Solent Sunbeam: The classic racing keel boat

CLASS CAPTAIN'S WELCOME

 

 

Class Captain Julian Money
Julian Money

Hello and welcome to the Solent Sunbeam website. We are a friendly bunch who are enthusiastic about racing our wonderful classic keelboats.

Based at Itchenor Sailing Club in West Sussex, we race our Sunbeams on Thursday evenings and at weekends. After racing we enjoy the company of fellow sailors, family and friends in a varied social programme in the attractive setting of our Club on the banks of Chichester Harbour.  

The original Sunbeams dating from 1923 race equally with new boats, all built of wood using the same materials and traditional methods. They enjoy the benefits of modern rigs,giving an ideal balance between tradition and progress.  

You can just crew if you like. Whatever your role,Contact Us to just take part and enjoy everything that these wonderful keelboats can offer.  

 

News ................................................................................... See also Archive page

Betty Sailing

Finished, launched and raced - Betty 8 July 2010

“Betty now could open up many opportunities for people to own a classic yacht not only in the Solent / Falmouth area but in other ports around the world.  “Betty” has a list of people who would like to race and try her out.  Results will be posted throughout the season and monitored for assessment and validation for ”Betty” to be accepted as the first GRP Sunbeam in to the Sunbeam class.  Can we all congratulate Roger and his team for the creation of Betty and wish the project every success and to keep attracting more interest in the future of the Sunbeam class."
Read more in Clas Captain's Summer Newsletter See GRP Project
Contact: Phone 07785 232 012 or Email Class Captain

 

Summer Newsletter

PROGRAMME 2010
Detailed programme of each race and start time is in the ISC Handbook.................Or try the easy Crew Planner spreadsheet

LATEST RESULTS and Scores
Race Results Page 1
Race Results Page 2

Cowes Week 2010 Results:-

Pos  Boat Name  Sat  Sun  Mon  Tue  Wed  Thu  Fri  Sat  Total    Best6             
DANNY 1.0  1.0  1.0  1.0  1.0  2.0  1.0  1.0  9.00    6.00             
QUERY 2.0  4.0  3.0  6.0  4.0  1.0  2.0  5.0  27.00    16.00             
PENNY 4.0  3.0  2.0  3.0  3.0  5.0  3.0  4.0  27.00    18.00             
FAY 8.0  5.0  6.0  12.0  6.0  3.0  6.0  2.0  48.00    28.00             
MELODY 5.0  8.0  9.0  2.0  2.0  8.0  7.0  12.0  53.00    32.00             
ARGOSY 7.0  2.0  4.0  7.0  12.0  6.0  12.0  6.0  56.00    32.00             
DAINTY 9.0  9.0  8.0  5.0  7.0  4.0  5.0  3.0  50.00    32.00             
HONEY 6.0  7.0  5.0  4.0  12.0  7.0  4.0  12.0  57.00    33.00             
HARMONY 3.0  6.0  7.0  8.0  5.0  9.0  8.0  12.0  58.00    37.00             
10  EMILY 10.0  10.0  10.0  12.0  8.0  10.0  12.0  12.0  84.00    60.00             
11  BETTY 12.0  12.0  12.0  12.0  12.0  12.0  12.0  12.0  96.00    72.00     

Metre & Classic Keel Boat Regatta Results: http://www.rlyc.org.uk/images/Sunbeams%20Results%202010.pdf

Bosham Channel
Photo Gregor Grant

 

 

Bosham Dainty

 

Brian Taylor, 1935-2010.

Sunbeamers were very sad to learn of the sudden death of Brian Taylor, restorer and owner from 1972 to 1996 of V15, then "Ecstacy" [now "Mayfly" and in Falmouth], with his wife Majella and various co-owners - David Ryland, Colin Loveless and Geoffrey Osborne.
Itchenor Sailing Club Rear Commodore (Administration), 1992-1994
Brian was the kindest of men who would never hesitate to go the extra mile if he could be of help.The funeral was attended by 5 past Class Captains and many friends.
Peter Nicholson has Majella's new address.

 

Oxygenarians

John and Mary's Party
Mary Ross and John Ford's Party
Photos Sue Kent

 

Betty at I@tchenor, Sue Kent 1"Betty" greeted at Itchenor by Thursday evening sailors.
Now Haines will be adding the shipwright work, rigging and Coppercoat.
Photo Sue Kent. See More Pics

 

Sue Smith
Happy Thursday Evening Winner Sue Smith
You can ask Sue for the full story, but she says this will be strictly on a need to know basis.

 

NEW OWNERS

Robin Hancock and John Quail, chartering “Emily” V31, Robert Eggleton and John Rippin have bought “Why” V 28 and, in the Falmouth division, Stuart Sawyer has bought “Verony” and Ian “Winzar” has bought Mary.

There is at least one other family currently looking to buy a classic Sunbeam

Chichester Harbour Chart - available online

Alt

Chart 3418 for Chichester and Langstone Harbours can now be viewed online. The latest version is available on our website at http://bit.ly/9tXLln. You can zoom in on the chart and navigate around it using the arrow keys. The chart cannot be downloaded or printed but is a great addition to the information available online.

 

ISC Racing Saturday 15 May
CLUB RACING, ITCHENOR SATURDAY 15TH MAY ..Photo Nick Leach

 

First Thursday Sunset 3

Thursday 6th May 2010, Photo Simon Ratcliffe

Evening Race Report 20th May 2010
 
It was an unpromomising day - almost no wind and slightly overcast so no wind build-up over the Downs, but....
magically, at about 5.45pm the clouds moved away, the sun shone and the wind asprung up.
There were plenty gathered at Itchenor Sailing Club when the race officer arrived, chatting, having a pre-race drink and admiring the view (nearly high tide).
 
With nine Sunbeams and one Swallow (Merlin) we pootled down to the start at Cobnor / Itchenor.
The wind was a southerly with a bit of West, but quite changeable.
The line had a big bias to make it as fair as possible with the outgoing tide and I put up an "I" flag to deter the overly-excited! Symphony V33 was comfortably over the line as was Argosy at least, but everyone continued.
 
V33 lead much of the race to Rookwood, and then, having turned into the tide and put spinnakers up the whole fleet closed right up again. There seemed to be lots of indecision as to which side to go - Itchenor or Bosham, to reach across the tide towards Park. This was another turning point in the race as they had to choose which side to go to get to Itchenor.
 
Roger Wickens in Danny V26 , Honey, Melody and Fay went over to the Itchenor side and made good progress, until close to the buoy.
Symphony, Query, Argosy etc continued on the Bosham side and made the buoy first where there was a course change, as the tidal rate was increasing and the wind was dropping - and so to Wear and home...
 
Symphony continued to lead and came up the Bosham shore, along with most of the rest. But, Melody made a break for it (sailed for a change! by Jonny) and led the small charge to the home shore - with surprisingly good results. She took the lead.
 
But then the Northshore jetty and corner created a squashing effect on the fleet...
everyone was sailing slowly now with spinnakers and only making a little forward. It was touch and go all the way!
 
Fay and Honey were on the far shore, in fluctuating breeze but were catching!
Well in the end it was nck and neck, but Fay (who had been last by some way) won by a whisker from Melody. Well done Sarah Pearson for helming the whole race!
 
Thanks go to John Watson for helping me on Dolphin and the whole fleet for making it such a peacful but exciting finish!!
Gayle Palmer

 

 

 

A New Boat See full page on new GRP boat

EGM January 2010 See EGM Minutes Jan 2010.pdf

Are your lifejackets serviced and ready for next season?

Are your flares still in date? How should you dispose of them? See MCA Advice. and make an appointment to visit Le- on-n Solent It is a nightmare!

RNSA Invitation

An Invitaion to Royal Naval Sailing Association Members.
Our Class would welcome a visit from any competent dinghy or keel boat helm interested in knowing more about Sunbeams. The invitation given notice, would for our guest to arrive at Itchenor Sailing Club at 1100 on a Saturday morning and go for a 45 minute sail in a Sunbeam. It might be possible to arrange an informal morning race.

RNSA members would be welcome to stay for a pint and a sandwich lunch. A crewing berth for those who wished to stay for the afternoon points race can usually be found. Would any member wishing to take up this invitation please get touch with RNSA Member John Ford by E-mail via Class Captain

 

Flyer March 09

Available for ownership, share holding, syndicates crewing and charter

Flyer 2Flyer 4

Come for a trial sail.Contact Us

 

SUNBEAMER ON EVEREST

PetraTHE EVEREST MARATHON - TALK AND SUPPER ON Saturday 27 MARCH
John and Petra gave a fascinating, imost informative and beautifully illustrated talk before Club supper on 27th March. It was a sell out, well supported by Sunbeamers, their guests and other Club members.
The Everest Marathon is the highest marathon in the world. ISC Member, Petra Tanner, competed in and finished the 2009 race. John, her husband, acted as one of the race doctors. A large cheque was presented to the RNLI from sponsorship.

 


Petra Tanner ran, climbed,scrambled and slid in the 2009 Marathon round the foot of Everest on 4thDecember 2009 and do please take a moment to read her letter.


The Sunbeam as a Great Classic Wooden Boat

Included in Classic Boat's Next Top 50

Just a small photo and little copy, but Dainty, "First of the Solent Sunbeam Class", listed 20th of the 160 applicants
for Classic Boat's Top 50 More -  being added to their earlier Top 200.Classic Boat, December 2009 Issue, Page 44

Short Listed for Traditional Yacht of the Year
by Association Française des Yachts de Tradition

Yacht de Tradition de l’année 2009. Rappel des principes : Une sélection de 17 yachts :
ADRIA - ASCHANTI IV – CAMBRIA – CRAZY LIFE – DAINTY – EILIDH – ELENA IRENE VIII – LADY TRIX – LULU – ARISKA – MOONBEAM III – MOONBEAM IV NAGAÏNA – TIOGA – VISTONA – VOLTERA

Un jury réparti en trois collèges, sous la houlette de Benoît GODEAU (les Echosmédias) : Organisateurs de régates : Jean-Paul ORTELLI – Thibaud ASSANTE – André BEAUFILS Thierry LERET – Henri Christian SCHROEDER
Personnalités qualifiées: Georges KORHEL – Christophe VARENE - Renaud GODARD Critères esthétiques : François Jean DAEHN – Guillaume PLISSON – François LEBRUN

 

Sunbeam in Saint-Tropez
Sunbeam at Voiles de Saint-Tropez, October 2009

 

Cambria from Dainty
Cambria, built 1926, from Sunbeam, built 1922/3, just before the camera got swamped.

 

 

Peter can supply books.
Please Email Webmaster to arrange with him to collect, pay and add postage and packing if required.

Bryony, Why and Symphony Spray & Query from Cobnor Falmouth Championships Fleury & FayFalmouth Misty SunRichard Races to Saint-TropezVarnished Dainty in Saint-TropezBosham for Supper

ArgosyCambria from SunbeamPenny and Little LadyAh Yes, we remember it well,

 


Classic Week

See report and ad in Classic Boat

Little Lady & Dainty
Little Lady and Dainty leave Chichester Harbour on Dainty Dish ......Photo Anne Colbourne

 

 

Gayle Palmerand her all lady crew, Mary Ross and Sue Smith, winning the ladies race.

M4M3

M2

 

 

Bosham Supper

On 4th June the Thursday evening race finished at Bosham, where 48 Sunbeamers had a most enjoyable supper before being towed back home to Itchenor under the light of the moon.

Bosham 4 June 2009

Toby Spreckley

 

T2 ............................T3


Photos Toby Spreckley

Racing up Bosham Reach

 

 

D

 

 

Dainty at Bosham
Photos PWN

 

Anne Colbourne's Photos

Little Lady

 

Fleet

 

Spray 1Spray 2

 

Tony Probert

 

 

Cowes Week

 

Danny, Query and Fleury-


 

Argosy

 

 

Cowes Classic Week - watch the excellent video !

Cowes Classic Panoramic Olympic

Photo Susan Kent

Congratulations to Tim Hill on an outstanding week in Query. Second came John and Val Davis in Fleury. Third Julian Money in Penny.

Wins during the week also for Viv and Anna Williams in Spray, Richard and Sarah Pearson in Fay and Peter Nicholson, Mike Hollis and David Giffard in Dainty. Click for result sheets for the Metre Regatta plus the Thursday Racing

No one could remember a happier week's sailing at Cowes. Wonderful parties. Many congratulations to the organisors.

Dainty in Swell
Photo Susan Kent

Dainty at Cowes Classics
Photo Kathy Mansfield

"Dainty Strikes Gold in Olympics" -
To be strictly accurate, Dainty came first in a commemorative race on the Thursday round the square course off Ryde used in the 1908 Olympic Games

 

 



Cowes Classics
6 Metres and Darings head for Ryde Olympic Centenary
Photo kindly supplied by Kathy Mansfield www.Kathymansfieldphotos.com?

 

Classic

Photo Paul Dewing - See more onPaul's picasa site

 

RLYC Dinner

 

RLYC Dinner Party

RLYC Dinner on Balcony - Photos Bill Dickson (with long arms, technology or a little help?)

Dainty and Mystery at 85th Anniversary Championships

 

Thursday Evening, 3 July 2008

 

Pre Start, Thursday 3 July 2008

Green Square

Thurs pm