Margaret Wiscombe, who put in a strong performance against the mixed fleet.
The prize giving took place on the Marine Parade, providing another opportunity for the club to showcase sailing to the public.
Graham Cook was presented with the brand-new Mayor’s Shield by the Mayor and his wife, marking the successful launch of what the club hopes will become an important annual event.
Jeremy Wallace also took the opportunity to say a few words about the day and the racing, bringing the event to a fitting conclusion.
An event of this kind could not take place without the considerable effort of the volunteers behind the scenes.
A spokesperson for Lyme Regis Sailing Club commented "Special thanks go to Ian Wallace, who acted as the main liaison for the event, and to Jack and Ella Woodhouse, whose tremendous support on shore helped ensure the results were calculated and published as quickly as possible, allowing the prize giving to take place within the day’s schedule.
"Thanks also go to RNLI and LRSC member David Knott, who drove the safety boat with crew member Peter Edwards, as well as Maia Smith and John Tattersall, who supported the race committee team.
"Their combined efforts ensured the race could run safely and smoothly.
"The inaugural Mayor’s Shield proved to be an excellent demonstration of what can be achieved when sailing is brought closer to the community. With the fleet racing just offshore and spectators able to follow the action from the shore, it provided both an exciting day for the sailors and a valuable opportunity to showcase the club and the sport."
