Jackson Cup - Boston USA — 17 April '09

17 April –19 April

We sent a good team

Jackson Cup 2009

Captain of Racing Thomas Brennan managed the Royal Thames team - and reports...

In 2008 the Royal Thames attended the Southern Nichols in New Orleans.  A conversation with one of our competitors, Pete de Wolf of Boston Yacht Club, made me aware of a great team racing event run by Boston Yacht Club -  the Jackson Cup.

In due course the invitation was received and the RTYC team was put together.  The team selected to represent the Royal Thames was:- 

Helmsmen:

Andy Cornah – Team Captain

Mark Lees

Jon Pinner

Mainsail:

Ben Clothier

James Fox

Tom Heywood 

Trimmers:

Jilly Allenby-Ryan

Thomas Brennan – Team Manager

Rear Commodore House John Dallimore

The event, now in its tenth year, had attracted the top team racing clubs, namely:- 

Seawanhaka Yacht Club

New York Yacht Club 

Boston Yacht Club

Eastern Yacht Club

Larchmont Yacht Club

Southern Yacht Club

Royal Nova Scotia 

The competition would be tough but this is exactly why we were here: to race against other top quality team-racers. 

The team travelled on Thursday prior to the event in two groups, one arriving in Boston at 1400, the other arriving at 2130.  The early team arrived okay and had a very nice supper at the Three Cods Restaurant followed by some of the best Dark and Stormies at Maddies – where the locals were in good form as the Brewins had just beaten the Canadiens.  The later party arrived at 2130 and went into Boston for a beer or two.  Unfortunately, whilst the group had a beer (or two) their car and their entire luggage was towed and meant that they did not arrive in Marblehead until 0300 on the Friday.

Friday

BYC had kindly made three Sonars available and we had a good day to practice in the local conditions: for some this was their first sail of the year.  As the teams started to arrive at BYC we had a few welcome drinks prior to having a team dinner at the Landing. (Note:  many people will tell you that real chowder does not contain corn.  One of the team had been very particular in their food order.  When the food arrived the waiter held the plate very high over the table and asked for that person to take the plate. When they saw the plate there were three small vegetables – and we all had a laugh.)

 Saturday - Day One Racing

The event allowed us to re-kindle some old rivalries, many old friendships and to establish new friendships.

Royal Thames was slow out of the blocks following early defeats to Eastern, Royal Nova Scotia – their first win for six years – and Boston with a win against Larchmont – so we were down 1-3.  Not a good start.  However, things improved with consecutive victories against New York, Seawanhaka and Southern.

At the end of day one we were mid-way through the second round robin so the score did not reflect the true position as the teams had not sailed an equal number of races. 

However, the race results of the first completed round-robin had Royal Thames in fourth place.

Seawanhaka 6 wins

NYYC 5

Boston 5

RTYC 4

Eastern 3

Larchmont 2

Southern 2

Royal Nova Scotia 1  

After the racing everyone attended a fine dinner at Boston Yacht Club.  After supper the team captains introduced their teams.  Special mention must go to Cordwell Potts.  Recognising his team was at the wrong end of the standings, he challenged all others to ‘Party’ – and in the short time of his introductions downed three pints of Boston Lager.  This writer understands that he did indeed party on.  The formalities of the evening ended with the usual ‘open mike’ stand up session ably led by Southern Yacht Club.  The evening skies had opened up and a number of the Royal Thames had come up with an ingenious idea for a new umbrella by borrowing tablecloths from BYC to cover themselves en-route home.  An interesting sight walking down the streets of Marblehead.

Sunday - Day two racing

The forecast of light northerlies was half right.  The wind was indeed in the north and the warm temperature (70) of the previous two days was gone (temp 44 degrees) with winds at 25 knots.  RTYC were out first and the wind was blowing straight down Marblehead Bay producing a slight chop.  Racing was due to commence at 0900 but after sailing up and down for 30 minutes without a start racing was postponed.  

Racing resumed about an hour later and RTYC was in good form with a result of 5 wins and 1 loss for the day - our only defeat was against Boston.  This moved RTYC into third place and ensured that we would be in the final.  Our final race of the second round robin was against Seawanhaka.  RTYC held a wining combination on the first beat only to see one of Seawanhaka’s boats mast came down.  The race continued until it was abandoned but RTYC was in the final – with this race not counting the results were:

Seawanhaka 11 wins

NYYC 10

RTYC 9

Boston 7

Eastern 4

Larchmont 2

Royal Nova Scotia 2 

Southern 2 

RTYC had beaten NYYC twice and was undefeated against Seawanhaka – confidence was high.  So to the play-offs.  As we were now down to one fleet of boats, following the dismasting, the semi-finals were reduced to one race as time was running out – the SI’s stating that there would be no racing after 1500.  Seawanhaka had the honour of choosing the team to race from the top four and choose Boston whom they defeated to earn a place in the final. 

The second semi-final saw RTYC against NYYC.  The racing was very close and NYYC managed to earn their first win, and most important victory of the weekend, against RTYC to get their place in the final.

The final was over three races and Seawanhaka easily won the first.  The second was much closer with NYYC having a 1-2 approaching the leeward mark.  However, Seawanhaka managed to turn it around and won the Jackson Cup 2:0 in the final.

As time was running out RTYC would not have time to sail the 3rd place play-off before the final and volunteered not to sail this after the final.  BYC had an alternative method to settle the 3rd place and asked for a member to step forward for a ‘drink off’.  Tom Heywood stepped up to the plate and I can only add that Tom Heywood needs to go back for a bit more practice.   

Another trophy was up for grabs – this is the Borgne Cup – this is raced for every time the Southern Yacht Club race against the Royal Thames.  Royal Thames retained the Borgne Cup on this occasion and the trophy will be returning to the clubhouse.

This was an excellent regatta and thanks go to Boston Yacht Club for inviting Royal Thames to such a well-run event against such great competition.  Thanks also to Boston Yacht Club who made a presentation of their club burgee to the Royal Thames. 

Further special thanks must go to Royal Thames member Justin Scott who agreed to host half of the team in his house in Marblehead.

In summary this was a great event for all the right reasons.  We have already been asked by the Commodore of BYC to attend the event in 2010 and look forward very much to going back and challenging once again for the Jackson Cup. 

Thomas Brennan

Captain of Racing – 21-04-2009 

http://www.bostonyachtclub.net/Racing/JacksonCup.htm