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 Tony Saltonstall and Gerard Dyson win the 2010 Squib opening event using Lonton and Gray sails for the first time.
The first open meeting of the season for the Squibs, was hosted by the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club, Burnham-on-Crouch from May 1st to 3rd and attracted a quality field of 19 boats. Eight races were scheduled but this program was severely curtailed by the weather. Three races were in the program for Saturday but these were lost due to lack of wind. Race Officer Edwin Buckley had planned to hold extra races on the Sunday, but in the event the strong winds, low temperature and driving rain curtailed the program yet again. Two races were held in these difficult conditions and beating against the strong current in the Roach added to the challenge for the crews. In the first race Nigel Grogan and Daniel Cripps edged in front but they were chased hard by Gerard Dyson and Tony Saltonstall. These two enjoyed a close battle but Grogan was always had the upper hand and held on to win with Malcolm Hutchings and Andy Ramsey a close third. The second race followed a similar pattern with the same three boats in contention. However a collision at the end of the run between Dyson & Grogan resulted in disqualification for the latter and consequently moved Dave White and Mel Titmus up to third. The race officer then took to sensible decision to abandon for the day and no doubt saved the fleet from hyperthermia. This left the program 6 races short and the intention was to try to recoup some of the program and hold 4 short races on the Monday. Monday dawned bright and breezy and the fleet assembled at the mouth of the Roach with some optimism. The first race got away in bright sunshine with an interesting beat along the West shore of the roach. Peter Marchant and Marc Rawinsky just edged ahead of White & Titmus at the top mark and sailed conservatively to take the winning gun from White with Dyson in third place ahead of Hutchings. As the fleet awaited the next warning signal a vicious squall swept up the Roach and the race committee wisely abandoned racing for the day leaving Dyson and Saltonstall winners of the prestigious Burnham Gold Cup. The results were very satisfactory for Lonton and Gray with winner Gerard Dyson using these sails for the first time, Dave White in 3rd place, Mickey Wright in 4th place, Phil Aspinall in 6th place and Bryan & Jenny Riley in 7th overall. |