A record entry for the Starcross for the Streamer was greeted by a southeast wind of 20 – 30 knots. Victory went to the Fireball of Colin and Derek Jarvis who led home the 26 finishers after completeing six laps in the 150 minute time limit.
Second place went to the Merlin Rocket of Jon Gorringe and Toby Lewis, with third the 420 of David Herbert and Samantha Herbert. Notable is the age of the designs taking part. The Merlins are a development class and the one designs (apart from the RS desins) are all over thirty years old. The only really recent one designs to finish were the RS100 and the D-One single handers.
Starcross Steamer Pursuit - Finishers (109 starters)
1. Fireball 14708 Colin Jarvis / Derek Jarvis 975 6 1
2. Merlin 3712 Jon Gorringe / Toby Lewis 994 6 2
3. 420 48938 David Herbert / Samantha Herbert 1081 6 3
4. Merlin 3691 Mike Calvet / Jane Calvert 994 5 4
5. Fireball 14430 Hannah Showell / Barry Smith 975 5 5
6. Merlin 3703 Richard Whitworth / ??? 994 5 6
7. Osprey 1349 Mark Weston / Simon Hawkes 940 5 7
8. Scorpion 2014 Tim Parsons / Alex Hayman 1053 5 8
9. Albacore 8128 J T Rook / Peter Thomas 1064 5 9
10. Osprey 1337 Paddy Lewis / Tom Holland 940 5 10
11. Hornet 2154 Richard Garry / Matt Mcgrath 973 5 11
12. RS200 565 James Taylor / William Marshall 1055 5 12
13. Fireball 14928 Anthony Willcocks 975 5 13
14. Merlin 3473 Vyv Game / Mike Tucket 994 4 14
15. RS400 619 Nathan Muggeridge / Anita Lecocq 949 4 15
16. RS100 - 8.4 122 Chris Cunningham 1003 4 16
17. RS400 411 Richard Cain / Steve Hocking-thompson 949 4 17
18. Laser 195107 Jack Sanderson 1119 4 18
19. Merlin 3544 David Downs / Ros Downs 994 4 19
20. D-one 105 Andy Couch 971 4 20
21. RS600 630 Chris Tilbrook 920 4 21
22. Mirror 70697 Midge Watkins / Harriet Watkins 1385 4 22
23. Merlin 3400 James Middleton-Stewart 994 4 23
24. Laser 2000 21819 Ian Fitter / Martin Gilmore 1095 3 24
25. Laser Radial 198310 Alex Hutchings 1140 3 25
26. Laser Radial 201641 Tom Bittle 1140 2 26
On the Monday before the Steamer I was concerned; the long range forecast showed a blocking high over the country for the week with no change for the weekend. By Wednesday I was worried. Visiting Plymouth I walked to the Hoe and looked out to the breakwater and there wasn’t a ripple on the water – not even one. But by Sunday when I arrived at Starcross Yacht Club for the 21st running of the annual Starcross Steamer two and a half hour pursuit race, I was greeted by wind, plenty of it perhaps too much for some. It was blowing about 20 to 25 knots, from the South East, fairly steady but already kicking up quite a chop even though the wind and tide were in the same direction. Due to the early high water, the first start had to be brought forward to 10:00. With the strong wind, the course had to be carefully set to avoid the danger of high speed boats with dagger boards crashing into the shallows. Luckily the deep water is fairly close to the clubhouse so those who decided not to venture out could be well entertained watching the inevitable capsizes and retirements. A new departure this year was to use the SailJuice rather that the established RYA published Portsmouth Handicap numbers. The analysis of over 8000 of our club records has shown that our results bear a very close relation to the SailJuice numbers and as we have boats sailing in the Steamer that do not regularly sail at Starcross we decided it was right to make the change. A record number of 98 entries were received this year, although not all ventured onto the water. This was probably the windiest Steamer for many years and may have been the windiest ever. The first start this year was for a solitary Mirror helmed by juniors Midge and Harriet Watkins, who superbly handled the conditions that made many adults shy away and check that their own boats were securely tied down – a fantastic effort. The Mirror had the race course to themselves for the first ten minutes and had reached the windward mark by the time the 5 Toppers started, again all helmed by juniors. The largest classes this year were 17 Lasers, 13 Merlins, 8 RS200 and 6 Phantoms. The Mirror was able to hold their lead up until just before the start of the third lap, being overtaken by an RS200 who retired shortly afterwards. Inevitably the faster boats were making serious inroads into the slower boats that started earlier, notably the Fireballs and Merlins were really powering through the fleet. Another first this year was the appearance of a Foiling Moth crewed (or flown) by Peter Barton. Before his start time of 11:20 (giving him only 70 minutes of racing) Pete sailed downwind past the club house in front of a vast audience lining the bank, only to pitch pole in a load of spray. Unfortunately the wind and chop proved too much for the moth retiring without completing a round. After coming ashore Peter, smiling from ear to ear, declared that he reached 25.9 knots before the splash. We look forward to Peter returning next year to complete the course. At the end of the race the stronger winds favoured the faster boats, the winning combination of Colin and Derek Jarvis in their Fireball proved to be the masters of the windy conditions, they were closely followed by Jon Gorringe in a Merlin. Although the number of finishers was low, the change to the SailJuice numbers proved to be successful with 7 different classes in the top 10. Thanks as always must go to the competitors who travel to Starcross every year to make the event so memorable, the galley for producing vast quantities of hot food and drink, the rescue boat crews from the home club, plus crews from Exe and Lympstone Sailing clubs and not forgetting the multihull fleet who organize and man the event. We must also thank Fotoboat for taking some cracking shots of the event this year. One camera was based on shore and another in the Exe safety boat so all the action, both good and embarrassing, has been recorded. See them at www.fotoboat.com . Next year’s Steamer will be on Sunday 20th January 2013, with the first start at 11:00. Planning has already started and we look forward to welcoming both old and new faces to the event. 1st Lady, Samantha Herbert (Portishead SC)
Pos Boat Type Sail No Helm/Crew PY Laps
1
Fireball
14708
Colin Jarvis / Derek Jarvis
975
6
2
Merlin
3712
Jon Gorringe / Toby Lewis
994
6
3
420
48938
David Herbert / Samantha Herbert
1081
6
4
Merlin
3691
Mike Calvet / Jane Calvert
994
5
5
Fireball
14430
Hannah Showell / Barry Smith
975
5
6
Merlin
3703
Richard Whitworth / ???
994
5
7
Osprey
1349
Mark Weston / Simon Hawkes
940
5
8
Scorpion
2014
Tim Parsons / Alex Hayman
1053
5
9
Albacore
8128
J T Rook / Peter Thomas
1064
5
10
Osprey
1337
Paddy Lewis / Tom Holland
940
5
11
Hornet
2154
Richard Garry / Matt Mcgrath
973
5
12
RS200
565
James Taylor / William Marshall
1055
5
13
Fireball
14928
Anthony Willcocks
975
5
14
Merlin
3473
Vyv Game / Mike Tucket
994
4
15
RS400
619
Nathan Muggeridge / Anita Lecocq
949
4
16
RS100 - 8.4
122
Chris Cunningham
1003
4
17
RS400
411
Richard Cain / Steve Hocking-thompson
949
4
18
Laser
195107
Jack Sanderson
1119
4
19
Merlin
3544
David Downs / Ros Downs
994
4
20
D-one
105
Andy Couch
971
4
21
RS600
630
Chris Tilbrook
920
4
22
Mirror
70697
Midge Watkins / Harriet Watkins
1385
4
23
Merlin
3400
James Middleton-Stewart
994
4
24
Laser 2000
21819
Ian Fitter / Martin Gilmore
1095
3
25
Laser Radial
198310
Alex Hutchings
1140
3
26
Laser Radial
201641
Tom Bittle
1140
2
DNF
Laser Radial
201857
Charlie Maunder
1140
0
DNF
RS200
960
Jayne Johnson / Nicki McIlroy
1055
2
DNF
Laser Radial
186827
Charlie Greenslade
1140
0
DNF
B14
631
Michael Commander / Andrew Commander
864
0
DNF
Comet Trio
490
Richard Salliss / Jane Higgins
1093
0
DNF
Albacore
8155
Nev Herbert / Mark Fowler
1064
0
DNF
D-one
gbr 15
Charlie Cumbley
971
3
DNF
B14
789
Steve Hollingsworth / Chris Murphy
864
1
DNF
Blaze
545
Nick Ripley
1036
0
DNF
Laser
195185
David Stockton
1119
0
DNF
Comet Trio
368
Nick Webber / Sue Davis
1093
0
DNF
B14
788
Barnsie / Dan Hare
864
2
DNF
Finn
603
Grant Simmons
1062
0
DNF
Laser Radial
130115
Tim Graham
1140
0
DNF
Laser Radial
191701
Robert Dyer
1140
1
DNF
Laser Radial
175624
A. Bath
1140
0
DNF
Laser 4.7
166594
Tim Pearce
1190
0
DNF
Streaker
1617
Ian Smith
1167
0
DNF
Laser
192498
Brian Hutchings
1119
0
DNF
Laser Radial
184963
Jamie Roberts
1140
1
DNF
Merlin
3661
Graham Scroggie / Ben Scroggie
994
3
DNF
Topper
47028
Emma Phillips
1297
0
DNF
Wayfarer
4286
Robin Barker / June Barker
1093
1
DNF
Merlin
3610
Richard Dee / Chris Gould
994
1
DNF
Wayfarer
10740
Liam Mcgrath / Sue Mcgrath
1093
0
DNF
Merlin
3613
Tim Laws / Scott Hampton
994
0
DNF
Laser Radial
128798
Theo Greenslade
1140
0
DNF
RS200
1364
Simon Greenslade / Phoebe Graham
1055
3
DNF
Topper
44750
Jamie Barker
1297
0
DNF
RS700
715
Steve McDonald
864
0
DNF
GP 14
8730
Brett Candy / Colin Dawson
1129
0
DNF
RS400
607
Leon Ward / Pete Muskett
949
0
DNF
Phantom
1384
Robin Hobson
1010
2
DNF
Phantom
1383
Nick Orman
1010
1
DNF
Moth (foiler)
3795
Peter Barton
645
1
DNF
National 12
3291
Tom Ballantine / Nikki Bass
1076
2
DNF
National 12
3316
Ian Smith / Jenny Chen
1076
0
DNF
Osprey
11
Jeremy Williams / Mike Greggs
940
3
DNF
Phantom
1112
Alex Fastnedge
1010
1
DNF
RS400
423
Chris Mulholland / Catherine Mulholland
949
0
DNF
RS300
411
Steve Bolland
1000
0
DNF
RS200
798
Amy Fitter / Ben
1055
0
DNS
Kestrel
964
Martin Wark / Faye Wark
1040
0
DNF
Laser
122512
Steve Tostevin
1119
0
DNF
Laser
166604
Nick Anderson
1119
0
DNF
Osprey
1348
Mike Pickering / Peter Frith
940
0
DNF
RS Vision
355
Martyn Stubbs / Yvonne Smith
1085
0
DNF
RS200
395
Peter Middleton
1055
2
DNF
RS200
465
Orkun Soyer
1055
0
DNF
RS200
797
Natalie Roach / Alex Pickles
1055
2
DNF
Phantom
1194
Ian Jay
1010
1
DNF
Phantom
1300
Chris Dyen
1010
0
DNF
Phantom
1313
Tony Fastnedge
1010
0
DNF
Topper
46149
Ben Hawkes
1297
0
DNF
Tasar
2507
Tim Martin / Owen Martin
1023
1
DSQ
Solo
508
Richard Coleman
1158
0
DNF
RS800
1166
Ralph Singleton / Ollie Singleton
815
0
DNF
Merlin
3713
Steve Harling / Eleanor Thomas
994
1
DNF
Laser
200906
Craig Williamson
1119
0
DNS
RS400
598
Ralph Wogan / Franco Marenco
949
0
DNF
Topper
45059
Alec Gladstone
1297
0
DNF
Topper
45847
Jacob Hutchings
1297
1
DNF
RS700
746
Tim Greenwood
864
0
DNF
Merlin
3628
Robin Charles / Dave Parry
994
1
DNF
Laser Radial
164572
Jonathan Newall
1140
0
DNF
Laser Radial
184310
Will Greenslade
1140
1
DNF
Streaker
1776
David Bartlett
1167
0
DNS
RS200
1048
Mark Elkington / Rebecca Elkington
1055
0
DNF
B14
764
Tony Blackmore / Char Jones
864
1
DNF
Merlin
3580
Mike Mackie / Roger Nutall
994
3
DNF
RS400
1287
James Bowman / Sarah Roberts
949
0
DNF
B14
762
Crispin Taylor / Guy Harrill
864
0
DNF
Merlin
3660
John Buckley / William Anderson
994
1
Furthest Travelled, Mark Weston (West Riding SC)
1st Starcross Boat, Richard Garry & Matt McGrath
1st Junior, Midge & Harriet Watkins (Poole YC)