After another great season for SailEAST, with the competition going down to the final regatta, competitors from the 2011 season met up at the Crouch Yacht Club on the 28 January to award the trophies and celebrate the success of SailEAST as the premier inshore racing series on the East Coast.

On a cold evening, almost 100 people attended the prizegiving hosted by the Crouch Yacht Club and the SailEAST Chairman Ian Scott. Joining the competitors were Mike Newton from Principle Sponsor, Hutton Construction, who together with HCC Insurance supported the series in 2011 and the Commodores from the supporter Clubs.

On the night, the prizes were spread across the fleets, with full details available on the SailEAST website – saileast.org. But the winners of the Classes were as follows…

Class 4 – Scallywag, Julian Lord
Class 3 – Harlequin, Team ‘Quin
Class 2 – Amazon, Tony & Chuffy Merewether
Class 1 – Oystercatcher XXVIII, Richard Matthews

The race for the Overall Champion was won by Richard Matthews.

The dates for the 2012 Season have already been announced and are available on the new SailEAST website. Hutton Construction remains the Principle Sponsor and HCC Insurance has been joined by Dolphin Sails as Sponsor.

Photo: Richard Matthews receiving his trophies from Alisha Harper of Hutton Construction © SailEAST

Leading building contractor and shopfitter Hutton Construction has confirmed it will continue its long-held association with SailEAST by becoming Principle Sponsor again for the 2012 series. This marks the 14th consecutive year Hutton Construction has supported the event.

With a tradition and reputation for first-class bespoke craftsmanship spanning almost 200 years, Hutton Construction has chosen to retain its sponsorship of SailEAST as the premier inshore sailing series on the East Coast.

Established in 1998, the SailEAST series has become an extremely popular event attracting over 80 boats each year.

Mike Newton of Hutton said: “We are delighted to be Principle Sponsor of the SailEAST series again for 2012 and continuing our long association with the premier regatta series on the East Coast. We share many of the same values as the competitors – teamwork, excellence and a desire to be the very best, so working with Ian and the rest of the team makes sense at so many levels for us, especially in an Olympic year, where our hopes for success in sailing are so high”.

SailEAST chairman Ian Scott said: “I am delighted that Hutton Construction has announced it will be our Principle Sponsor again for the 2012 season. The series, held throughout the year from Felixstowe to Ramsgate provides the largest inshore regatta series of its type on the East Coast – attracting entrants from the quickest Class 1 yachts to those in Class 4 who are new to racing. Overall the series is now very well established and well regarded, as is Hutton Construction, so there is an obvious synergy there that continues to work well as the partnership enters its 14th year. We are looking forward to this year’s series of regattas and with Hutton on board things are shaping up for another great year.”

Established in 1998, the SailEAST series has become an extremely popular event attracting over 80 boats each year.

SailEAST Chairman Ian Scott said: “I am delighted to be leading the SailEAST team at such an exciting time for sailing and yacht racing in the UK, especially in an Olympic year where our hopes for success are so high.   The series, held throughout the year from Felixstowe to Ramsgate provides the largest inshore regatta series of its type on the East Coast – attracting entrants from the quickest Class 1 yachts to those in Class 4 and owners who are new to racing. Entering its 15^th season, the series is now very well established and regarded. Having taken part in SailEAST since it started, I will continue to work very hard to give the very best racing for everyone involved, together with great parties, where all of the competitors can relax after a hard days sailing”

The SailEAST Series for 2012 is comprised of 4 regattas as follows –

• Dabchicks Regatta – 26/27 May
• Felixstowe, as part of the Felixstowe Regatta and incorporating the IRC East Coast Championship – 13/14/15 July
• Ramsgate, as part of Ramsgate Week – 2/ 4 August
• Burnham, as part of Burnham Week – 25/26 August

Ends

For further information please contact – Ian Scott, Chairman of SailEAST – 07714 760584

Note to Editors.

SailEAST was formed with the intention of promoting a series of inshore regattas on the East Coast of the UK. Supported by a wide range of sailing and yacht clubs, SailEAST will host 4 regattas in 2012 starting on the Backwater in May and then followed by Felixstowe, Ramsgate and the Crouch.

Each regatta consists of three or more inshore races over a weekend. In between the racing, the fleet enjoys a great party organized by the host club. SailEAST attracts over 80 yachts with over 500 competitors as well as many more spectators.

Further information can be found on the rest of the site – http://www.saileast.org/

The year will begin in West Mersea at the Dabchicks Sailing Club and the season finale will return to Burnham in August. The full dates are:

• Dabchicks Regatta – 26/27 May
• Felixstowe, as part of the Felixstowe Regatta – 13/15 July
• Ramsgate, as part of Ramsgate Week – 30 July to 4 August
• Burnham, as part of Burnham Week – 25/26 August

Chairman of SailEAST, Martin Wiggins commented – ‘SailEAST has been hugely successful over the years and we continue to strive to put on the very best blend of racing and social activity. We have listened to sailors as they have taken part in the Series and working across all of the major regattas on the East Coast seemed to be the very best way forward – bringing together what everyone wants, great racing and the opportunity to party at the end of the day. By linking SailEAST with existing regattas, we hope will not only increase numbers racing but also provide a strong platform to attract more travelling yachts to the area and reinforce the quality of racing for everyone’

Full details of the events for 2012, together with more information about the various venues etc can be found on our new SailEAST website so feel free to browse – www.saileast.org

As we are rapidly approaching the end of another season of racing the SailEAST 2011 series has proved to be another successful if somewhat challenging year. The competition has been strong, the partying strong but the numbers have been down a little, but given the current economic climate that isn’t a surprise.

That said, we have still managed to provide the most successful series of regatta’s on the East Coast – and leading the way for competitive sailing on the water and great partying off!

Class 1 was hotly contested with the result coming down to the final race at the Dabchicks, with Richard Matthew’s Oystercatcher XXVIII taking the prize from Booty! and Kiss.

Class 2 was a season long battle between Amazon and Red Macaw, with Tony and Chuffy Merewether sealing first place with a series of three 1st’s at Dabchicks. Who’s to No was in third place.

The battle for Class 3 was really a one-horse race in the end with Harlequin and Team ‘Quin winning by some distance from Moodust and BillyWhizz.

Class 4 was won by Julian Lord and Scallywag, with Harvest Moon in second, just ahead of Serenity.

Overall, the 2011 year was dominated by the big boats in Class 1, with Oystercatcher XXVIII taking the victory in the final race of the year held at the Dabchicks. Robbie and Pippa Stewart’s Booty! came home in second for the year, just ahead of David Pinner’s Kiss.

The Club Championship was won again by the Crouch Yacht Club, with Haven Ports Yacht Club in second and the West Mersea Yacht Club in third.

So, congratulations to Richard and the crew of Oystercatcher – Overall Winners of SailEAST 2011. But let’s not forget all of the other crew’s who competed so well across the regattas throughout the year – from the Crouch in May, to Felixstowe and Ramsgate in July to Dabchicks in September, making this year another great success for sailing on the East Coast. And finally, a huge thanks to our sponsors – Hutton Construction, as principle sponsor and HCC Insurance – their support is much appreciated and valued by all.

The end of season prizegiving will take place at the end of January 2012.

Results are avaliable on the Dabchicks website here.

The final weekend of the 2010 SailEAST series promised to be an exciting one, with all of the major places still up for grabs, the promise of good winds and of course a great party on the Saturday night!

A total of 23 yachts entered the weekend and the competition was fierce from the beginning of Race 1, with a combined start for Classes 3 and 4 leaving to some excitement on the startline and everyone tried to get the weekend off to a great start. The PRO set a long course, with plenty of turns to get everyone in the mood and working up a sweat. The wind was variable and this caused many changes at the front of the fleet. Class 4 was won by Monkey Business, helmed by Rob Leggett and Class 3 by Harlequin who was just over a minute ahead of BillyWhizz. Class 2 presented a real challenge between the local J80’s and the visiting boats, but in the end Amazon was the winner. In Class 1, Kiss helmed by David Pinner was able to win by a show a clean pair of heels to Thrust and be first to the gun.

Race 2, saw the wind steady and continue to build with Class 3 and 4 starting together again. Scallywag and Monkey Business continued to battle for the lead with Julian Lord eventually winning the fight to bring Scallywag home 31 seconds in front. There was a similar battle in Class 3, with BillyWhizz leading home. Amazon continued to dominate the field in Class 2, leading from the start but hotly followed by Red Macaw and Claim Form for second and third. The battle in Class 1 was very close indeed, with Robbie Stewart’s Booty! leading the fleet home and 3 other finishes separated by less than 35 seconds. On handicap it was Thrust that won the day. Many of the Class 1/2 boats had an interesting finishing as strong gusts caused a few to spin out.

After a great party, the fleet assembled again for the final race, with the addition of Richard Matthew and the crew of Oystercatcher XXVIII all of whom had made the journey back from Ostend to take part! The wind had increased overnight and promised to present some very interesting conditions for the crews. Scallywag lead home Class 4, with Kehaar in second place – although the local Sonata thought it was more ‘survival’ that racing! In Class 3, Harlequin again got the better of BillyWhizz and in Class 2, Amazon continued to dominate with another win. The conditions really suited Oystercatcher who finished the course in just over 90 minutes, and was chased home by Booty, but on handicap it was another win for Thrust.

Overall, the weekend belonged to Thrust, but they were closely chased by Booty! and Amazon. So, that brings the SailEAST season to a close, but the results for the season are expected soon and the planning for 2012 is almost complete – so watch this space for more news.

Pictures of the event can be found at – http://www.dabchicks.org/images/yachts/saileast2011/index.htm