On Sunday 4 November Sutton Bingham Sailing Club held a special open event in memory of Roger Battersby who sadly passed away last summer, together with their annual fundraiser for the RNLI.
Roger was a long time member of the sailing club and a passionate dinghy racer in a variety dinghy classes. The event was supported by 16 local sailors who competed in a multi-class handicap race in the morning for the Roger’s Race Trophy donated to the club by the Battersby family. In the light breezes Howard Freer excelled to win the race in his Streaker dinghy from Ian Jay sailing a Finn and Chris Bottomley in his D-Zero. Maggie, Rogers former partner presented the trophy along with club commodore, Phil Bailey.
In the afternoon the annual RNLI shield was competed for with a pursuit race in which the slowest boat started at 1.30pm, pursued at timed intervals by the faster classes of boat. Brother and sister Dylan and Dotty Hodge in an RS Feva, followed by Simon Dyke in his Topper Topaz and then a fleet of Laser Radials. At the finish, however, it was Richard Frost in his Solo dinghy that had worked his way to the front with the Streakers of Andy Roxborough and Howard Freer finishing 2nd and 3rd respectively.
Following each race trophies were presented to the winners together with vouchers to be spent at the RNLI Pop-Up Christmas Shop staffed by local fundraisers. In total £335 was raised for the RNLI. It was a most enjoyable day of competitive sailing raising money for an extremely worthy cause.
Next years event will be held on Sunday 3rd November.
Photos: Nigel Leveridge