Month: October 2021

The morning started off very wet and very windy with a SSW wind of 13 – 20 mph and much stronger gusts coming through. There were only a few hardy takers with a fleet of just six for the first race.

Peter R set a first beat down to 3 then 2, 5, 7 and back through the start.

Pursuit Race

Ron, first man away in his Mirror, was still ahead at the end of the first lap, but Darren (Laser) was fast approaching. Newton & Sam (RS200) were in 3^rd place followed by Chris H (Comet), Alex & Mike T (470) and Ralph (Laser). At the 35 minute gun the order was – 1^st Darren; 2^nd Newton & Sam; 3^rd Alex & Mike T; 4^th Ron; 5^th Chris H; 6^th Ralph.

Handicap Race

Peter shortened the course by using 4 as the first mark rather than No 3, but the wind was still strong and gusty.

Ralph and Newton & Sam decided to finish early and only four made it to the end of the first lap. Darren led by 3 minutes from Ron with Chris H another 2 minutes further back and Mike T & Alex bringing up the rear.

Peter decided two laps was enough in these conditions and the final order on the water was – 1^st Darren; 2^nd Mike T & Alex; 3^rd Ron; 4^th Chris H.

On corrected time the order becomes – 1^st Darren; 2^nd Ron; 3^rd Chris H; 4^th Mike T & Alessandro

Well done lads for making it to the end!

Thanks to SOOD Peter Rose and the race team of Ferdinando, John Hayes, Rob Harrison, Roland Smith and Tom Adams.

It was a pleasant sunny morning with a 12 mph wind from the South, but it was quite gusty and as a result there were a number of capsizes. Sally, Christine and Martin turned out, but decided that the conditions warranted discretion and wisely sat it out.

Ron set a first beat to 2 then 5, 9, 7,3, 4.

 Pursuit Race

There were 13 starters and unusually the first four at the end of a lap were still in the same position when the 35 minute gun went. Mike C(Solo) crossed the line in 5th place but was only 4 seconds ahead of Newton & Lottie (RS200), who had just got past Chris H (Comet).  James (Laser) was about to pass Chris as well and Richard S in another Laser was chasing James.

Behind them, Alessandro & Mike T (470) crossed the line in 10^th place just ahead of Adrian (Rooster).

Aileen (Comet), Jonas (Lightning – yes, we now have a fleet, well a pair anyway – some may say a right pair!) and Rick & Jon (RS200) did not quite make a lap before the gun sounded.

The final order was – 1^st Roland (Solo); 2^nd Dave & Ann (Leader); 3^rd Ralph (Laser); 4^th Chris K (Laser); 5^th Newton & Lottie (RS200); 6^th Richards S (Laser).

Handicap Race

Ron changed the course for the second race using 2, 5, 9, 7, 6. Newton & Lottie were first back across the line about 40 seconds ahead of Richard S in 2^nd place. He was followed closely by Alex & Mike, Roland and James battling for 3^rd place. About 20 seconds later there was a really close group led by Ralph, then Chris K, Adrian, Dave & Ann and Rick & Jon with only 3 seconds covering all six boats! I The remaining three were evenly spaced with Chris H ahead of Mike C and Aileen.

By the end of the second lap Alex & Mike had taken the lead with Newton & Lottie still 2^nd, but Chris K had moved up four places to 3^rd. James had gained a place by passing Roland and was now in 5^th place. Ralph disappeared from 6^th, presumably capsized then retired and Adrian remained in 7^th place. Rick & Jon were up two places to 8^th with Dave & Ann steady in 9^th. Mike C had moved up to 10^th spot by passing Chris H and Aileen received the gun at the end of the lap.

The third and last lap saw a very close finish to the race with Newton & Lottie cross the line just one second ahead of Chris K and only 15 seconds ahead of Alex & Mike in 3^rd place. Richard S crossed the line on his own to take 4^th place, but there was another very close battle for 5^th with Rick & Jon gaining three places to pip James by a second. This surge of Rick & Jon pushed Roland down to 7^th and Adrian to 8^th with Dave & Ann in the 9^th position they had held all race. Mike C finished 10^th ahead of Chris H.

The order on the water was –

1^st Newton & Lottie; 2^nd Chris K; 3^rd Alex & Mike; 4^th Richard S; 5^th Rick & Jon; 6^th James.

On corrected time this becomes –

1^st Chris K; 2^nd Roland; 3^rd Newton & Lottie; 4^th Richard S; 5^th James; 6^th Rick & Jon

Thanks to SOOD Ron and the race team of Matt B, Patrick C, Doug H, Phil M, Carston P and Paul W.

Apologies for missing you from the race report, but thanks to Alistair S for coming to my rescue!

SOOD –         Adrian Frost

PB_Lead –     Leon Skilling

PB_Second – Ferdinando Micaletto

OOD –            Janos Ratkai

OOD –            Patrick Crowley

OOD –            David Sadler

Thank you gentlemen for turning up for duty on the 17th October.

Without your efforts (and those like you every week) we would not be able to run races.

We do appreciate it.

With a light SW wind, Adrian set a sort of box course using B, 9, A, 5 and back through the start

 Pursuit Race

18 starters this morning and first away was Paul W in his Morbic 12, followed by Christine in her Mirror, then the Topper of William and the Comets of Aileen, Chris H and Richard F. Next to go were Mike C in his Solo and Martin and Carston in Radials followed later by the Laser pack. At the end of one lap Mike C was leading ahead of Chris H and William with the Laser pack led by Richard S chasing, not forgetting Newton & Sam in the RS200.  At the gun the final order was –

1^st Mike C; 2^nd Newton & Sam; 3^rd Richard S; 4^th Chris H; 5^th Darren; 6^th Jess

Handicap Race

Chris K (Laser) was first back through the line followed by Newton & Sam (RS200) and Richard S (Laser) and they maintained these positions for the three laps of the race, (so that is them sorted). Mike C was going well in 4^th place ahead of the Lasers of Jess, Darren, Rick and Nigel. Alessandro & Mike T (470) crossed in 9^th place and they were two minutes ahead of Chris H (Comet) in 10^th. A minute later Aileen came along in her Comet and she was a minute ahead of Martin (Radial) with Christine (Mirror) not far behind him. William (Topper) was through 30 seconds later and a long way ahead of Paul W (Morbic) and Richard F (Comet), who were battling for the lanterne rouge!

By the end of the second lap Darren was up to 4^th place by overtaking Mike C and Jess. Nigel has passed Rick to move up to 7^th and Chris H moved up to 9^th passing Alex & Mike T. Further back William had passed Christine and Richard F had passed Paul W. Aileen just escaped the chop, but Martin, Christine, William Richard and Paul all received the finish hooter (or gun if you prefer that – my experience of fire arms is limited to the little guns with a flag which pops out of the barrel with BANG written on it! (Never join the army as the enemy may not be able to read English).

The last lap saw Jess cross in 4^th place about  25 seconds ahead of Darren. Nigel was steady in 7^th place, but Chris H and Rick both gained a place to finish 8^th and 9^th with Alessandro & Mike T 10^th and Aileen 11^th.

The final order on the water was – 1^st Chris K; 2^nd Newton & Sam; 3^rd Richard S; 4^th Jess; 5^th Darren; 6^th Mike C.

On corrected time this becomes – 1^st Chris K; 2^nd Newton & Sam; 3^rd Chris H; 4^th Richard S; 5^th Mike C; 6^th Jess.

Thanks to SOOD Adrian, who must have had his hands full as no other OOD names were down on the race sheet. If you were there – thank you very much.

This morning the wind was NNW about 6 mph for the first race but increasing slightly for the second race. Mike A used a Tektona start with the first mark as A (roughly halfway between 4 and 5), then 4, B (in the direction of 2 but nearer to the start line) and back through the start line.

There were 16 starters, which was the same as last week, but entirely different wind conditions!     

 Pursuit Race

Thanks to young Edward L at the start for balancing on the roof of Tektona to raise and lower race flags. Mike A had got up to lash the race flagpole to Tektona’s mast, but decided once on the roof was enough for one day!

At the end of a lap, the earlier starters were still ahead and Chris H (Comet) was well away at the front. Mike C and Roland in their Solos were in 2^nd and 3^rd places with Aileen in another Comet 4^th. Newton & Ainhoa (RS200) were the first of the “fast fleet” just ahead of Sally in her Comet. There was also another Comet out today as Richard Flood joined the growing fleet and he was towards the back with Rick & Lottie (RS200), who were practicing extreme roll tacks.

At the 35 minute gun Chris was still ahead and the final order was –

1^st Chris H (Comet); 2^nd Newton & Ainhoa (RS200); 3^rd Mike C (Solo); 4^th Roland (Solo); 5^th Darren (Laser); 6^th Ralph (Laser).

Handicap Race

The wind increased slightly and veered to the North, so the course was changed to 5, 4, 2, 3 and S for this race.

Nathan kindly replaced Edward on the roof to keep the owl company and do flag duty.

Ralph was flying and first back across the line with a decent lead on Darren who was in 2^nd place and he was followed by Newton & Ainhoa and Chris K (Laser). Alessandro & Mike T (470) were going well and crossed in 6^th place 30 seconds ahead of Richard S (Laser). Over a minute passed before Adrian came along in his Rooster (hoping for the wind to get stronger) followed by Chris H and Mike C who were having a tussle for 9^th place.  Rick & Lottie crossed in 10^th place, looking much steadier having reduced the roll on the tack. Alistair S (Laser) was in a Comet sandwich as he battled with Aileen and Sally and bringing up the rear were Richard F in another Comet and Christine in her Mirror.  

By the end of the second lap Newton & Ainhoa and Chris K had moved up to 2^nd and 3^rd by passing Darren. Roland was still in 5^th place, but Richard S had moved up one place to 6^th. Further back Mike C had got past Chris H (but only by 5 seconds across the line) and Alistair had moved ahead of Aileen. Richard F and Christine received the gun at the end of this lap.

At the finish Ralph crossed the line in 1^st place, but it was a close call with Chris K and Newton & Ainhoa right on his transom.  There was a bit of repassing going on as Alessandro & Mike T regained 6^th place from Richard and Chris H regained 9^th from Mike C. Rick & Lottie, Alistair, Aileen and Sally all maintained station. The final order on the water was –

1^st Ralph; 2^nd Chris K; 3^rd Newton & Ainhoa; 4^th Darren; 5^th Roland; 6^th Alessandro & Mike T

On corrected time the positions change to – 1^st Chris H; 2^nd Ralph; 3^rd Roland; 4^th Chris K; 5^th Newton & Ainhoa; 6^th Darren.

Thanks to Mike A and the race team of Helen and Nathan with Nigel & Edward L, Hilary S and Alistair J (and crew – sorry did not get your name) in the PBs. Thanks also to Aileen who too time from putting her Comet away to help get the PBs out of the water.

There was quite a stiff SW wind about 16 mph initially but getting even stronger and gustier by the time the second race started.

 Pursuit Race

16 starters this morning, which was good considering the conditions. Early starter Chris H (Comet) was leading at the end of the first lap, but Karen (Laser) was getting ominously closer. First man away this morning Paul W in his gaff rig Morbic was still holding onto 3^rd place with Emily (4.7) in 4^th, Sally (Comet) 5^th and Paul R (Aero 7) 6^th.

At the finish gun, the final positions were –

1^st Karen (Laser); 2^nd Paul (Aero); 3^rd Emily (4.7), 4^th Newton & Sam (RS200); 5^th James (Laser); 6^TH Chris K (Laser).

Well done to Jasmine in her Topper and Christine in her Mirror for hanging in there and finishing the race.    

Handicap Race

It was now time for the white horses to appear and Jasmine, Karen, Sally and Ken prudently decided to sit this one out.

It turned out to be a battle of attrition with only four boats completing all three laps. Chris K started off the fun with a capsize before the start and then was over the line at the gun!

At the end of the first lap, strong wind maestro Jon (Laser) was in his element and crossed the line well ahead of James (Laser) in 2^nd place. Mark was through in 3^rd place despite declining a gybe and Chris K was 4^th (but not sure if he restarted or pressed on with his jump start). Newton & Sam (RS200) crossed in 5^th place and Emily (4.7) and Alessandro & Mike T (470) were abreast across the line battling for 6^th. Richard S (Laser) came through 10 seconds later in 8^th place and he was over two minutes ahead of Chris H (Comet) who was the last of the survivors. Paul R called it a day because of the weed, Paul W’s mast came down and Christine retired before the end of the lap.

On the second lap Mark and Chris K retired to terra firma. Alex & Mike T capsized and retired from the race but decided to stay out and play with the white horses. Jon capsized but quickly got going again and was still ahead at the line. James who was in 2^nd place suffered a death roll and Newton & Sam moved up to 2^nd place with Emily just behind them in 3^rd. Richard was through in 4^th place about 30 seconds behind Emily and two minutes ahead of a recovering James who in turn was five minutes ahead of Chris H, who was pleased to get the gun at the end of the lap.

Richard retired on the last lap and at the gun Jon had increased his lead and crossed the line in 1^st place with Newton & Sam taking 2^nd spot with Emily 3^rd and James 4^th.

On corrected time the order becomes – 1^st Jon; 2^nd Emily; 3^rd Newton & Sam; 4^th James; 5^th Chris H  

Thanks to SOOD Rick and the team of Lottie, Mike C, Gareth and Rich F (and possibly others who were not mentioned in despatches)