Ralph Herring Trophy 2015

Posted: Thursday, 14th May 2015

The opening two races of the EAORA season took place over the 9th and 10th May with the Ralph Herring Trophy being raced over a 50 mile course in the Wallett and Swin.

The Ralph Herring Trophy from West Mersea to Burnham on Crouch started in a blustery south-westerly with 18 to 28 knots giving a fast ride down the Wallett with the leaders setting spinnakers, but some of the smaller boats opting for boomed out headsails. Class 3 started first with ‘Dark & Stormy’ leading the fleet away under spinnaker, until she had to return to Wallett 4 which she had missed. Class 2 was next away with ‘Amazon’ leading from the start closely followed by ‘Titian’. In Class 1 ‘Oystercatcher XXX’ sped away and through the fleet in no time with ‘Snatch’ and ‘Assarain’ next on the water. ‘Oystercatcher XXX’ rounded the NE Gunfleet first followed by ‘Amazon’, then ‘Titian’ and ‘Snatch’. From there it was a 25 mile hard beat all the way back to Burnham with a building wind and tide leading to some large waves to overcome. ‘Snatch’ in her first race under new ownership made up ground on the beat and ‘Amazon’ kept going over the ever increasing seas to win the Ralph Herring Trophy.

The Ralph Herring Results:

Overall:

1st Amazon – Sun Fast 3200 Tony and Chuffy Merewether

2nd Snatch – Swan 48 – Adrian Lower and David Smith

3rd Oystercatcher XXX- HH42 – Richard Matthews

Class 1:

1st Snatch – Swan 48 – Adrian Lower and David Smith

2nd Oystercatcher XXX- HH42 – Richard Matthews

3rd Assarain IV – J-133 – Angus Bates

Class 2:

1st Amazon – Sun Fast 3200 - Tony and Chuffy Merewether

2nd Titian – Elan 40 – Stuart and Richard Galloway