Russian Visit 20^th & 21^st October 2007

The bare facts: the Burnham Dragon fleet won 3-1. All the races sailed were on the Saturday as there was a total lack of wind on the following day, and everybody involved thought it was a highly successful weekend.

In more detail: our 12 guests from the Pirogovo Dragon Yacht Club, Moscow,(there should have been 15, but three were unable to obtain visas in time) began arriving on the Friday. Most flew in from Moscow, but four came in from the Canary Islands as they had been delivering a Swan 45 that is entered for the “ARC”!

In the evening our guests were entertained by members of the Burnham fleet to an informal supper in the club where it was agreed that Tim Tavinor would become an honorary Russian and sail for them in order to keep the teams at five a side for the weekend.

The weather forecast for the weekend was for glorious sunshine under a high-pressure system and as with the two previous days not a breath of wind. Therefore waking on Saturday to a light Northerly breeze you can imagine the relief. The briefing took place on time and the fleet were on the river for the first scheduled start at 11:00 am.  The home team comprising of Poul Hoj-Jenson in “Biff” Robert Campbell in “Quicksilver lll” Mark Wade in “Avalanche”, Ian Gray in “Scorpio” and Mike Holmes in “Hand of Fortune” all got off to a good start. The Corinthian team looked well placed after the first beat, but on the ensuing run back into the River Roach, the home team headed for the bank to avoid the foul tide only to see our visitors pick up the new breeze further out in the river as the wind backed into the South, and that was that; they sail too well to let an advantage slip and they won the first flight.

There was a short delay while the course was reversed for the new S. to SE breeze.  The fleet got under way again and there were no mistakes this time by the home sailors with the Corinthian levelling the score at one, one.

 After a short break for lunch the racing resumed for the third 45-minute race. The Russians looked well placed with Konstantin Emelyanov, their National Champion, sailing “Seafire” leading the fleet with Olga White (Olga is actually British, lives in Moscow and married to Mikhail Muratov) second in “Ganador”. On the penultimate leg  “Hand of Fortune” lying 4^th saw an opportunity to sit on Tim Tavinor sailing “Amok” , the “guest Russian”, who was lying 5^th  and sail him back to 8^th letting through three Burnham boats through, which was enough to give Burnham the race.

The fourth race started immediately following the third and while the Russians started well it was not long before “Biff”, Poul Hoj-Jensen, had found his way to the front with the Corinthian team in a winning position. This left the Burnham Dragon fleet 3-1 up in the 7 race series.

 In the evening Petticrows hosted a cocktail party and tour of their factory. The centrepiece in the factory was “Olga White's and Mikhail Muratov's brand new Dragons waiting for collection, both in “British racing green”! This was followed by dinner in the club, which was nicely rounded off with Nicki and Tom Wilton buying the room malt whisky, our guest's favourite tipple.

Then our guests made a presentation to the home fleet of a traditional Russian tea urn some 50 cm high, which will make a great trophy for the Dragon Class.

 Sunday morning and not a breath of wind. The teams were held ashore in a vain hope that something might materialise, but by 11:30 it was deemed hopeless and racing abandoned. This left the Royal Corinthian winner of the event 3-1. Looking back at the fixture over the past 3 years the score is now 1 win a piece with 1 draw, roll on next year in Moscow.

 Not to waste such a beautiful day the visitors were taken up the river, under power, to see more of the River Crouch and surrounding area, putting ashore for a drink in the Ferry Boat Public House at North Fambridge.

Late afternoon back in the Corinthian 56 people sat down to a traditional roast beef lunch with the meat being carved at the table. The prize giving and ‘thank you' speeches followed on, with special mention being made to the race officer, Edwin Buckley and all his helpers.  Konstantin Emelyanov picked up the prize as top scoring Pirogovo boat and Poul Hoj-Jenson the top Corinthian boat. Corinthian Dragon Mugs were also given to all our Russian visitors as a token of the event.

 Farewells finally being made shortly after 17.00 with the visitors preparing to leave for Heathrow, their flight not arriving back in Moscow to about 04:30 local time: that's commitment to the event! Needless to say it was a very successful weekend particularly as the home fleet won.