Author: jollysailor

Sunday saw 13 boats turn out in shifty light to moderate northly wind just enough to be fully hiked and planing on occasions. Ron was off first followed by Aileen and Karen. Then three Solos, lasers and Mark’s Aero. Ron was well away before the others started. Karen lead the comet pursuit. Newton got the best of the Solo starts from the favoured port end of the line, and lead the Solos at the first mark followed by Steve. Down the second leg Steve was surprised that he had been quickly caught by Ralph. It transpired Ralph had taken a short cut having missed out the first mark. Ralph’s concentration was a bit sub optimal, suffering a little from a sore head, not this time from his head and boom sharing the same time and space but from a night out on the town. Anyway he returned to round the mark. Ahead Newton was catching Aileen and past her at the start of the 2nd lap when found a better wind shift. Karen in the meantime had past Ron. Newton then caught and past Ron downwind to 9 but lost steerage when sailing by the lee and hit the mark. This was keenly pointed out by Ron who retook 2nd as Newton did his turn, but this was short lived. In the meantime Steve had past Aileen for 4th. Newton continued to gain on Karen ahead but time ran out. At the gun it was Karen, Newton, Ron.

Steve and Ralph initially got a good start out of the middle of the line, whilst Karen, Mark and Newton battled each other for clear air at the favoured port end. However half way up the beat Steve and Ralph sailed into a bit of a hole and Mark, Karen and Newton sailed over the top. At the windward mark it was Mark, Newton and Karen. At the second mark, Mark was just ahead of Newton then Karen, but up the next windward leg Newton out pointed Mark and past him. At the end of the first lap it was Newton, then James who had fought his way up, Karen, Steve. Over the following laps James Karen Mark and Steve battled it out whilst Newton pulled away at the front to over 1.5 mins ahead of James at the end who had in turn managed to pull away from the group behind. At the finish line it was Newton, James, Mark, Karen. On Handicap 1st Newton just 3 sec ahead of Karen, 3rd James.

Strong winds for Saturday’s Pink Fleet. With only 3 boats out on the water, it was great to see them get lots of practice in, including Newton & Kate getting to grips with the RS200’s Spinnaker.

Tatiana was the deserving winner of this month’s Pink Fleet Cup.

A big thank you to Monica & team for running the event

Strong winds once again for Sunday’s Spring Series.

12 boats took to the water, with the usual keen volunteers watching from the shore or assisting with Safety Boat Duties.

The Comets of Aileen and Chris H were off first, followed by a pack of ILCA6’s. A long beat up to 3 meant Hugh was first around the windward mark. The wind was strong but manageable for the first half of the lap, with the fleet bunching up again in the wind shadow around Buoy 2. Two long runs followed, where the wind decided to fill in. This caught most sailors off guard, with many losing time and the gust made them head up to windward.

Hugh, Steve S & Ralph(All ILCA6) gbyed round buoy 6 at the bottom of the lake. Hugh made it round, but a gust caught both Steve & Ralph & they ended up in the Drink.

Newton, Jess, & Mike T all decided to retire. Along with Ralph after he’d recovered from his capsize.

Positions remained the same for the second lap, but Darren capsized of the Buoy line and was struggling to right his Solo. Hugh meanwhile capsized in from of the shore which allowed Steve S to take the lead.

At the finish gun, Steve S was 1st, with Hugh 2nd and Chris H 3rd.

Most chose to come in for the handicap race, but Aileen, Chris H & Kate all stayed out. A close race between the two comets, but Chris H finished 1st, with Aileen 2nd. Kate unfortunately had to retire.

A big thank you to Ron and his team for running the racing on Sunday.

We’re back on Wednesday for the next round of the Commodore’s Cup.

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