Hurricane 5.9 SX TT at Stone Sailing Club
by Howard Warrington 5 Jul 06:45 PDT
21-22 June 2025
The Hurricane travellers started to arrive at Stone Sailing Club on Friday afternoon. The famous "party tent" erected, some settled into an early beer while waiting for fellow sailors to arrive.
Stone Sailing Club is a lovely club, tucked out of the way on the St Lawrence Bay end of the river Blackwater. It's always had a strong fleet of 5.9 Hurricanes right from their concept. It also produces some very fine sailors! The strong tide and channel that runs across the river at an angle, drying mud flats and sand banks all make this a very tricky sailing environment - hence, those who have mastered it are a bit handy on the tiller.
Sadly, the turnout was a bit light. We missed our friends from Starcross and Bridlington and the few others scattered across the land. Hopefully we will see you all at the Nationals. 9 boats were entered including a new entry to the fleet: Jon Pearse and Jason Clarke sailing 171 from neighbouring Marconi SC, welcome guys and we hope you enjoyed your first Hurricane Open!
As usual the party started as it always does at Stone. I don't know what it is about the place - people just have fun. So with the usual "hit it hard on the first night" antics, we all crawled into bed far too late for a weekend's sailing!
Race Officer Duncan Ayre had made the call to use the club start line. With a lovely Easterly breeze, this worked just fine. Although some were having fun with the club's transit system. Duncan set a great course with spreader and gated leewards. With the tide racing out (underneath us at the start) it caught a couple of boats out who were OCS.
Race 1: Jack Tindale, our reigning National Champion and his adopted crew for the weekend Dave Elias set off at great pace and to be honest were pretty untouchable for the whole race. The double Alex duo from Thorpe Bay YC, of Alex Farrall and Alex Warrington tried their best to chase them down with local boys; Richie Hanmore and Matt Kimber in 3rd.
Race 2: Another local lad (he'll like that) Trevor Bawden and his displaced crew (lives in Wales!), Tom Wass, set off in the lead. The top four (same as above but now included TBYC's father and son team of George and Howard Warrington, were all over each other. Swapping gybes, playing one side of the river against the other, trying to find the best or least tide to be in. The lead changed at least 3 times if not more. Trev & Tom almost had it nailed until Alex & Alex and Richie & Matt found a sneak up the beach right out of the tide. Richie & Matt 1st, Alex & Alex 2nd with Trev & Tom in 3rd.
Race 3: Richie & Matt, now in the groove and the blue touch paper well and truly lit. Trevor & Tom did all they could, but the tide had pretty much reached the low point and wasn't hurting too much. Wherever you went was ok and they came in 2nd with Alex & Alex close behind. In the rest of the fleet, Adam Charlesworth & Richard Robinson with their first outing in their new boat. They were finding settling into a rhythm tricky but enjoyed it none the less.
Also 455 was out but newly re-named "Crews Union" after usual helm Julian Reichert was out injured. Usual crew Jeremy Sandford along with Sophie Boygle (crew on 372) stepped up to the plate with Jeremy's first Open as a helm.
Of course, we cannot forget to mention the Gand Master of the fleet and father of Jack; Geoff Tindale who with his crew, Hebe Hemming (who adores him, although it's often joked it's her "care in the community stint") had a great day with a 6th in the 1st race.
Off the water and well fed by chef Mark and his team. The night turned into another Stone SC party! Oh help me please! Yes, all the silly dances were performed and much beer was drunk, including a very nice, locally brewed Blackwater Stout! Needless to say, it ended late and with some still asleep in their camp chairs long after bedtime! Hey ho!
Day 2
Up bleary eyed, 5 cups of tea and the party tent put away until next time! The wind was up though, which was great for us. Although it had spun 180 degrees making Duncan's life a little trickier.. He had to also slot us in with the club racing. Plenty of plate spinning in the race box!
Race 4: The tide was high and now in full ebb. And boy does it ebb! This meant who could get the closest to the beach was in pole position. Not too easy among swimmers, paddle boarders and the Romford Navy - if you know, you know! Forgetting that there was a back eddy in the tide, just about the entire fleet were over. With the huge gusts coming through, Alex & Alex were caught off guard and boat decided to gybe throwing them both off and the boat over! Luckily for them, RO Duncan popped in a general recall. Try again! All clear and this time Trevor & Tom found the sweet spot and led most of the race.
Jeremy & Sophie found some amazing height up the first beat much to George & Howard's annoyance fighting to keep up. There were gains and losses everywhere with teams trying various tricks to avoid punching the tide upwind. Alex & Alex did a great job to keep the leaders in sight, just, holding onto 2nd with Richie & Matt in 3rd. Adam & Richard in their new boat had worked out what was what and were now flying finding a great lift up the middle of the course. Unluckily lost a bit downwind but none the less, happy with their new purchase.
Race 5: Rinse and repeat with the start procedure. This time it was Richie & Matt who were off and not to be seen for the whole of the race. Sailing like demons they were! The wind was pumping now and the downwind legs were very fast indeed. Meaning if you keep the boat deep you could lay the leeward in one. Adam & Richard did just that and gained 3 places. Jack & David were struggling for height all day and whenever they came out ahead just seemed to drop back upwind. More tuning needed Jack! Alex & Alex 2nd again with Trev & Tom 3rd. Jeremy & Sophie managed to tip it in downwind trying to avoid a moored cruiser - which they did. But landing on the sail spider fashion didn't help the sail battens. With 3 broken their day was done. But they were very happy with their performance and Crews Union will fight another day. Jon & Jason found the limit and made a sensible decision to pull in at Marconi and call it a day. Well done guys.
Race 6: Down to 7 boats now, so a bit more room on the shoreline. All lined up, Alex & Alex triggered at just the right point and slipped out into the clear air. Both on the wire, flying a hull, when splash! Alex F came off the trapeze and broke his nice carbon tiller in two. It all ended in a mess and their 2nd tip in of the day and game over. Down to 6 boats now and again Richie & Matt took off like one of Elon's rockets only without blowing up! The tidal gate now very much having an effect, it was difficult to pass. Jack & David found their mojo again and were flying down wind. Trev & Tom managed to hold the 2nd place with Jack & David in 3rd.
A well deserved event win for Richie Hanmore and Matt Kimber. They were on fire this weekend. 2st of the TT - Travellers Trophy events with only Thorpe Bay to go.....
Our thanks go to Stone SC and RO Duncan Ayre for another wonderful weekend. If you didn't come, you're the poorer for it! Huge thanks and congratulations to Jack Tindale who has volunteered to be the new Hurricane 5.9 SX Class Chairman. The class will support you and we wish you well to help drive us on!
Overall Results:
| Pos | Sail No | Boat Name | Helm | Crew |
|---|
| 1st | 370 | Cool Running | Richie Hanmore | Matt Kimber |
| 2nd | 481 | Kev's Pride | Trevor Bawden | Tom Wass |
| 3rd | 420 | Speedo | Alex Farrall | Alex Warrington |
| 4th | 229 | | Jack Tindale | David Alias |
| 5th | 487 | Made in Essex | George Warrington | Howard Warrington |
| 6th | 431 | | Adam Charlesworth | Richard Robinson |
| 7th | 456 | Living in the Past | Geoff Tindale | Hebe Hemming |
| 8th | 455 | Crews Union | Jeremy Sandford | Sophie Boygle |
| 9th | 171 | | Jon Pearse | Jason Clarke |