The Blackwater Open marked my second visit to Blackwater Sailing Club – and once again, I was blown away. The club is a vibrant hive of activity, especially among the junior and youth sailors buzzing around the dinghy park with infectious energy. The clubhouse itself is magnificent, and the entire event was seamlessly run, from the beach crew to the race officer and safety team. They even managed to provide six perfectly executed races, sunshine throughout, and a glorious Force 3-4 breeze on one of the most picturesque stretches of water around… wow!
The Racing
Tight competition was the order of the weekend, with boats converging on the marks just seconds apart. Well, all except for one team: Matthew Wolstenholme and his crews, Sam Boniface and Ian Gregory, who were simply dominant. Their boat looked flatter, pointed higher, and moved faster than anyone else’s – a masterclass in Snipe sailing.
Race 1
The classic triangle-sausage course was set. With the pin end favoured, the first beat saw Matthew & Sam (28541), Richard & Debbie Marshall (29970), and Tim & Kay Tavinor (29611) lead the fleet. They rounded in that order and held on to the finish, with a tight battle for 4th seeing Mark & Tracy Antonelli (20226) edge out Lloyd Roberts & Emma Preen (28384).
Race 2
Matthew and Sam were in a league of their own, leading from start to finish. Tim and Kay backed up their strong Race 1 performance with another 2nd, while Joe & Mike Warwicker (38834) took 3rd. Lloyd and Emma were again just outside the top three, finishing 4th.
Race 3
With the tide turning, tactical options opened up. The right side of the beat proved favourable, and once again, Matt and Sam built an early lead and never looked back. Behind them, Richard & Debbie secured 2nd, with Mark & Tracy in 3rd and Joe & Mike close behind.
Day 1 Recap
At the close of Day 1, Matt and Sam sat comfortably atop the leaderboard, having notched a hat-trick of wins. The rest of us mere mortals were left to jostle for the remaining podium places.
Day 2
Sunday began with a steady 8-11 knots, forecast to build to 15-18 later. The tide was still flooding early on, with Osea Island playing a pivotal role in wind and tide strategy. The smart move upwind was to head right and hug the lee side of the island, where the tide slackened. Once again, Matt and Ian were uncatchable, claiming their fourth straight bullet. Tim and Kay Tavinor came through in 2nd, followed by a strong showing from Allan Williams & Liz Pike in 3rd.
Race 5
With the breeze now at 14 knots and the tide easing, the right side continued to pay. Richard & Debbie led for much of the race, but Matt and Ian sailed to perfection to steal the win, with Joe & Mike in 3rd.
Race 6
The tide began to ebb, opening up the course. Shifts and pressure played a bigger role, but the result was the same – Matt and Ian sailed a flawless final race to complete a clean sweep. The real battle was for 2nd and 3rd overall, 2-4th went in to the final race with only 2 points separating them. Joe & Mike edged Richard & Debbie in a nail-biting final downwind, securing 2nd in the race but only 3rd overall as they needed a place in between. Richard & Debbie’s consistency earned them a well-deserved 2nd place in the regatta.
Final Thoughts
A superb weekend of racing at a superb venue. Big thanks to Blackwater Sailing Club for their exceptional hospitality, slick race management, and creating such a welcoming and competitive atmosphere. And, of course, hats off to Matt, Sam, and Ian – a dominant display from start to finish.
Race report by Joe and Mike Warwicker
