Jamie Butcher Memorial Races for 2024 Completed
Published 20:06 on 7 Oct 2024
Jamie Butcher is a sadly-missed member of Ely Sailing Club who passed away in a tragic capsize whilst sailing off the English coast in early 2007.
Since that accident, Ely Sailing Club has awarded the Jamie Butcher Memorial Trophy in memory of Jamie which is awarded to the winner of our early October trophy race which aims to raise funds for a nominated charity each year.
Last Sunday, 6th October were the 2024 Jamie Butcher Memorial Charity Trophy Races and this year's chosen charity was the RNLI who are celebrating 200 years of lifesaving work around the UK.
5 boats took to the water in some windy conditions to compete for the trophy and just after 11, the first race got under way. Edward and Alayne braved a port tack start which paid off for them as they took to the first beat which put upwind sailing abilities to the test! With favourable Easterly winds, the 8 sailors flew around the first 5 lap race in time for lunch and a natter.
After some grub, race 2 commenced with Lola having come to join in the fun! The wind stayed strong but began to swing to the South, putting the competitor's reactivity to the test and it was a race of many decisions some right, some less so. There was close sailing most of the way through the 4 races with a friendly fleet in race 3, there was only 2 minutes between most competitors! All 4 races saw the same course with a committee boat start before a beat across the lake to 4, before zigzagging across to the A line and then up to 7 to make an interesting course, all the more interesting thanks to the shifting wind direction.
There were some close to soggy moments, but all the sailors managed to keep dry and there was some picture-perfect planning on display with the sailors all demonstrating a culmination of their season's sailing abilities.
The competition was hot with impressive sailing on display, but Edward took a clear first in his Topper with 3 first places; by the final race, he let Fergus and Richard & Leslie sneak in front but that didn't hold him off being the winner of the 2024 Jamie Butcher Memorial Trophy.
Full results are on the website and Sailwave: https://www.sailwave.com/results/escjamiebutchermemorial.htm
Anyone wishing to donate to the RNLI as part of the club's fundraising in Jamie's memory can do so via the JustGiving page: https://www.justgiving.com/page/esc-jamie-butcher-2024
There's still 3 more sailing weekends at the club so if you've been meaning to come down for a sail since your course or haven't managed to get out on the water much this season, now's your time!
Thanks as always to the members on duty so that these races could take place - Ian for Race Officering and Darryl and Leigh for being ready and raring to spring in to action on rescue duty.
Last updated 20:08 on 7 October 2024