Author: jollysailor

Extremely light winds for the first of our Wednesday evening races.

The Commodores cup started off with a great turnout of 21 boats, despite the lack of wind. There was a brief glimmer of hope as some wind filled in before the start, but this was quickly sniffed out.

Rhys, Will S & Hugh (All ILCA7) all got away well, with the majority of the Solo’s of Newton, Steve & Ralph also in the mix.

There were several boats OCS. Most chose to return, but Steve kept going, resulting in a DSQ. It was great to see James C make a return in his RS300. Such was the delight that Hugh rammed him, and once penalty turns were completed had tumbled down the order.

Not to be outdone, James then infringed Rhys, and not wanted to endure the pain of penalty turns in no wind, promptly retired.

Rhys was first to the windward mark and held onto the lead for the remainder of the race, Will S was just behind for a while but got overtaken by Newton who crossed the line 2nd. Will S finished 3rd.

There were a lot of close battles throughout the fleet, with Chris H & Aileen (Both Comets) trading places and conversation throughout the race.

Due to the light winds, only 10 boats finished the race.

Thanks to Darren and his team for organising the racing.

After the race, there was Sausage and Bean Casserole, made by Ann.

We’re back on Sunday for the next rounds of the Spring Series.

Strong winds on Sunday as Storm Dave hit the Easter Cup with a vengeance. With gusts of up to 35 knots, this wasn’t a race for the faint of heart.

Rhys, Will P & Steve S had all opted to drop down to an ILCA4 Rig. Whilst Darren and Will S both had their ILCA6 sails on. Aileen had her small comet sail on whilst Kate stuck to her usual ILCA4.

A challenging course utilised the whole of the lake, with two beats, several reaches and 4 gybes to contend with, no sailor remained upright across the day.

In the first race, Rhys was first round, with Steve S close behind. Both Wills & Darren had issues with capsizing, sitting themselves further back in the fleet.

Aileen had the unique honor of crossing the start line, capsizing, drifting back behind the line, then crossing it again. Unfortunately this didn’t count as a lap but she soldiered on nonetheless.

At the end of the race, Rhys crossed the line 1st, with Steve 2nd and Will P 3rd. The positions were unchanged on Handicap.

The second race had a much closer start line, with Will P arriving far too early. The rest of the fleet was much further back which allowed Will to bear away and get a much better start. Will held onto this advantage, remaining upright for the remainder of the race. Darren managed to pass Will, finishing 1st on the water. Will P was second & Will S 3rd. On handicap, Will P finished 1st, Darren 2nd & Will S 3rd.

Having returned to shore for a hearty lunch of Spaghetti Bolognese, made by Ann, only 5 sailors went back out for the final race.

It was all to play for, with just a few points separating the top 3.

The wind had shifted and dropped slightly, Will S had an excellent start, with Rhys & Will P close behind. Whilst the latter were fighting amongst themselves, Will S was extending his lead.

At the end of the race, Will S finished 1st, with Rhys 2nd & Aileen 3rd.

After all results were counted, both Rhys & Will S were level on points, resulting in joint winners of the Easter Cup. Will P finished 3rd.

A big thank you to the Safety Team for providing cover in difficult conditions & thank to Hugh for running the racing.

The Spring Equinox and the changing of the clocks brought out a much larger fleet of boats, including 5 Solos and 3 Comets. The pursuit race started in nice 10mph wind with the slower boats and Comets getting away well. Karen was the leading Comet chasing down Ron in his Mirror. The Solos started with Newton getting a good lift off the centre of the line and then a lift on port after tacking near the island, taking him into 4th place behind Karen, Ron, Chris. A gaggle of Solos and Jess in a radial followed next. Over the next lap Chris past Ron and Newton past Ron then Chris as the wind built in strength. The top 3 at the finish were Karen, Newton, Chris.

The handicap race started in further increasing wind which would now test the competitors. Steve in his recently acquired Solo and Newton started together at the port end and sailed up the shore but lost out when they had to sail behind boats after tacking. Darren got a good start and was soon in the lead and was never really challenged as the now much stronger winds suited him. On the 2nd lap Ralph who was going well a bit behind Daren and Mike & Ale, hit the top of his head on the boom as he gybed around 8 and subsequently capsize. Thankfully dispite the all the blood running down his face and being checked over later there was no serious injury. He righted his boat a retired. Karen seeing Ralph capsized in sympathy in the same spot. Jess also capsized as she gybed round 6 allowing Steve and Newton who had a tight battle to close, Rick who was once with these two was fading. Steve and Newton battled it out up wind on the last lap a short distance behind Jess, who capsized again rounding 3 allowing Steve and Newton to pass and Roland to catch. At the last mark before the line Steve was about a boat length ahead of Newton, Newton tacked off took a better angle to the line and finished 2s ahead of Steve. The order at the finish was Darren, Mike & Ale, Newton, Steve, Karen. On Handicap it was Darren, Karren 3sec ahead of Jess & Newton (tied) then Steve 1 sec back. Just 4 secs covering 2nd to 5th!

Further back Kate and Aileen had a close battle which changed a few times with Kate finishing ahead in the end.

More travelling sailors from Reading, as Will S & Hugh went to the first National ILCA open of the year, held at Warsash for the first time.

Light winds on Saturday meant three races were run, with the whole fleet struggling with the strong tides at the windward mark.

On Sunday, the winds were deemed to strong for racing to be run, so just three races to count.

Hugh finished 66th & Will was 38th, both in the 6 fleet

Some of our members swapped dinghies for yachts at the weekend.

James P won the Tall Ships Charity Race around the Isle of Wight aboard Challenger 5. James volunteers with Tall Ships as a watch leader, which provides sailing trips to disadvantaged kids across the UK.

Meanwhile, also in the Solent. Kate had her Day Skipper Practical Course, a perfect mix of weather across the weekend

Just one race for the first rounds of the Spring Series on Sunday. Strong winds of force 4/5 meant that only 6 hardy sailors made it out.

The pursuit race was won by Mike T (ILCA7), with Newton (Solo) 2nd & Ron (Mirror) 3rd.

Tatiana (Topper) was the only other finisher, with the rest retiring.

Everyone has decided they’d had enough after one race, and retired to the Galley to warm up.

A big thank you to Aileen and her team, for running the race in difficult conditions.

We’re back on Sunday for the next rounds of the Spring Series

3 Reading members descended on the Frensham Frenzy at the weekend. With a force 4 and shifty winds, it was a great day out. 32 boats made up the fleet with a full range of boats on display.

2 Pursuit races of 96 minutes, with a nice break for lunch in-between.

The small size of the pond and the strong wind meant a very complex course, with a lot of crossing over that made it difficult to tell where you were in the pecking order.

In the first race, Will S had a collision with a GP14, which rammed into him at the start. Thankfully, there was no damage but his race was compromised. Meanwhile, Paul W in his Morbic suffered a failure with his belaying pin, causing the mast to fall down.

Hugh meanwhile had a great first race, finishing 9th. Will was 13th and Paul DNF.

In the second race, Paul managed to repair his mast, albeit with only the mainsail up. Will meanwhile had a much better second race, finishing 3rd. Hugh finished 11th & Paul 29th.

Overall, Paul finished 32nd, quoted as finishing in his customary position of first out, last in!

Hugh finished 9th overall, with Will S 7th & first Youth.

A great result from Reading as not only having the most sailors from a visiting club, also taking the honours of the only visiting club with two sailors in the top 10.

A big thank you to Frensham Pond SC for a great day of racing.