Great sailing on the Medway at Swale Regatta 2024

Photo - Close racing in the pursuit race.

Charles Hessey, RYA regional team representative for Medway and Swale Boating Association, takes up the story…..

Friday

The fleet assembled off Queenborough on the Friday afternoon for the first race which got under way in a gentle easterly breeze that saw boats running before it up river towards Gillingham. Before long this breeze stiffened and swung to the south west developing into a healthy force six that saw everyone enjoying some exciting sailing beating to the line off The Strand. Just about every sailing condition experienced in one race!

Saturday

Skippers and crews rafted up at Medway Yacht Club overnight and enjoyed some welcome hospitality ashore before Saturday kicked off with a pursuit race down river. This provided some more very close and entertaining sailing with the faster boats starting last trying to catch the slower early starters with several boats almost abreast at the finish.

The Saturday afternoon race had to be shortened in the dying winds but everyone enjoyed a result before putting into Queenborough for the night where the Independence Day celebrations taking place there provided an excellent, albeit noisy, atmosphere for the regatta sailors to enjoy into the evening.

Sunday

The Sunday morning race was always going to be a short one to allow time for everyone to get home on the rising tide but unfortunately the wind had other ideas and faded away shortly after the start leading to it eventually being abandoned.

The results

With eighteen boats taking part and skippers ranging from experienced long timers to absolute first time beginners the regatta once again showed just how much fun can be had together on the water.

Overall winner was Bear Cub, the Hunter Sonata used by Hoo Ness yacht club to train their new sailors, although on this occasion she was skippered by Roger Sutton from Hollowshore Cruising Club who took full advantage of the light conditions which suited Bear Cub so well!

Photo - the regatta winning Sonata, credit Wil Pretty on Spice Cat.

Runners up were John Irvine from Queenborough Yacht Club sailing his Beneteau 381 Spiritus of Salcombe, and Richard Openshaw, also from Hollowshore Cruising Club, aboard his Nonsuch 26. With the smallest boat, the biggest boat, and the most different boat making up the podium it just goes to show that in the Swale Regatta anything goes!

Why not join in next time

The regatta is an annual event open to members of any club based on the Swale, Medway or Thames estuary. For full details please see their website