City Livery Yacht Club

East Coast “Swatchways Weekend” at Burnham-on-Crouch. June 2008
For the fourth year running a very enjoyable weekend was had by all and was kindly hosted by the Royal Burnham Yacht Club. The weather was kind but the threat of showers forced the Bar-B-Q indoors to the River Room, with a lovely view over the crouch.
	Saturday produced a warm force 5 wind from the South West with sunshine, making ideal conditions for river racing on the Crouch. The race started at 1030 hours with 3 boats competing this year. The RBYC Race Officers Chris and Annie Slatter set a 15 mile course going up river toward Faversham for a couple of miles and then down to the entrance to the Roach, a sail up and down the swatchway and a tack back to the start line. Once again observing Club members were fortunate to be able to follow the racing in “Alice Brooks”, an elegant launch, hosted by Stephen Herring. We departed the RBYC pontoon for close inspections of Sistermatic and Ocean Spirit (left) before going up the creek to see the seals and their cubs on the muddy shore. After partaking of refreshments kindly provided by Jo Head. we returned to find Tinker T taking up the rear but catching Sistermatic.
Observers in 'Alice Brooks' Sistermatic (right) was second across the start line, with Tinker T 15 minutes behind
A view of Burnham waterfront from 'Alice Brooks"
	Ocean Spirit II (Michael Grayburn) crossed the finish line first having led from the start. Sistermatic (Nigel Reese) was second over the start line and managed to keep ahead of Tinker T (Alan Taylor) until the very end leg. Tinker T (left) had a very bad start due to the strong tide and crossed the start line some 15 minutes later than Sistermatic. After handicap the Commodore declared the winner of the Robert Green Cup to be Michael Grayburn, second and winner of the Sir Robin Gillett Cup was Nigel Reese and third and winner of the McMorrough Kavanagh Cup was Alan Taylor.
The Dinner on the Saturday night was a delicious meal once again with coffee and port. Vice Commodore Michael Wilkey gave the toast to the guests and updated the members and guests on Pelagic Rainbow’s progress round the UK, which was completed in April 2008.
	Commodore Peta Walmisley and Vice Commodore Michael Wilkey (left); the Commodore presenting the Robert Green Cup to Michael Grayburn and David Mauleverer (above); Mari McMorrough Kavanagh presenting the McMorrough Kavanagh Cup to Alan Taylor (below left)
The Commodore, Peta Walmisley, awarded the first two Prizes and Mari McMorrough Kavanagh awarded the third prize. The Commodore of the RBYC was unable to be with us on the day, due to being on the high seas in a cruise race. Vice Commodore of the RBYC, Chris Slatter, kindly replied on behalf of the Guests and suggested we could get involved with the RBYC on other occasions and join in their sailing events. Right: The Commodore presenting the Sir Robin Gillett Cup to Nigel Reese, with the crew of Sistermatic