Author: jollysailor

It was quite cold this morning about 7 °C, but with a NNE wind of 13-15 mph felt even colder. Mike A used an Island Start with a first beat to X (in the middle of the lake about level with the usual flag pole) then 5p, 2s, 4p, 3p and back through the start.

Pursuit Race
There were 12 starters and it was good to see another young sailor, Cassian, joining the racing fleet. At the end of the lap the earlier starters Peter S (Byte), Chris H (Comet) and Steve S (Solo) were 1,2 and 3 and about one minute ahead of the chasers. These were led by Newton & Ellen (RS200) followed closely by Karen (Laser), Simon (Blaze), Richard S (Laser but using a Radial rig) and Sally & Nev (Leader). Then there was a bit of a gap back to Jon (Laser) and a bigger gap back to Jeremy (Laser) and bringing up the rear of the fleet were young Cassian (Byte) and Marcin (Laser).
Unfortunately Cassian capsized before the end of the race, but he did well to give it a go in the brisk cold conditions. The gun went about halfway through the second lap and the finishing order was –
1st Simon; 2nd Steve S; 3rd Peter S; 4th Newton & Ellen; 5th Karen; 6th Richard S

Handicap Race
The fleet was down to 10 for the second race and the wind increased which resulted in a number of capsizes, but everyone got going again and finished the race.
At the end of the first lap Simon was well ahead of the rest. Jon came through in 2nd place not far ahead of Ellen & Newton, Karen, Steve and Richards S, the latter two crossing the line together.
There was quite a gap before Chris H and Nev & Sally also crossed the line together. Then two minutes elapsed before Peter S crossed the line just ahead of Jeremy.

On the second lap the first three boats maintained the same order, but the gaps between then increased slightly. Steve S overtook Karen and Richard S moved up two places to 4th by overtaking both of them. Further back Nev & Sally had overtaken Chris to move uo to 7th.

By the end of the third lap the three leaders remained the same, but Karen had regained 4th place by retaking Steve and Richard, and Chris H had regained 7th from Nev & Sally.
At the end of the lap Chris, Nev & Sally, Peter S and Jeremy all received the gun.

On the fourth and last lap there were no changes in position and the final order on the water was –
1st Simon; 2nd Jon; 3rd Ellen & Newton; 4th Karen; 5th Steve S; 6th Richard S.

On handicap the only change will be Steve leapfrogging Karen to take 4th spot.

Thanks to Mike A and the OOD Team of Adele C, Gareth D, Gary B, Jerome C, Ken P and Will D, who all turned up well before the race and were most efficient.

First of all an apology – the date on the Spring Series 8 report should have been the 22nd April !

Now to Wednesday 25th April –

Last week we had a gentle breeze and lovely sunshine. This week it was blowing a hoolie with the wind 18 mph plus, gusting to 30!!

Although plenty of sailors turned up only three boats ventured out.
Ron (Mirror) and Dave L (Laser) only made it past the second mark. Ron had a problem with his mainsail which fell down. He tried to carry on with just a jib but it was pretty much impossible to sail up wind with only the jib. He valiantly tried but gave up in the end. Dave ventured too close to the buoy line got fouled up and decided to call it a day.
Simon (Blaze) had problems as soon as he launched with his sail not tied down properly. He capsized to fix it before the start and then started. He got to the first mark 5 way ahead of the others and then to the bewilderment of the many on lookers disappeared off to the far end of the lake instead of returning to 8. He reappeared some time later. It transpired later he had gone there to capsize in shallow water to further fix his sail. On his return he resumed the correct course. After another capsize at 4 he finally completed the lap. SOOD Curtis decided to finish the race as he was the only man left standing.

So the leader board was somewhat sparse with Simon the only finisher. We have had races abandoned in the past, but I cannot recall a previous race with only one boat finishing!

Thanks to Curtis and the OOD Team of Andy B, Mark H and Nick J.

The wind was in a better direction this morning blowing about 10-15 mph from the SW, which gave James more options on setting the course. Unfortunately this Jolly Sailor was not down there and the course was not recorded on the race sheet, but with the wind from the SW it was sure to be a good one!

Pursuit Race
Quite a good turn-out with 14 starters and the early starters Peter S (Byte) and Chris H (Comet) were first back through the line, but Ken (Laser) was going well in 3rd place leading the chasing pack. Karen (Laser), Simon (Blaze), Paul R (Aero), John W (Laser) and Will (Radial) were next through in close company. Richard S and Rick (Lasers) were having a good battle in mid fleet and behind them there was another battle between Adrian (Vago), Bill J (K1) and Sally and Nev (Leader), but looming up behind them was the return of the Galleon! (actually Steve P back in the 505 – but it’s the nearest we’ve got to a ship of the line).
The gun went about halfway through the second lap and the final order was –
1st Simon; 2nd Paul R; 3rd Peter S; 4th Karen; 5th Ken; 6th John W

Handicap Race
John W and Bill J dropped out so we were down to 12 for the second race, which turned out to be a four lap affair.
No surprise when Simon came through in 1st place closely followed by Paul R and these two maintained their leading positions for the whole of the race. Karen was 3rd about 30 seconds back and she was the same distance ahead of Steve P, Richard S and Ken who were very close. About a minute later along came Rick and Will and then Peter S and Adrian and bringing up the rear of the fleet were Chris H and Nev & Sally.(seemed to be some sort of pairs contest!)
On the second lap Nev found the ON switch and moved up three places but this was only change in the order.
On the third lap Richard S passed Karen to move up to 3rd and Steve P passed Ken to move to 5th place. Will came through in 7th place and was the last boat to go through to complete four laps. Nev & Sally, Adrian and Peter S all gained a place moving up to 8th, 9th and 10th respectively and they and Chris H and Rick all received the gun at the end of this lap.
On the last there were no changes in position so the final order on the water was –
1st Simon; 2nd Paul R; 3rd Richard S; 4th Karen; 5th Steve P; 6th Ken

On handicap the first four will keep their positions, but Ken will move up to 5th with Will taking 6th.

Thanks to James and the OOD Team of Cecilia, Chris A, Kate H, Peter D and Tracey T.

It was a great start to the Wednesday evening series with the sun out and a temperature of 24° C and a light wind from the SE. Dave L used an Island Start with the first mark as 1, then 3, 2, 5 and back through the start.

There were 18 starters and returning winter migrant Karen was first back though the line followed by Ellen, both in Lasers. Steve S switching from Aero to Solo came through in 3rd place with Hadey in her Radial behind him in 4th spot. (come on lads – three girls in the top four!)
Next along came Ralph and Richard H (Lasers) followed by the Jones boys in the Vago and Newton going Solo (he should have stuck with Ellen!). Rick (Laser) was just ahead of Chris A (Solo) with Bob L in another Solo trying to catch him. Then slightly further back there was a gaggle of mixed craft with Mike T and Alistair in Lasers, Curtis (Radial), Tracey (Comet), Sally & Stuart (the other winter migrant) in a Leader and Paul H in his Supernova.
Monica (another winter migrant) had signed on, but obviously decided a cocktail in the sun was a better idea.

The second lap was very pleasant, but none of the first nine boats deigned to pass one another! Further back Curtis gained two places and Alistair one, but they were the only movers.

On the third lap there was a dramatic change at the front with Ellen snatching the lead from Karen. This impetus did not transfer to the next six boats who remained in their current positions. Chris A did gain two places, Mike T gained three and Paul H made up four ! Tracey T retired on this lap and joined Monica on the veranda.

By the end of the fourth and last lap Karen had retaken the lead and Ralph and Newton had moved up to 4th and 5th by getting past Hadey.

The final positions on the water were –
1st Karen; 2nd Ellen; 3rd Steve S; 4th Ralph; 5th Newton; 6th Richard H

On handicap the first three remain the same, but Newton moves up one place to 4th with Ralph 5th and Hadey moving up to 6th.

Thanks to Dave L and the OOD Team of Helene W, Karen A, Mike C, Colin H and Pablo

For those of you who are sitting in the sun on the veranda at the club looking at the sailors on the water and thinking about learning to sail this year ………

We have limited spaces available on the May 5th / 7th course for beginners, adults level 1 and youth stage 1

To book …….

Contact: training@readingsc.org.uk

The Spring Series 6 races were cancelled due to flooding following the heavy rain during the week before. Thankfully the waters subsided and we were back in business for this Sunday. The wind was about 10 mph from the SSE and Peter S used an Island start with a first beat to 1 then 3, 2, 5, X and back through the start.

Pursuit Race
18 starters this morning, which may be the highest number this year and good to see Curtis and Paul H back on the water after their winter hibernation! Sally had joined the Comet fleet and Dean had abandoned his Vago in favour of his Laser. Early starter Rhys (Topper) was still in the lead at the end of the first lap followed by even earlier starter Mirror 12089 (you need to sign in on the Declaration Sheet lads or lassies?). The two Comets of Chris H and Nev were next through the line but being caught by Newton & Ellen (RS200) and Simon B (Blaze) and they were followed by Mike C (Wanderer). At the gun the positions were –
1st Simon; 2nd Newton & Ellen; 3rd Chris H; 4th James; 5th Richard S; 6th Mike C
Note this – a Wanderer on the Leader Board.

Handicap Race
Simon B was first back through the line followed as usual by Ellen & Newton and then James. Chris H (Comet) and Hugh (Laser) crossed the line together as did Rick and Richard (Lasers) just behind them.
On the second lap the leading seven boats remained in the same positions, but there was an almighty scrap for the next place with Dean (Laser), Nev(Comet), Hadey, William and Curtis (all in Radials),Adrian in his Vago and Mike C in his Wanderer all pressing for 8th place. Further back Paul H (Supernova) was feeling lonely and some way ahead of Rhys and Sally with Mirroe12089 bringing up the rear.
At the end of the third lap the first three were still clear but Rick had moved up to 4th with Richard S 5th Hugh 6th and Dean 7th.Further back Adrian and Mike C had both moved up two places and Paul H moved up one place. Sally and 186 (don’t ask me – no name or boat on Declaration Sheet or Race Sheet !) retired on this lap.
The fourth lap was the last and Simon B retained his lead right to the end and the first three had maintained their places throughout the whole of the race. Richard moved up to 4th by passing Rick and Chris H held off Dean to finish 7th. Nev and Mike C both gained two places on the last lap, but everyone else maintained station or lost places.

The final positons on the water were –
1st Simon; 2nd Ellen & Newton; 3rd James 4th Richard S; 5th Rick; 6th Hugh

On handicap Chris H will move up to take the victory with Ellen & Newton 2nd, James and Richard still 3rdand 4th, Simon 5th and Rick 6th.

Thanks to Peter S and his OOD Team, who should have been Jerome C and Chris A, but again no names on the race sheet.

A note to all racers – if you do not sign in on the Declaration Sheet you are not officially taking part in the race !

A note to all OODs – please make sure your name is entered on the race sheet or you may be allocated further duties !

April 1st, but no joke this morning as it was a very light wind coming from a Northerly direction, which made setting the start line a bit tricky. Rick rose to the occasion armed with his newly acquired knowledge from the recent race management course. First beat was to X, then 9, 2, 4, 5, 8 and back through the start.

Pursuit Race
There were 11 takers for the first race and early starter Chris H (Comet) was still ahead at the end of the lap, Fellow Comet sailor Nev was hanging on to 4th place having been caught and passed by Newton & Ellen (RS200) and Steve S (Aero). James (Laser) was just behind Nev, but being rapidly caught by last man away Simon B (Blaze). William (Radial) was still ahead of the Lasers of Jon, Dave I, Jeremy with Bill (K1) and Adrian (Vago) bringing up the rear of the fleet.
At the gun the order was –
1st Newton & Ellen; 2nd Simon; 3rd Chris H; 4th Steve S; 5th James; 6th Jon

Handicap Race
With the wind dropping further Rick wisely shortened the course by taking out 2 and 4. Chris H, James, William, Jon, and Dave I decided they would be better off sitting still on the bank rather than sitting still on the water! However Mark (Laser) decided to give it a go, so there were 8 starters for this race.
First back through the line was Simon B some way ahead of Ellen & Newton, who were only just ahead of Steve and James. Then there was quite a gap back to Bill and another gap back to Adrian and then further back Nev and Jeremy crossed the line virtually together.
The only change in position on the second lap was Jeremy getting past Nev and they both received the gun at the end of the lap.
So at the end of the third and last lap there were only five finishers as Simon had run out of puff and dropped out. These five had maintained station so the finishing order was –
1st Ellen & Newton; 2nd Steve S; 3rd Mark; 4th Bill; 5th Adrian

On handicap the order of the first four remains the same, but Nev and Jeremy move up to 5th and 6th.

Thanks to Rick and the small OOD Team of Alistair S, Hugh and Ian B.

Easter Cup 2018

The Easter Cup was contested over four races, two on Good Friday and two on Easter Monday, with the best three results to count.

Good Friday 30th March
With a fairly light wind of about 5 mph from the NE the OOD Team of Nev, Rick and Mike C used an Island Start with the first beat down to X, then 5, 9, 2, 4 and back through the start.

Race 1
There were 10 starters and first back through the line was Simon B (Blaze) followed by Ellen & Newton (RS200), Adrian (Rooster) and James (Laser). There was then a slight gap back to Will (Enterprise) leading a group consisting of Dave I (Laser), Dean & Nick (Vago), William (Radial) and Alistair (Laser), the latter two crossing the line together. Finally Rhys (Topper) the youngest competitor out today came through the line.
On the second lap, Dave I passed Will to move up to 5th place and Alistair gained two places getting past Dean & Nick and William. Rhys received the gun at the end of this lap.
On the third and last lap, the only change was Dean & Nick who passed both Will and Alistair to move up to 6th place.
The final positions on handicap were –
1st Ellen & Newton; 2nd Simon; 3rd James; 4th Adrian; 5thDave I; 6th Will

Race 2
Dave I dropped out, so the fleet was down to 9 for the second race.
Predictably Simon was first back through the line followed again by Ellen & Newton with James in 3rd place about a minute further back. The rest of the fleet was spaced evenly at about 30 seconds intervals with Adrian 4th followed by William, Will, Dean & Nick, Alistair and Rhys.
On the second lap the whole fleet maintained station with no changes in position at all, which is quite unusual!
On the third lap Adrian passed James to move to 3rd, but that was the only change and Rhys received the gun at the end of the lap.
Again on the final lap there were no changes in position and Simon crossed the line in 1st place about a minute ahead of Ellen & Newton who were about three minutes ahead of Adrian in 3rd place.
The final positions on handicap were –
1st Ellen & Newton; 2nd Simon; 3rd William 4th James; 5th Adrian; 6th Will

Thanks to the OOD Team of Nev, Rick and Mike C.

Easter Monday 17th April
There was a bit more wind today, about 12-13 mph from the SSE. Richard H was SOOD today and set a first beat to 2, then 9, 4, X, 5 and back through the start.

Race 3
There were a number of absentees from Good Friday, but Steve S Aero) had joined the fleet to make 7 starters and he was first back through the line closely followed by Simon and Ellen & Newton. Then there was quite a gap back to James, Adrian and Dean & Nick in 4th, 5th and 6th places with Rhys coming through in 7th place.
By the end of the second lap Simon and Ellen & Newton had passed Steve to move up to 1st and 2nd with Adrian up to 4th. Rhys received the gun at the end of this lap.
The only change on the last lap was James regaining 4th spot from Adrian. Simon crossed the line well ahead in 1st place, but Ellen & Newton took 2nd place only just ahead of Steve.
The final positions on handicap were –
1st Simon; 2nd Ellen & Newton; 3rd Steve; 4th James; 5th Dean & Nick; 6th Adrian

Race 4
At the end of the first lap, Simon had a good lead over Steve in 2nd and Ellen & Newton in 3rd places. Adrian was 4th with James breathing down his neck and Dean & Nick further back in 7th were some way ahead of Rhys, who was gamely battling on.
On the second lap there was no change in the first three boats, but James had passed Adrian (here they go again) to move up to 4th. Rhys received the gun at the end of the lap.
The final lap saw no changes in position so the final positions on handicap were –
1st Simon; 2nd Steve; 3rd Ellen & Newton; 4th James; 5th Adrian; 6th Rhys

Thanks to Richard H, Sophie, Ron and Fran? (not sure of name) for running these races.

Easter Cup Overall Positions
1st Simon; 2nd Ellen & Newton; 3rd James; 4th Adrian; 5th Steve; 6th Dean & Nick

In fact it was very close for the final victory and Simon and Ellen & Newton finished with the same number of points, but Simon was awarded the overall victory on the last race rule.

Dean & Nick and Rhys should probably be awarded 5th and 6th places on my arbitrary leader board as Steve only actually sailed two races!

The overall turnout was somewhat disappointing and only six boats competed in all four races. It could be well worth considering running all four races on the same day with two back to back in the morning and the same in the afternoon immediately after lunch.

Sunday 8th April racing is cancelled due to the flooding. Although the water level is dropping the lane is still well flooded and unlikely to clear before Sunday.

It was quite a pleasant morning with a bit of sun and a light wind mostly from the North about 8 mph, although this did vary through the morning. Mike A used an Island start with a first beat to X (middle of the lake about level with No 5), then 5p, 9s, 4p, 2p and back through the start.

Pursuit Race
Mike A apologises for the delayed start, but only one of the allocated OODs turned up!
Fortunately Sally, Roland L and Bob W came to the rescue and we eventually got under way about 10.45.
There were 16 starters and first back through the line was Ron & lad (Mirror) who were well ahead of Chris H (Comet). Unfortunately Ron had started early, which is a pity because he went well for the duration of the race. Nev in the second Comet came through in 3rd place with Hadey 4th and Peter R (Enterprise) 5th and Newton & Ellen (RS200) 6th. Then came a trio of Lasers, Richard S, Jon and Hugh being rapidly caught by last starter Simon B (Blaze) who had just got past Rick (Laser). By this time the wind had dropped and the last four boats, Steve S (Aero), Gareth (Laser), Dean (Laser) and Adrian (Vago) were struggling to cross the line.
Most of the fleet managed to complete another lap and when the gun went the leader Chris H was just about to be passed by Simon.
The final positions were –
1st Chris H; 2nd Simon B; 3rd Peter R; 4th Newton & Ellen; 5th Jon; 6th Richard S

Handicap Race
Dave I and Steve S did not start the second race so the fleet was down to 14 boats.
By the end of the first lap Simon B was already well ahead with Nev in 2nd place with 20 seconds back to Hugh and Rick in 3rd and 4th positions. Then Jon and Richard crossed the line together battling for 5th place. The next three boats Chris H, Peter R and Gareth were evenly spaced in 8th, 9th and 10th places. There was a slight gap back to Dean in 11th place and a bigger gap back to Ron & lad and Adrian. Ellen & Newton had disappeared from the fleet, not sure why, but there was a kerfuffle at the first mark which may have a bearing.

On the second lap there was no change in the position of the first 8 boats, but Gareth had managed to get past Peter to move up to 9th. Further back Adrian had passed Ron.

By the end of the third lap Rick, Jon and Richard all moved up two places to 2nd, 3rd and 4th respectively. Peter also gained two places by passing Gareth and Chris. Adrian and Ron received the gun at the end of this lap.

The fourth lap was the last and Simon crossed the line well ahead of the rest of the fleet. Jon and Richard moved up to 2nd and 3rd by passing Rick. Peter moved up another three places to move up to 5th place.

The final places on the water were –
1st Simon; 2nd Jon; 3rd Richard S; 4th Rick; 5th Peter; 6th Hugh

On handicap there should be a bit of a shuffle resulting in the following places –
1st Nev; 2nd Simon; 3rd Jon; 4th Richard S; 5th Chris H; 6th Peter R

Thanks to Mike A and the OOD Team of Robbie and especially to Sally, Bob W and Roland L who stepped in to ensure the race took place.