Endeavour Trophy

Diamond champions of champions

Tough conditions made the battle to become the ultimate dinghy champion as challenging as it’s ever been, as the Endeavour Trophy celebrated its 60th edition. Sue Pelling reports

Light winds and extremely strong spring tides threatened to disrupt the opening day of the 60th anniversary Endeavour Trophy.

Instead, four races took place in difficult, shifty conditions, with 31 top teams racing RS200s over windward-leeward courses.

This unique event, hosted by Royal

Corinthian YC, is strictly invitation only, with entries being offered to hand-picked national champions of a select number of dinghy classes. Its reputation has stood through six decades as the ultimate

‘champion of champions’ event.

So it was little surprise when day one brought a different podium ranking in every race. Thames A

Rater national champions – Ben

Palmer and Amy Seabright – just emerged as overnight leaders thanks to a consistent set of results, including three seconds, sitting just one point ahead of five-times Endeavour champ Nick Craig crewed by Katie Burridge (RS400). A string of top tens put Arran Holman crewed by eight-times past winner Toby Lewis (RS200) in third.

After a tense day on the water, competitors and guests enjoyed the grand 60th anniversary Endeavour dinner with special guest speaker Keith Musto - Olympic silver medallist at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics and winner of the first ever Endeavour Trophy in 1961 - joining forces on stage with Stuart Bithell, gold medallist from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Day two dawned, and after a three-hour postponement waiting for the breeze to fill in, the fleet enjoyed the two final races of the Investec-sponsored Endeavour Trophy. An 8-9kt northerly breeze was just enough to allow for a decent windward-leeward course but the strong spring tide was, once again, the dominating factor.

Winning the start was top priority.

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Champions from 31 classes made the lineup for this year's event

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Aaran Holman and past-winner Toby Lewis (RS200) finished fourth overall

Taking the lead in demonstrating this was Luke Patience and Mary Henderson (470), who were firmly back on track after an OCS the day before saw them black flagged from the opening race. It was imperative to take an immediate hitch over to the righthand side of the course out of the tide. For Patience/Henderson, once they were in control after a couple of perfect tacks, they were able to take advantage of the clear air and score their third win of the series, with Tom Morris and Guy Fillmore (RS800) second, and rivals Ben Palmer and Amy Seabright (Thames A Rater) a close third.

With three points between the top two boats (Patience/Henderson and Palmer/Seabright) going into the second and final race of the day, the pressure was on. A battle took place off the start line but once again Patience/ Henderson were able to repeat their performance and secure another first, claiming the trophy and title.

Palmer/Seabright were always in contention but they had to settle for a close second, giving them a solid second place overall, ahead of Craig/Burridge in third overall.

For Patience and Henderson, winning the 2021 Endeavour Trophy was a case of completing some unfinished business from the last Endeavour held in 2019. Patience recalls it well: “It almost feels like a bit of redemption from when we almost won two years ago but mucked up on a gybe on the last run. In a way it makes it even more special to have finally won the Endeavour. It was really great racing.”

A delighted Henderson added: “Winning the Endeavour is a real life achievement and to become the champion of champions, helm or crew, is very special. Also, my dad [Will Henderson] will be delighted because this is his 21-year-old boat!”

Back on shore, competitors and guests attended the 60th Endeavour prizegiving where the winners were presented with the spectacular solid silver model, and the half model of the America’s Cup J-Class yacht Endeavour.

Junior talent

This year it was impressive to note a number of junior teams in the running. Among them were Patrick Bromilow and Tabitha Davies (Optimist) who weigh just 90kg. This lightweight team made some first class starts and opened the first day’s racing with two third places. The highest placed juniors overall were Millie Irish and Joe Warwicker (RS Feva). In the final race of day one, they stormed off the startline, made the most of the strong ebbing tide, sailed their own race and won by one minute 15 seconds. A solid performance on day two saw them place a very respectable seventh place overall. Irish commented: “We have learned so much this weekend. The biggest lesson was realising just how much even the tiniest mistake can cost you because everyone is so good!”

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Luke Patience and Mary Henderson on their way to an overall win

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Receiving the solid silver Endeavour Trophy from race director Edwin Buckley

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Patience/Henderson in control (blue hull) after a couple of perfect tacks

Winning ways Q&A with Luke Patience

What was your secret to success in the tricky, light conditions?

“In conditions like we had (on day one) the key is to first get a good start and not be over the line! The aim then was to try to make a clear path strategically not necessarily tactically. For us, it was a case of just trying to make sure we were in the right part of the ‘ocean’ all the time, while keeping in clear air.”

What was the plan for day two?

“In both races we managed to get free of the fray early and that was very important. We spent a lot of time before the racing chatting about our options and did a ton of transits on the line before the start so we could be accurate enough to get on port early.”

Winter warmers

The temperatures may be dropping, but for many that means competitive sailing is hotting up. We turn the spotlight on winter racing

Whether you’re supporting your own club series, travelling to a local open, or aiming for one of the high profile events this winter, the universal hope is that crisp blue skies and blustery winter winds prevail. After the trials of last winter’s lockdowns, sailors and organisers alike have their fingers crossed that covid remains at bay and the elements conspire favourably in order for full race series to be completed.

Let’s face it, nothing quite beats knowing you have given it your all in a solid couple of races before heading ashore to warm up and tuck into a Sunday roast. At the very least, winter series racing makes your senses tingle, and at most, lets you hone race skills, teamwork and resilience in a unique way that can really pay dividends for your performance when more clement weather returns.

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J/70s embracing a breezy opener to this year's HYS Hamble Winter Series

Hamble's 40th winter

For many keelboat sailors, the pinnacle of cold weather racing is the HYS Hamble Winter Series. This year, the series celebrates its 40th anniversary. As well as a core of Corinthian sailors, the series also attracts many professional sailors and the latest classes.

Event director, Trevor Pountain has been a member of host Hamble River SC since 1979, and is widely credited with introducing the concept of a winter series to the club shortly

after joining. In its first year, run as a close of season club event, the event attracted over 60 boats - not bad for a newcomer series that was competing with established events elsewhere in the Solent, notably at Lymington. Over time, the Hamble Winter Series became the series to race in, with entries rocketing into the hundreds, as it gained a reputation as the proving ground for top sailors and up-and-coming fleets.

Trevor believes the key to sustaining success over four decades has been a flexible and friendly approach. He says: “Whenever a new class launches, we try to stay ahead; Sigma 33s, J/24s, 707s, J/109s and more recently the Fast 40s and now the Cape 31. Fleets come and go, but if a new class asks to join in racing we always try to accommodate them.

“At the moment we also have a core group of around 40 boats that compete every year, which is also crucial to the series' success – boats such as Tokoloshe (Cape 31), With Alacrity (Sigma 38), Protis (Quarter Tonner), Jago (J/109), Banter (Mustang 30) and Jiraffe (Cape 31).

“We’re also encouraging the revival of the Hamble Nordic Folkboat class, which is enjoying a resurgence.

“The other secret is good race management. If the racing is good, people will keep coming back. Our race management has been solid over the years, with some excellent people involved – Jamie Wilkinson, Stuart Childerley, Kathy Smalley, Peter Bateson and Ian Bullock. Even when the forecast isn’t favourable,

TOP TIPS: Get the most from winter racing

1. Windier weather is more likely, so adapt your set-up and boat handling accordingly 2. Adopt a positive mindset - embrace the cold rather than be put off by it 3. Keep training sessions short and focus on a pre-agreed list of priorities 4. Physically warm up before each race begins by practising key manoeuvres 5. Fuel your body correctly by eating well before, during and after racing

which is always a risk with winter racing, they will do their absolute best to complete the schedule. For example, in the opening weekend of this year’s series, the race team managed to complete five of the six races scheduled, despite strong winds at times on both days.

“We also have over 50 volunteers who work hard to make the series possible; testament to a great club – even if we don’t have a royal title like many of our Solent neighbours!”

What's in store?

The 2021 series continues with a total of eight race weekends scheduled, running now until the end of

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Quokka 9, Peter Rutter and James Crew's Half Tonner, clocked up some top results on HWS' opening weekend

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Breeze on: Nick Phillips and crew on J/70 Chaotic get ready to send it November. As well as the main series, there is racing for the Hamble IRC Autumn Championship, the Hamble One Design Championship and the Hamble Big Boat Championship.

After the disruption of 2020, which saw only the first half of the series completed before lockdown stopped play, organisers and sailors are looking forward to as much racing as possible. Certainly the opening weekend saw plenty of close competition, with 18-25 knots testing those in the J/70, Impala and IRC classes in terms of boat handling and nerves! An exciting start to the series.

HRSC is delighted to have support from a number of series sponsors, including title sponsor, Hamble Yacht Services, and also to be supporting

TOP TIP: Dress for the weather

local disability charity, Wetwheels Hamble. Competitors will get an up-close view of the Wetwheels vessel, in use as one of the committee boats.

TOP TIP: Make use of time on shore

While it may not always be possible to race or train over winter, don’t forget there are plenty of other useful ways to spend your time this winter. Why not take an online course, keep your strategy skills sharp with some virtual racing, brush up on your knowledge with a good book, or invest time in that all important boat maintenance? When you do next get on the start line you will be one step ahead.

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The Selden SailJuice Winter Series attracts hundreds of entrants with its innovative handicap format

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The HWS has a core of regular competitors, such as Mike and Susie Yates' J/109 Jago - key to its 40 year success

Dinghy racing

For dinghy sailors looking for some serious winter racing, Seldén SailJuice Winter Series has become the go-to. For 2021-22, the 13th edition of the series comprises nine events which will bring hundreds of dinghy racers from around the country together. Running between November and February, the series typically attracts up to 100 different types of boat. The innovative Great Lakes Handicap system continues to be refined to ensure highly competitive racing. With some fleets also choosing events to double as their winter championship, some bumper turn outs could be in store. New for this year, a North & South Day is set for 27 December when the Yorkshire Dales Brass Monkey and the Burghfield Breezer events will take place simultaneously.

This winter, competitors will count their four best scores from the nine events. With the uncertainties around covid still around, and only one event completed last winter, organisers are erring on the side of caution with the aim to have sufficient events to constitute a viable series even if some are unable to go ahead. Competitors can expect more YouTube briefings and virtual prizegivings - just two initiatives of recent years, which have helped make events not only covid safe but also more efficient to deliver.

Organiser Andy Rice is cautiously optimistic. He says: “The mood now is very different after the vaccination programme and the sense that we’re getting back to some kind of normality. I think it’s well proven that sailing is one of the safest things you can do in relation to covid risk. And as we saw last winter, if the 'Great British Dinghy Sailing Public' have to use the cars and vans as changing rooms, it won’t deter them from going sailing!

“Our title sponsor Selden Mast, along with many British boatbuilders, are run off their feet with busy order books, so we anticipate many of the events selling out in advance, just as they have done in recent years."

Andy believes the competition this year will be particularly open. “After three years of domination in their 2000, Simon Horsfield and Katie Burridge have switched to the RS500. The 2000 handicap has tightened up under the Great Lakes numbers, so now we’ll see if Simon and Katie can make a similar dent on the RS500 handicap!”

Forthcoming events

20-21 November Fernhurst Books Draycote Dash 11-12 December Datchet Flyer 27 December Yorkshire Dales Brass Monkey Burghfield Breezer 2 January Grafham Grand Prix 8 January Bloody Mary at Queen Mary SC 22 January King George Gallop 5-6 February John Merricks Tiger Trophy at Rutland SC 19 February Oxford Blue