On Saturday and Sunday the 4th and 5th July, Herne Bay Sailing Club ran a two-day regatta in honour of ex-Commodore and one of it’s favourite sons, the late Jim Newbery.
The Newbery family presented the club with a trophy for the event and a substantial money prize ‘The Cadet Ambassador’s Prize’, which was awarded to Hannah Golton for representing the club at National School’s level and later this year at European level. Last year it was awarded to Ross Blackledge. Jim would have been heartily pleased to know that young sailors were to benefit from this award.
This is a special occasion when present, and ex-members of the club race over two days for the Jim Newbery trophy. The regatta started on Saturday with a long race around the pier head, which was one of Jim’s favourite trips in his little yellow Mirror dinghy in which he won many club races.
Out at sea before the race, the whole fleet lined up in the hove-to position for a minute silence, which was fitting and quite emotional for those who remembered this fine gentleman. The race started in glorious sunshine and suddenly there was a huge wind shift at the start gun, which would certainly have amused Jim. This saw the whole fleet have to tack away and let Brian and Maria Golton ‘Get out of Jail free’ as they would have been forced over the start line and had to restart after the rest of the fleet. Instead they got a ‘Port end flier’ and didn’t look back after that. The two Laser 4.7 cadet boats of Ross Blackledge and Hannah Golton sailed an excellent race, but were overtaken by Dai Griffiths and Henry Hickson at the end to come second.
On Sunday, Race 2 saw some very different wind conditions with a shifting Northwesterly wind seeing Brian and Alice Golton go on to win followed by Steve and Jane Lee in second and Chris Brealy and crew in his Hornet take third. Race 3 was a fitting competition where the conditions favoured the young. The whole fleet sailed into the doldrums in the centre of the course only to see the youngsters once again get a magical wind from nowhere, fly past the whole fleet and go on to win. Jim Newbery would have loved to have seen this, as he was the master at worming his way up the coast in little wind whilst other faster boats drifted backwards on the tide. The race was won by Ross Blackledge, Hannah Golton came second, and Ceilidh Higgs and Alex Benfield finished 3rd in their ISO.
1st Brian & Maria Golton - Laser 2000
2nd Dai Griffiths & Henry Hickson - Laser 2000
3rd Hannah Golton - Laser 4.7
1st Brian & Alice Golton - Laser 2000
2nd Steve & Jane Lee - laser 2000
3rd Chris Brealy & Crew - Hornet
1st Ross Blackledge - Laser 4.7
2nd Hannah Golton _ Laser 4.7
3rd Ceilidh Higgs & Alex Benfield - ISO
1st Brian & Maria Golton-Laser 2000
2nd Ross Blackledge–Laser 4.7
3rd Hannah Golton-Laser 4.7
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Comments
Special thanks
Hi guys
Special thanks to all who helped make this a special weekend. Nathan and Bill in the tower and on the water, all the safety boat crews and the Galley Slaves over the past two days, who allowed the rest of us time to sail and enjoy ourselves. Well-done all!
Dai
Memories of Jim
To all, Thanks for a great weekend sailing. In memory of Jim I thought I would drop down a few thoughts. As a cadet in the club in the early 80’s Jim was one of the few members who were strong advocates of the cadet section. Apart from a few supportive adults we were left to make our own amusements. This sometimes caused conflict with other members and so rules were imposed. The cadets went on Strike in 84 over this! This withdrawal of labour made the club realise the importance of the cadets and the work we put into the club. Jim was one of the members who always valued our contribution and encouraged us, along with Colin Sproxton, after which the Lone Mirror trophy is named. On my rare visits from university Jim was always welcoming and keen to hear my news. After 14 years away when I returned in 2000 Jim was still welcoming and encouraging, working with the kids, always tolerant and supportive. I took up sailing again and chose to sail a Mirror, it holds a good stock of beer! Sailing against Jim most weekends was always challenging and competitive, you can only admire a person who’s joy in sailing knew no bounds. In light winds he was untouchable, he sat still and silent he would ghost away. He also had a devilish side. When in front with the finish approach and me closing “Jims Rules” would prevail. Forget Windward boat , proper course and even on occasions Starboard rights of way he was determined to finish first, in his own good humoured way. And so to this weekend, a great memorial to a great man, a minutes silence on the sea, good humoured sailing, even some of jims rules applying – through our own Welshman! Brian
Jim would have understood!
I didn't hit you, I just drifted into you. Lets face it, it was the closest I'd been to you all weekend!
Nice tribute Brian!
Dai
Jim Newbery Memorial event
Great 2 day, good sailing, well done everyone. Excellent work with the video Dai, although I think I am now getting a bit fed up "Mr. Tamborine man"
Steve