Author: Peter Baldwin

After the heavy and persistent rain in the morning, it was easing up by the time rigging commenced for most sailors and then dry by the time racing started.  Peter made some minor changes to the positions of buoys ready for the first race to start in a decent Top Suit breeze from the ESE, with significant shifts from E to SE accompanied by some decent gusts.

Bill Culshaw started the day with a good solid win in Race 1, before Martin Roberts took Race 2 and then Peter Baldwin Race 3.  Martin won again in Race 4, Peter took Race 5 and Bill Race 6, giving an even split on wins going into an early break so that Martin could repair a broken shroud without delaying proceedings or anyone missing a race.

After the break, with shroud repaired and boat setup again, Martin took Races 7 and 8 before Peter gained wins in races 9 to 11. Bill unfortunately had transmitter problems for two races and so his challenge for the day ended by picking up two DNF’s.  It was all to play for in the last race, which Martin won with a clear and unassailable lead.  Peter got caught up with John Brierley on the final beat to the finish after John temporarily lost control whilst on port, leaving Bill to take second spot.  This left Martin with the overall win and Peter in second one point behind, ruing the loss of second place. Bill still ended up third, able to discard his two DNF’s ahead of John who had a consistent afternoon, but with a win eluding him and just making the difference.  A great afternoon sail with thanks to Bernie and Jack as usual with the sun putting in an appearance by 2pm just to top it all off.

Scoring footnote – it turns out that if the points had been tied, Peter and Martin could not have been separated on their counting races, so Martin would still have won overall by beating Peter in the last race.

1. Martin Roberts             12  vanilla              18pts    5 wins
2. Peter Baldwin               63  lintel mmx      19pts    5 wins
3. Bill Culshaw                   21  brit pop           27pts    2 wins
4. John Brierley                 84  brit pop           29pts
5. Neil Westbrook             03  widget            52pts
6. Alan Watkinson            23  brit pop           57pts
7. Tre Joinville                    94  lintel                58pts
8. Mike Williamson          43 TS2                    64pts
9. Charles Legg                  25 Rubix                80pts

After 12 races, photos courtesy of  Dave Williams.

John Carlin did a grand job as race officer, and Neil Westbrook got the waders on twice to reset the marks, as the wind was very light and variable. After the first race, the course was reversed to account for the wind shift. A full length of the lake – one lap course and A+ rigs were used.

Eight races were completed.

1. Andrew Peter           19    11 Pts
2. James Douglas        73    16 Pts
3. Richard Robinson  01    19 Pts
4. Mike De St Paer      35    20 Pts        [ 2 X 1st ]
5. Neil Westbrook       03   20 Pts
6. David Williams      233   36 Pts
7. Alan Watkinson    373   38 Pts
8. Derek Matthews     57   48 Pts
9. Andrew Potter      194    50 Pts      [ 1x 6 , 2 X 7 ]
10. Charles Legg            21    50 Pts      [ 1x 6 , 1 X 7 ]
11. Don Mackinnon   933    52 Pts
12. Richard Walker       39    54 Pts
13. Stan Metcalfe          46    60 Pts
14. Paul Little                 45    62 Pts

Once England transitions to Step 3 on 17th May, the club committee have decided that we will again increase racing numbers and allow 18 boats in a race on Wednesday and Saturday.

For Saturday racing, we will also open this up for non-members to join us.  This would be for up to 3 club racing afternoon’s in a calendar year and with a race fee of £1 as charged for members.

Potential new members are always welcome to join us for racing on a Wednesday or Saturday.  We do ask that anyone intending to race uses the Event booking system to help control numbers and provide the club with information for Track and Trace.

The fleet of 6 RG65 and 3 DF65 sailors were pleasantly surprised to find the heavy morning rain conveniently clear away shortly before the start of racing at shortly after 1pm.  The wind started at around 6 to 8 knots from the clubhouse end, allowing the existing mark positions to be used for  racing.

Graham Elliott had a great start by winning the first three RG65 races, before John Brierley took the win in races four and five, with Graham winning the final race before the break.  After the break, the wind had fully transitioned to being “over the houses”, with big shifts in direction and large gusts producing some difficult control issues at times.  Graham had to leave at break time and this allowed John to take three of the final wins, spoilt only by Peter in Race 9.  John thus ended up a clear winner from “Mr Consistency”, Martin Roberts in second, then Graham in a creditable third with four DNC’s.

The DF65’s sailing a slightly shorter course shared the wins through the fleet.  Mike De St Paer won the lions share of 6 races, with John Carlin and Derek Matthews each taking two. Mike therefore took the DF65 afternoon comfortably, from John in second and Derek in third.

Thanks once again for Bernie running the afternoons racing that  ended up with the sun trying to make an appearance.

RG65

1. John Brierley             84      uno                        11pts
2. Martin Roberts        184     pocket rocket    21pts
3. Graham Elliott          55      argon                   22pts
4. Peter Baldwin            63      pocket rocket   26pts
5. Dave Williams           33      uno                        30pts
6. Alan Watkinson        23      scurry                  42pts

DF65

1. Mike De St Paer        35       10pts
2. John Carlin                 11         15pts
3. Derek Mathews         57       17pts

After 10 races

14 sailors made it to the start line, with a light and variable Westerly breeze, A+ plus rigs were chosen.

Race Officer Richard Robinson set a course using the full length of the lake, and all went well until race 5, when we were hit with a severe squall and hailstones, scattering the fleet and making it almost impossible to sail to the finish line. After a brief respite, after which some decided to depart early, we managed another 3 races, making eight in total, with a two lap race to finish.

Another day of very close racing, as the points testify.

1. Alan Watkinson    373    7 Pts
2. Andrew Peter         919  15 Pts
3. Neil Westbrook        03 20 Pts
4. John Carlin                 11  24 Pts
5. Paul Little                   45 28 Pts
6. Tre Joinville               19  29 Pts
7. Mike De St Paer        35   31 Pts
8. James Douglas          73  38 Pts
9. Sally Collings          829  43 Pts
10. Charles Legg              21    51 Pts
11. Richard Walker         39  54 Pts
12. Stan Metcalfe            46  59 Pts
13. Malcolm Harvey   1019  66 Pts
14. Barrie Baugh            147   67 Pts