Month: May 2022

There was a light 3-7 mph WSW wind this morning. Paul R was SOOD but not sure what course was set as it was not recorded on the race sheet!

Pursuit Race

There were 17 starters and the early birds, Chris H/Comet, Adrian/Avon Scow, Paul W/Morbic , Newton/Solo, Dave & Ann/Leader and Aileen /Comet were still leading at the end of the lap. The first Lasers were James P, Rick, Karen and Richard S followed by Jazmine in her Topaz.

The fleet managed three laps before the 35 minute gun sounded to signal the end of the race and the finishing order was- 1^st Chris H; 2^nd Dave 7 Ann; 3^rd Karen; 4^th Richard S; 5^th Newton; 6^th James P;7^th Mark; 8^th Rick.

Handicap Race

Everyone stayed out for the second race and first back across the line was Karen/Laser closely followed by Richard S/Laser. Chris H/Comet was going well in 3^rd place with the Lasers of James P and Adrian F crossing the line in 4^th and 5^th positions and Newton/Solo was only one second further back. Mark was next along in 7^th place followed by Alessandro & Mike T/470. Then came a trio of Lasers, Rick, Mike Todd and Alastair being chased by Aileen/Comet (probably the fist time in a long time that they have been chased by a fair maiden!)  Towards the rear of the fleet there was a motley collection, Nigel/Laser, Dave & Ann/Leader, Adrian/Avon Scow and Paul W/Morbic. Jazmine retired on this lap.

Lap 2

Richard S was in the lead at the end of this lap relegating Karen to 2^nd place with Chris H still 3^rd. Newton and Mark were both up two places to 4^th and 5^th respectively. Further back Dave & Ann had passed Nigel, and Adrian and Paul W were passed by the leaders before completing their second lap and were duly tooted.

Lap 3

Karen had retaken the lead and crossed the finish line to take first place on the water.

Richards was still in 2^nd place and there were no changes in the 3^rd, 4^th and 5^th positions. Alessandro & Mike T had gained a place to take 6^th and Rick was up two places to 7^th. Aileen and Dave & Ann also moved up two places to 10^th and 11^th.

The order on the water was – 1^st Karen; 2^nd Richard S; 3^rd Chris H; 4^th Newton; 5^th Mark; 6^th Alessandro & Mike T; 7^th Rick; 8^th James P

On corrected time this would become – 1^st Chris H; 2^nd Newton; 3^rd Aileen; 4^th Karen; 5^th Richard S; 6^th Mark.

However, on the race sheet it looks as there may be trouble at t’mill ! Chris H may have retired and Karen may have infringed.

The results have not yet been published on the web site so we will have to wait for confirmation. A reet cliff hanger !

Thanks to SOOD Paul R and the race team of Anne Mir, Cecilia Bernadini, Chris ? and Mike Caton.

It was very windy tonight blowing WSW 15 – 20 mph. Hadey stepped up to the mark as SOOD and set a course of A (between 4 and 5), 9, 4, B (near Tektona), 5,6, 7 and through the start line.

There were 14 starters and Lucy and Thomas capsized before the start and both retired on the first lap. Lucy as she capsized again and Thomas because of a bent tiller extension. Ralph was another to capsize on the fist lap along with Hattie.

First back across the line (again) was James C/RS300 followed by Steve S/Blaze, Mike T and Karen in Lasers and Newton & Sam/RS200. Jamie H and a recovering Ralph both in Lasers came through in 6^th and 7^th some 30 seconds ahead of Chris H/Comet. Hattie/Laser and Paul H/Supernova crossed the line together about a minute ahead of Aileen/Comet. Then two minutes later Paul W/Morbic came through and he was well in front of Chris & crew/Sport 14.

Lap 2

No change in the fist seven positions, but Paul H had moved up two places to 8^th, Aileen moved up one place to 10^th and Hattie capsized near 6.

Lap 3

Remarkably not a single change in position throughout the fleet, but Hattie capsized  again and again!

Chris M & crew received the hooter at the end of the lap.

Lap 4

No change again, but Hattie (probably relieved) received the hooter at the end of this lap along with Aileen and Paul W.

Lap 5

The fleet was now down to nine boats, but none of them passed each other and Jamie, Ralph, Paul H and Chris H all received the hooter to finish their race.

Lap 6

Only six completed this last lap and they finished in the same order as the previous three laps!

1^st James C; 2^nd Steve S; 3^rd Mike T; 4^th Karen; 5^th Newton & Sam; then one lap down 6^th Jamie; 7^th Ralph; 8^th Paul H

On corrected time, this changes to – 1^st James C; 2^nd Mike T; 3^rd Karen; 4^th Newton & Sam; 5^th Steve S; 6^th Jamie

Thanks to SOOD Hadey and the race team of Carol Meunier, Jorge Bernal, Mike Caton, Nick Jonathon-Joyce and Steve Chege.

Well done to all in tricky conditions and especially to Hattie for her perseverance despite multiple capsizes.

A fairly light SSE wind about 5-8 mph which dropped during the evening. SOOD Dave L made liberal use of the letter buoys resulting in a course of B, C, 4, D and back through the start (and your guess is as good as mine as to where they were located!)

Twenty starters tonight and first back round was James C/RS300 already a minute and a half ahead of Steve S & Rick/RS200 followed by Newton & Sam in another RS200.Ralph/Laser was 4^th in touching distance of the leaders and nearly two minutes ahead of Mike T/Laser, who was closely followed by Chris H/Comet and Karen/Laser.  Next along were Roland/Solo and Emily/Radial who crossed the line together battling for 8^th place. Nearly two minutes later Alessandro & Matt/470 crossed in 11^th place just ahead of Sally/Comet. Then there was another wait of two minutes until Aileen/Comet crossed 30 seconds ahead of Rich/Comet Duo and Jamie H/Laser and they were being chased by Ainhoa, Paul H and Jeremy, all in Lasers. Bringing up the rear was Paul W/Morbic and he was well ahead of the Mirrors of Ron and 3518 (which may have been Uriel Susanne Clausen).

Lap 2

Not much changed with the leading six boats, but Roland was pressing Karen for 7^th place as they crossed the line together. Further back Paul H had gained two places by passing Ainhoa and Jamie. Paul W and the two Mirrors received the hotter at the end of this lap.

Lap 3

James C crossed the line well ahead of everyone else having led from start to finish, but the question would be was he far enough ahead to take victory on handicap.  Newton & Sam were second across the line with Mike T 3^rd and Ralph 4^th. Roland had won his battle with Karen to cross in 5^th place.

On the water the order was –

1^st James C; 2^nd Newton & Sam; 3^rd Mike T; 4^th Ralph; 5^th Roland; 6^th Karen ; 7^th Steve & Rick; 8^th Chris H

On corrected time this becomes – 1^st Chris H; 2^nd Sally; 3^rd Roland ; 4^th Aileen; 5^th Newton & Sam; 6^th Mike T

A good night for the Comets and the Solo, but not so good for the faster rated boats.

Thanks to SOOD Dave L and the race team of Andre Eitner, Chris Andrews, Ian Stewart, Keith Baxter and Leon Skilling.

With a NE wind 9-12mph, SOOD James P used a Committee Boat start with a course of A, 5, 9, 4, 2, 3 and back through the start.

Pursuit Race

There were 22 starters and it was good to see the Sadler family, Dan, Becks, Frances and William out in force again.

At the end of the first lap the early starting Comet trio of Aileen, Chris H and Sally were leading, with Dave & Ann/Leader and Karen/Laser crossing the line together in 4^th place. Chris K and Darren in Lasers were up to 5^th and 6^th just in front of another early starter, Ron in his Mirror.

At the gun the order was – 1^st Aileen; 2^nd Chris H; 3^rd Chris K; 4^th Darren; 5^th Karen; 6^th Richard S; 7^th Dave & Ann; 8^th Thomas.

Handicap Race

With a 45⁰ wind shift, James had to raid the buoy locker and set a new course for the second race of the day.

Karen/Laser was first back across the line with Richard S/Laser not far behind her in 2^nd place. Over a minute elapsed before Ralph in another Laser came through just ahead of Alessandro & Mike T/470, who were closely followed by Ed/Aero battling for 4^th place. Then behind them there was a steady stream of closely placed boats down to 13^th position,  Thomas/Radial, Will P/Radial, Darren/Laser, Chris K/Laser, Dave & Ann/Leader; Adrian/Laser, Chris H/Comet and Alistair/Laser with not enough room to swing a cat between them (the cat being the “nine tails” variety not the “pussy” variety!). Then to the relief of the race team there was a break of a minute before Nigel/Laser and Aileen/Comet came along having their own little competition.  Two minutes later another pair, Ron/Mirror and Sally/Comet came through together (no – this is not Noah’s Ark) and they were followed one minute later by an epic battle at the back of the fleet involving the Sadler family in Picos and Toppers and Paul W in his Morbic pleased to have the company.

Lap 2

Karen had eased away from Richard S, who in turn eased away from Ralph with Alessandro & Mike still in 4^th place, but Darren had moved up three places to 5^th. Chris K and Dave & Ann gained two places to move up to 7^th and 8^th places with Adrian up one to 10^th and Alistair up two to 11^th, bit it was still very close in this pack of boats.

Further back Sally gained a place by passing Ron.

Paul W was now leading the battle at the back with Frances leading from William and Becks ahead of Dan and they all received the gun at the end of this lap.

Lap 3

Some dramatic changes at the end of this last lap with Karen crossing well ahead of everyone, but Chris K took 2^nd place just 10 seconds ahead of Darren in 3^rd, which pushed everyone who had been in front of them down two places.

The only other movers up the order on this lap were Will P and Chris H both regaining one place.

The finishing order on the water was – 1^st Karen; 2^nd Chris K; 3^rd Darren; 4^th Richard S; 5^th Ralph; 6^th Alessandro & Mike T; 7^th Ed; 8^th Dave & Ann.

On corrected time the final order becomes – 1^st Karen ;2^nd Chris H; 3^rd Ed; 4^th Dave & Ann; 5^th Thomas; 6^th Chris K

Thanks to SOOD James P and the race team of Gary Wakefield, Jorge Bernal, Larry Stanton, Mike Caton and Peter Strobel.

With a SW wind of about 10 – 12 mph and gusts up to 20, SOOD Darren set an interesting course with a first beat to 4, back to 8 and then back to 9 before finishing with 6, 7 and back through the start.

Quite a good turnout with 18 boats on the water. Ed was over the line at the start and Karen also had to go back. James C rounded 8 to port instead of starboard and had to reround!

First back across the line was Mike T/Laser closely followed by James C/RS300. Emily/Radial was going well and crossed in 3^rd place ahead of Ralph/Laser. Karen/Laser came through in 5^th with Alessandro & Matt/470 only five seconds behind her and they were only three seconds ahead of Thomas in his Radial. Roland/Solo crossed in 8^th place about 30 seconds ahead of Chris H/Comet, then it was nearly a minute before Hattie/Laser came along. She was leading a close packed bunch of Jeremy/Laser, Paul H/Supernova and Rick/Laser and they enjoyed a good battle throughout the race. Ed in his Aero was next along closing in on the bunch ahead of him followed by Ron/Mirror.  Aileen/Comet missed the start line and then got tangled with Paul W in his Morbic who was just starting (he does not like to rush things!). Chris & Dave/Sport 14 were keeping well clear at the rear of the fleet. Paul W having started late was finished early, but decide to carry on for another lap anyway.

Lap 2

James C took the lead on this lap with Ralph steady in 4^th place and Roland up three places to 5^th. Alessandro & Matt and Thomas were steady in 8^th and 9^th places, but  Ed was making up for his premature start and was up five places to 9th. Further back Paul H gained a place by passing Jeremy.

Chris & Dave received the hooter as did Paul W for the second time,

Lap 3

No change with the first two, but Ralph had got past Emily to cross in 3^rd place. Karen passed Roland to move up to 5^th. Paul H and Jeremy both got past Chris H to move to 10^th and 11^th positions. Aileen had decided to retire and Ron received the hooter at the end of the lap.

Lap 4

James C crossed the line in 1^st place some five minutes ahead of Mike T in 2^nd place and Ralph in 3^rd. During this last lap Mike and Ralph had exchanged places a number of times prompting a discussion amongst the race team as to whether Ralph had lost weight or Mike had put on weight (next thing – we’ll be having to carry ballast to equalise out the weight differences!)

The only change in position was Ed passing Thomas to move up to 8^th place. Paul H, Jeremy, Chris H, Rick and Hattie maintained the 10^th to 14^th places.

The final order on the water was – 1^st James C; 2^nd Mike T; 3^rd Ralph; 4^th Emily; 5^th Karen; 6^th Roland

On corrected time this becomes – 1^st Emily; 2^nd Mike T; 3^rd Ralph; 4^th Roland; 5^th James C; 6^th Thomas.

Thanks to SOOD Darren Ballard and the race team of Paul, Steve and Terry Hutton. Richard Hobson and Graham Kneebone may also have been on duty but were not recorded on the race sheet, but thanks to them if they were present.

With an ENE wind 6 – 10 mph (depending upon where you were on the lake), Ron set the first beat as A (just off the bow of moored Tektona) then 5, 4, 2, 3, S.

There were 14 starters and the race team decided to list their positions on the race sheet in random order rather than positional order for both races. Not really sure why they would choose to do this as it must make it more difficult when recording positions and times across the line.

I confess I am biased in this respect as it makes writing any sort of a report recording positional changes a nightmare!

Pursuit Race

At the gun the final positions were – 1^st Chris H/Comet; 2^nd Chris K/Laser; 3^rd Karen/Laser; 4^th Roland/Solo; 5^th Jess/Laser; 6^th William/Topper 4.2; 7^th Ed/Aero 5; 8^th Thomas/Radial

Handicap Race

Ron moved the first mark A into the middle of the lake and slightly further south and tweaked the start line.

In the fairly light wind, it was a two lap race and the order on the water was –

1^st Karen/Laser; 2^nd Jess/Laser; 3^rd Chris K/Laser; 4^th Roland/Solo; 5^th Adrian/Laser; 6^th Chris H/Comet.

On corrected time the final positions become –

1^st Chris H; 2^nd Roland; 3^rd Karen; 4^th Ed; 5^th Jess; 6^th Chris K

Thanks to SOOD Ron and the race team of Dan Sadler, Gareth Evans, Patrick Crowley, Richard Collins and Robin Popham.  

Thank goodness for radios, as the Committee Boat (SOOD and crew) discovered that they had run out of petrol and were stranded and had to be themselves rescued at the end of the day’s racing!

Note to all competitors – please remember to enter your details on the Declaration Sheet including the names of crew.

The forecast was for a SSE wind of 5 mph, but this dropped to near zero as the evening wore on. This resulted in a two lap race with the second lap being over four times longer than the first!

At the end of the first lap Karen/Laser led from Emily/4.7 with Ralph/Laser in 3^rd place. Then 30 seconds layer Darren/Laser crossed the line followed by Chris H/Comet and Mark/Laser and Aileen/Comet. Steve S & Rick/RS200 were through in 8^th about one minute further back and then it was another two minutes before Ron came along in his Mirror. He was closely followed by Sally/Comet and Nigel and Hattie in Lasers, but it was another 20 minutes before Paul W in his Morbic hove into view (he had probably been exploring the hinterland) and he received the gun at the end of this lap.  

On the second lap the air was still, which obviously suited the Comets as Chris had taken the lead with Aileen moving up to 3^rd sandwiching Karen.  There was a bit of shuffling mid-fleet but Steve & Rick and Ron retained their 8^th and 9^th places. Sally, Nigel and Hattie abandoned all hope of completing the lap as they did not want to face the dawn chorus on Thursday morning.

The order on the water was – 1^st Chris H; 2^nd Karen; 3^rd Aileen; 4^th Ralph; 5^th Emily; 6^th Mark; 7^th Darren; 8^th Steve & Rick

On corrected time this changes to 1^st Ron/Mirror (never write him off until the dealing is done); 2^nd Chris H/Comet; 3^rd Aileen/Comet; 4^th Emily/4.7; 5^th Karen/Laser; 6^th Ralph/Laser.

Thanks to SOOD Mike Trussler and the race team of Bob Hine, Martin Lewin, Nick Heaven and Roland Smith.

Last year there were three back-to-back races and 13 starters, but this year there were two races and only two starters!.

SOOD Peter Rose had a difficult task of trying to set a course with virtually no wind and the conditions on the race sheet were listed as – Calm/Nada/ Zilch/2 mph?

Nevertheless he persevered and used a triangular course 6, 5, 8 and back through the line.  

Race 1

This was a thrilling affair and Chris H/Comet increased the tension by being over the line at the start. This gave Aileen in her Comet the chance to get away and she took the victory

Race 2

You will never guess what happened in the second race!

Chris H was only over the line again (is this the Helm of the Year?).

Aileen again took the victory.

Corrected time took a bit of working out, but Aileen was declared the winner of the May Day Pennant for 2022.

Perhaps we should rename this the Comet Cup Race!

Thanks to Peter Rose and the race team of Hadey Lines, Bill Coulter, Brian Moore and Stephen Morton.

Chris H was on duty again this morning and with a light NW wind set a course of B, 9, 4, C, 5, 8, S.

Pursuit Race

Only seven starters this morning, but perhaps not surprising with it being a Bank Holiday weekend. (We were hosting a family lunch, so this Jolly Sailor was acting sous chef and waiter!)

No intermediate positions or times were recorded on the race sheet, but the final order was – 1^st Richard S/Laser; 2^nd Karen/Laser; 3^rd Nigel/Laser; 4^th Alessandro & Mike T/470; 5^th Rick/Laser; 6^th Nick H & Nick T/Fireball.

It is a long time since I have seen a Fireball on the water. The last time was when the bow of the Fireball was through the side of my Enterprise having well and truly T-boned us!  I hasten to add that it was not this Fireball!

Handicap Race

Chris changed the course for the second race and there was an interesting addition to the fleet when Adrian joined with his Avon Scow (wish I was down there to see what it was like). It was a pity the Morbic and the Goat Island Skiff were not out as well.

Karen was first back through the line closely followed by Richard S. Then just over one minute later Nicks H & T in the Fireball crossed in 3^rd place ahead of Alessandro & Mike T in the 470. Rick and Nigel in their Lasers were next across the line having a good scrap for 5^th place and then along came Adrian in his Avon Scow.

On the second lap Alessandro & Mike passed the two Nicks and Nigel squeezed past Rick. Adrian received the gun at the end of the lap.

On the third lap and last lap there was no changes in order, so the final positions were –

1^st Karen; 2^nd Richard S; 3^rd Alessandro & Mike T; 4^th Nick H & Nick T; 5^th Nigel; 6^th Rick; 7^th Adrian.

On corrected time this becomes – 1^st Karen/Laser; 2^nd Richard/Laser; 3^rd Nigel/Laser; 4^th Rick/Laser; 5^th Alessandro & Mike T/470; 6^th Adrian/Avon Scow; 7^th Nick H & Nick T/Fireball

Thanks to SOOD Chris H and the race team of Ann & Dave; Anthony, Ken P and Nick.

Another NE wind about 8-10 mph dictated a start down the lake and SOOD Chris H set a course of A, 5, 9, 4 and back through the start line.

First back across the line was James C/RS300 just ahead of Thomas/Radial and Karen/Laser. Darren/Laser was through in 4^th place with Steve S/Blaze only five seconds behind him and they were closely followed by Emily/4.7 and Mike T/Laser. Next along in 8^th place was Mark/Laser and then the trio of Ed/Aero 5, Ralph/Laser and Paul H/Laser crossed close together battling for 9^th place. Aileen in the only Comet out tonight was in 12^th followed by Hattie/Laser and Hilary/Radial. Dave L trying to get used to sailing a Laser after a long break was through in 15^th followed by Dermot in another Laser and Matt in a Pico (quite a change from the 470!).

Lap 2

James C had stretched his lead and Steve was up to 2^nd place with Karen and Darren retaining 3^rd and 4^th and Thomas down to 5^th. Mike T moved up to 6^th by passing Emily. Ralph and Ed both gained a place by passing Mark and behind them the only change was Dermot getting past Dave.

Lap 3

James and Steve were away at the front and Darren claimed 3^rd spot by passing Karen. Emily gained three places to move to 5^th and Ed and Ralph moved up to 6^th and 7^th places. Further back Aileen and Hattie both got past Paul H but there were no other changes in position. Matt received the gun at the end of this lap.

Lap 4

At the front of fleet things had settled down a bit and there was no change in the order of the first five, but Mike T had regained 6^th place. Paul H regained two places by passing Aileen and Hattie, who themselves had changed places with Hattie passing Aileen and these three along with Hilary, Dermot and Dave received the gun at the end of the lap. In fact, it was a very close finish with only one second separating Dermot and Hilary at the line and they were only three seconds behind Aileen!

Lap 5

The fleet was now down to ten boats and the only positional change on this last lap was Mark getting past Thomas.

The final order on the water was – 1^st James C; 2^nd Steve; 3^rd Darren; 4^th Karen; 5^th Emily; 6^th Mike T; 7^th Ralph; 8^th Ed.

On corrected time this becomes-

1^st Emily/4.7; 2^nd Darren/Laser; 3^rd Karen/Laser; 4^th James C/RS300; 5^th Thomas/Radial; 6^th Ed/Aero 5

Thanks to SOOS Chris H and the OOD Team of Andy B, Chris & Carol M, Gareth D, Hadey L and Monica.