Leader Open 29th & 30th July
We hosted a Leader Open meeting on the weekend of 29th/30th July and the fleet was not huge, but it was friendly! There were 9 boats competing, six from RSC and three visitors, with three races on Saturday and three on Sunday.
On Saturday the wind was fairly light, about 10 mph from WSW and dropped off slightly during the day. The first race was a three lap affair and first back through the line on the first lap were Dave & Ann, but they were being chased down by the hot favourites Chris & Jane, who crossed the line in 1st place at the end of the three laps. Dave & Ann managed to hang on to 2nd place with Karen & Milo (both new to Leaders and using Tracey T’s boat) coming in 3rd place. Veteran Leader sailors Nev & Mike just beat Newton & Bob for 4th place with Sally & Stuart just behind them in 6th. Dave & Adele (a RSC Junior and big thanks to her for stepping up to crew) were 7th. Dean M from Ostend (sailing solo) and Hugh & Dean were having their own battle at the back of the fleet.
After the first race there was some frantic tuning going on with Newton & Bo changing their sail and Hugh & Dean raking their mast!
Newton & Bob’s sail change obviously had an effect as they won the second race with Chris & Jane coming 2nd after a race long battle. Dave & Ann had another good race taking 3rd place and Dave & Adele went one better in this race finishing in 6th place.
There was more frantic tuning by Hugh and Dean before the start of the third race and unfortunately Sally injured her back and could not take part in this race. Adele had to leave, so Dave was left solo for this last race of the day. There was a right melee at No 6 towards the end of the first lap and several boats had to re-round the mark which caused a drastic change in the order. In the end Dave (without Adele) took the victory with Newton & Bob in 2nd place and Karen & Milo 3rd.
On Sunday the wind was stronger, about 13 mph from the SW, and Dave was glad to have his mate Paul (from Milton Keynes) crewing for him. Dean also managed to find a crew, in this case Will S from RCS (who usually sails an Enterprise).
The stronger wind seemed to suit Chris and Jane and they won all three races. The 2nd place was keenly contested with Newton & Bob taking two 2nd places and Karen & Milo taking the other. Dave & Paul were going well with 4th place in the first two races and were 4th at the end of the first lap of the third race, but this position was eventually taken by Nev & Mike. Dean & Will had mixed fortune finishing the first race in 7th place, but capsizing in the second. Will decided that was enough for him and he was replaced with Franz (another RSC sailor !)
It was interesting to note that the Leaders sailed with the club racers in the morning races and would have taken the first three places in the handicap race!
Overall Positions
|
Name
|
Race
1
|
Race
2
|
Race
3
|
Race
4
|
Race
5
|
Race
6
|
Overall
Position
|
|
Chris & Jane
|
1
|
2
|
6
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
|
Newton & Bob
|
5
|
1
|
2
|
2
|
3
|
2
|
2
|
|
Karen & Milo
|
3
|
4
|
3
|
6
|
2
|
3
|
3
|
|
Dave & Ann
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
5
|
5
|
4
|
|
Dave & Adele/Paul
|
7
|
6
|
1
|
4
|
4
|
6
|
5
|
|
Nev & Mike
|
4
|
5
|
5
|
3
|
6
|
4
|
6
|
|
Sally & Stuart
|
6
|
7
|
DNS
|
DNS
|
7
|
7
|
7
|
|
Dean & Will/Franz
|
8
|
8
|
7
|
7
|
DNF
|
8
|
8
|
|
Hugh & Dean
|
9
|
9
|
8
|
8
|
8
|
DNF
|
9
|
Well done to all the competitors, particularly the overall winners Chris & Jane, but also including the most consistent team of the day Hugh & Dean (who also did the most tuning between races)
An enjoyable weekend with six races, lots of food and a great Barbecue on Saturday night.
Thanks to everyone who helped with the event, especially Sally who did all the organising and Geesje and Sue for sorting out the food.