Month: July 2022

 It was a pleasant evening with a South wind of about 10 mph and SOOD Sally set the first beat to A (just past Tektona’s old mooring), then B (down towards No 1), 5, C (middle of the lake and back through the start line.

Lap 1

Karen/Laser was first back across the line followed closely by Newton & Sam/RS200 and they stayed close together in these positions for the whole of the five laps of the race. Ed/Aero 5 came through in 3^rd place some 30 seconds ahead of Jamie H/Laser. Steve & Rick/RS200 crossed in 5^th place not far ahead of Emily/Radial and Roland/Solo who crossed the line together in the battle for 6^th place. Next along came Dave & Ann/Leader not far ahead of close bunch led by Chris H/Comet then  Mike A/Lightning, Mike T/Comet, Alessandro/Aero 7 and Aileen/Comet. Then there was a trio of Lasers, Nigel, Alistair and Jeremy battling for 14^th place with Paul H/Supernova just 20 seconds further back. At the back of the fleet there was another trio, but Mirrors this time, with Ron slightly ahead of Russell and Andrew (great to see the Mirror racing fleet increasing) with Chris M and crew Anthony & Puja in the Sport 14 caught up in the Mirror battle.

Lap 2

Dave & Ann had a good lap moving up five places to 3^rd with Ed, Emily and Roland enjoying a good tussle behind them. Nigel also gained five places moving up to 9^th passing Aileen, Alessandro and Mikes T and A. There were no other changes behind this group.

Lap 3

Emily was the prime mover on this lap, advancing three places to 3^rd. The other movers (in the right direction) were Nigel, Alistair, Jeremy and Paul H all gaining two places to move to 7^th, 11^th,14^th and 15th respectively. Basically this bunch had caught up with the boats ahead of them and started making a nuisance of themselves! Andrew/Mirror retired at the end of this lap.

Lap 4

Dave & Ann passed Emily to regain 3^rd spot. Ed and Jamie H were steady in 5^th and 6^th places and Roland had moved up one place to 7^th by passing Steve & Rick who actually crossed the line abreast with Nigel. Chris H crossed the line in 10^th place followed by Mike A who had gained two places by retaking Alessandro and Alistair.

(Alistair might have something to say about tacking in front of him!) Jeremy also gained two places passing Alessandro and Paul H. At the end of this lap Jeremy, Alessandro, Alistair, Paul H, Aileen, Mike T, Ron, Chris M & Puja & Anthony and Russell all received the hooter.

Lap 5

Karen and Newton & Sam crossed in 1^st and 2nd places and Emily had repassed Dave & Ann to take 3^rd. No change with 5^th and 6^th but Steve & Rick had won the battle with Nigel and Roland to cross in 7^th place. Alessandro, Alistair and Jeremy all gained a place relegating Mike A to the lanterne rouge!  

The final order on the water was – 1^st Karen; 2^nd Newton & Sam; 3^rd Emily; 4^th Dave & Ann; 6^th Jamie H; 7^th Steve & Rick; 8^th Nigel

On corrected time this becomes – 1^st Karen/Laser; 2^nd Emily/Radial; 3^rd Chris H/Comet; 4^th Newton & Sam/RS200; 5^th Dave & Ann/Leader; 6^th Ed/Aero 5; 7^th Roland/Solo; 8^th Jamie H/Laser

Thanks to SOOD Sally Newlove and the race team of Carol Meunier, Chris Smith, Hadey Lines, Janos Ratkai, Monica Beer and Thomas Mearns.

It was blowing a hoolie this morning, SSW 18 mph with gusts well into the 20s!

SOOD James P set a course of A, B, 2, 4, 9, 5, C, 6 and back through the start, which sounds interesting but cannot tell you the location of  A, B and C.

Pursuit Race

There were 15 brave starters and at the end of a lap the early starter young William S/Topper was still leading from Hadey/4.7 (good to see Hadey racing again after a long break due to injury – thought she might have chosen a calmer day to make a comeback!). Chris K/Laser was 3^rd with Chris H/Comet 4^th and Paul R/Aero in 5^th. The old strong wind maestro Jon/Laser crossed in 6^th place and Aileen/Comet was hanging in there in 7^th ahead of Richard S/Laser and Mike T/Comet.

However, this does not tell the whole story as there were numerous capsizes and the list of retirees contained some illustrious names, Adrian/Rooster (pushing his luck with that big sail!)Darren/Laser,  Dave L/Radial (wondering what he was doing out there), Karen/Laser, Newton/Solo, Steve S/Blaze.

Newton’s rudder blade snapped clean into two pieces just below the tiller attachment and he found himself sailing down the rowing strip on the wrong side of the buoy line, only to meet Steve and his Blaze who were tethered to the buoys! Steve had capsized close to the buoy line and in righting the boat dipped one of his wings under the line and eventually had to be dragged out backwards!

While this drama was being played out the remainder of the fleet was battling on and at the 35 minute gun the final order was –

1^st Hadey; 2^nd Jon; 3^rd Paul R; 4^th Chris H; 5^th Chris K; 6^th Richard S; 7^th William S; 8^th Aileen; 9^th Mike T.

Great result for Hadey in her comeback race and well done to young William for battling on..

Handicap Race

James tweaked the course for the second race to A, B, C, 4, 9, 6, 5 and not surprisingly after the carnage of the first race, the fleet was down to 7 starters.

Paul/Aero was first back across the line followed 30 seconds later by Steve S/Blaze (who despite his first race mishap was up for another go at the elements!). Jon/Laser crossed in 3^rd just four seconds behind Steve with Chris K/Laser a minute behind them with the Comets of Chris H, Mike T and Aileen battling for 5^th place.

Lap 2

The first three were holding their positions but Chris K retired letting the Comets of Chris H, Mike T and Aileen up to 5^th, 6^th and 7^th.

Lap 3

At the end of this lap Jon came through 10 seconds ahead of Paul with Steve still in 3^rd place. Further back Mike had got past Chris H to move up to 4^th and Aileen retired.

Lap 4

Paul regained the lead by repassing Jon and Steve also managed to pass him to cross in 2^nd place with Mike T and Chris H retaining their positions to finish 4^th and 5^th.

On corrected time the only change in the order is Jon taking 2^nd place from Steve.

1st Paul/Aero; 2^nd Jon/Laser; 3^rd Steve/Blaze; 4^th Mike T/Comet; 5^th Chris H/Comet.

Well done to everyone who sailed whether they finished or not.

Thanks to SOOD James Primrose and the race team of Doug Hughes, Mustafa Nimet, Nathan Osney, Nigel Lacey and Sally Newlove.

With an ENE wind varying from 8-12 mph, SOOD Rick set a course of D (near No 1), 4, A (middle of lake), C (between 3 and 4 on the buoy line) and back through the start.

There was a good turnout of 20 and first back across the line was Darren/Laser followed 30 seconds later by Mark/Laser. Newton & Sam/RS200 were through in 3^rd place with Dave & Ann/Leader in 4^th just ahead of Roland in his Solo. Not far behind them were Karen and Ralph in Lasers followed by Alessandro & Matt/470. Then there was a gap of two minutes before Paul H/Laser crossed in 9^th place and he was about one minute ahead of Nigel/Radial in 10^th. Mike T and Aileen in Comets crossed the line together battling for 11^th place with Emily/Radial close behind them.

A minute later Mike Todd/Laser (good to see you back on the water Mike) and Sally/Comet were split by only three seconds. Then came the scrap at the back of he fleet with Ron/Mirror leading Cecilia/Radial (good to see you on the water as well), Rich/Comet Duo, Russell/Mirror (another welcome addition to the Mirror racing fleet!) followed by yet another Mirror  Sail No 3518 (but no name on the Declaration Sheet).

We’ll soon have more Mirrors than the Palace of Versailles!

Lap 2

Same first two, but Karen and Ralph were up to 3^rd and 4^th and Emily gained five places to move to 8^th. Mike T/Comet was up two to 9^th and further back Rich gained a place by passing Cecilia. Mirror 3518 received the gun at the end of the lap.

Lap 3

Darren still led but Karen was now up to 2^nd place pushing Mark down to 3^rd. No change with 4^th to 9^th positions but Alessandro & Matt had regained two places to move to 10^th. Nigel and Paul H continued their battle.

Lap 4 (and last)

No change in the first five positions but Newton & Sam passed Dave & Ann to take 6^th place and Aileen gained a place by passing Paul.

The order on the water was 1^st Darren; 2^nd Karen; 3^rd Mark; 4^th Ralph; 5^th Roland; 6^th Newton & Sam.

On corrected time the first five retain their positions but Dave & Ann take 6^th place away from Newton & Sam.

Thanks to SOOD Rick and the race team of Angus Nairn, Claire Davies, Hadey Lines and Steve Sharp.