The Walker Challenge Race

The Harwich race started at the Branklet buoy in the Crouch with a westerly breeze of up to 22 knots and a foul tide. With a downwind first leg, Class 3 got off to a flying start with Tony and Chuffy Merewether's Sunfast 32, Amazon, accelerating off in front. As the breeze built the Class 1 and 2 boats started to take up the chase. By the time the fleet was running past the new windfarm on the Gunfleet Sands, Judy and Jason Payne-James Dufour 44, Heartbeat III pulled through Class 3, followed by the other Class 1 boats, including Oz Privateer and Inn Spirit, and Duncan and Beccy Hayley's Class 2 SJ 320 Double Trouble.

Once the fleet arrived at the turning mark, the North East Gunfleet buoy, Double Trouble was still leading the Class 2 boats around the course, and a 6 mile leg on the wind to Wallet No.2. After the Medusa buoy, the boast then fetched towards Harwich harbour, and as the asymmetric kites went up so did the wind, with the boats crossing the finish in Dovercourt Bay in 28 to 30 knots of breeze.

Alan Bartlett's Inn Spirit won Class 1 and took the race overall to complete a fantastic weekend, although she was one of the boast to spin on the line and deliver back to the Crouch with headwinds of up to 40 knots. Double Trouble won Class 2 and was 3rd overall, with Amazon winning Class 3 Coast.

For some boats, including Heartbeat III, Oz Privateer, Jedi Knight, Selene and Cosmic Dancer III this was the last outing on the East Coast before heading south to take part in the RORC Fastnet Race. We wish these boats and their fellow EAORA yachts, Titian, Habanero, Oystercatcher 26 and Red Macaw, a safe and fast passage.