Author: jollysailor

Cobley Series 1 4th September

It was quite blowy this morning with a West wind about 15 mph with 25 mph gusts coming through. It had been decided to use the same format as the Summer Series with a 35 minute pursuit race followed by a 45 minute handicap. Mike A set the first beat to 5 then 2s, 4s, 8p, 7p and back through the start.
 
Pursuit Race
William and Joe in their Toppers were first away from the line and at the end of the lap William was still in the lead with Curtis (Radial) up to 2nd and Joe 3rd. Ralph (Laser) had come through to 4th with Chris H (Comet) 5th, Hugh (Radial) 6th and then the Lasers of James, Richard S, Franz and Gareth with Chris A (Solo) in the middle of this Laser Pack.
Unfortunately on the second lap Joe made a mistake with the course which pushed him to the back of the fleet.
At the gun the positions were –
1st Curtis; 2nd William; 3rd Ralph; 4th James; 5th Hugh; 6th Richards S
 
Well done William and bad luck Joe who had been going really well.
  
Handicap
Despite the frisky conditions there were no drop-outs and all 11 started the second race.
Richard S was first back through the line, but only just ahead of James and Curtis. Ralph came through in 4th place with Hugh close behind him. Then there was a slight gap back to the Lasers of Gareth and Franz and then another gap back to Chris H and Chris A and finally the two Toppers of William and Joe.
On the second lap James passed Richard to take the lead and Hugh moved up to 3rd place. Ralph was now 5th and all the boats behind him maintained station.
By the third lap Curtis had come to the front pushing James down to 2nd and Hugh to 3rd and Richard to 4th. Ralph retired (cream-crackered) and the only other mover was Chris A who had got past Chris H. William and Joe received the finish gun at the end of this lap.
At the end of the fourth and last lap James crossed the line first, which meant that the lead had changed on every lap! Everyone else remained in the same positions as the lap before.
Despite the windy conditions it was a really good race to watch and all the sailors seemed to enjoy it.
There were only two capsizes by Gareth and Joe respectively, but these were virtually dry capsizes and they both got going again very quickly.
 
The final positions on the water were – 1st James; 2nd Curtis; 3rd Hugh; 4th Richard S; 5th Gareth; 6th Franz
 
On Handicap, Curtis and Hugh, who were out in Radials, should move up to 1st and 2nd with James 3rd Richard 4th, and Gareth 5th, with Chris H moving up to 6th.
Remarkably it looks as if Franz and Chris A will tie for 7th place! – just shows how close the racing was.     
 
Well done to William and Joe who kept going in testing conditions.
 
Thanks to the OOD Team of Phil M, Monica and Mark R, Chris B and Rick. 
 

Gillette 21 Juniors 31st Aust 2016

Juniors
As usual Eddie and Joe were out in their Toppers joined by Thomas in his Topper and Jemima  in her Oppie
At the end of the first lap Eddie held a good lead over Joe with Jemima about the same distance behind Joe with Thomas just behind her and they maintained these positions for the whole of the race.
 
However on handicap Jemima will again pip her brothers to take victory and the final positions were –
1st Jemima; 2nd Eddie; 3rd Joe; 4th Thomas
 
With one race left Jemima leads the series by just one point from Eddie
 
 

Gillette Series 21 31st August 2016

Ellen was standing in for Newton who had absconded on holiday! With a good 12 mph Westerly wind she set a first beat to 4 then back to 9p, 5s, 6s, 7s and back through the start.
 
There were 18 starters tonight which was a bit better than recent weeks. Mark B (Laser) was leading on the first lap, but only just ahead of Curtis (Radial), Monica (Europe) and Hadey, back from her big boat sailing, in her 4.7.Then there was a slight gap back to Dave & Ann in the first Leader and a bigger gap back to Rick (Laser).
 
On the second lap Monica retired from 3rd place and Rick gained three places to move up to 3rd with Dave & Ann moving up to 4th. There was close racing throughout the fleet and this could be seen by Franz gaining six places to move to equal 5th with Hadey. Further back Julian (Solo) and Mike A (Lightning) were trading places and Paul H (Supernova) and Sally & Mike C (Leader) moved from 12th and 13th to 7th and 8th respectively! Bob (Solo) had also gained a place by just squeezing past Alistair (Laser). At the back of the fleet Amy (Comet) and Tracey (Leader) were battling for family honour with Amy just ahead, but Tracey retired at the end of the lap.
 
At the end of the third lap the leading five boats maintained their positions, but had spread out slightly.Sally & Mike C had moved up to 6th place with Paul H 7th and Richard H gaining three places was up to 8th.
 
On the fourth and last lap Mark B retired from the lead, presumably he suffered a gear failure, and Amy also retired, reason unknown. Curtis crossed the line in 1st place with Rick a clear 2nd well ahead of Richard H who had stormed up to 3rd place. The other movers on the last lap were Paul H who gained two places up to 5th, Franz who gained three places up to 6th and Mike A and Mike T who both gained three places up to 8th and 10th.   
 
The final positions on the water were –
1st Curtis; 2nd Rick; 3rd Richard H; 4th Dave & Ann; 5th Paul H; 6th Franz
 
On handicap the first two will keep their positions, but Hadey should move to 3rd with Dave & Ann still 4th, Mike A up to 5th and Sally & Mike C up to 6th.
However the headlines of the night are definitely –
 
BIG ONION TAKES GOLD AND THE NEW TREASURER RUNS AWAY WITH THE SILVER
 
If you don’t understand this ask Curtis if he will show you his whopper (and you should see the size of his pumpkins !!)
 
Thanks to Ellen and the OOD Team of Bill and Peter C and Martin W.
 

Lex Cup Bank Holiday Monday August 2016

The only member of the OOD Team to turn up was Steve P, but Paul R stepped up as SOOD and was ably assisted by James P. It was a light tricky wind which kept changing direction and strength. In the end Paul moved No 5 down towards 6 and made that the first mark, so the course was 5p, 8s, 4p, 2p, 9p, Xp.
Steve S (Solo) was first back through the line followed by Monica (Europe), Peter R (Enterprise), Ralph (Laser), Mike A (Lightning) and Franz (Laser). Adrian was next through sailing his Vago single handed again (he does like a challenge!) and close behind him was Phil M (Solo) and Rick and Alistair in Lasers. Nick T was giving his Finn an airing, the first time for a while, and at the back of the fleet William and Rhys were having their own battle in Toppers.
On the second lap there was no change in position for any of the boats in the fleet, but on the third lap the first four boats had pulled clear of the rest and Peter R had come through to the lead. Further back Phil had gained two places and Rick one place. 
In the Topper battle William had led for the first two laps, but on the third (and last lap for them) Rhys managed to cross the line ahead. Nick T retired on this lap.
At the finish gun Steve had regained the lead with Ralph coming up to 2nd place, but it was a very close finish between the leading four boats. The back half of the fleet came to a complete halt between 4 and 2 for about 5 minutes before a light breeze got up and they managed to move again. Adrian got his spinnaker up and regained the two places he had lost the lap before  and Alistair managed to get past Rick.
The final positions on the water were –
1st Steve S; 2nd Ralph; 3rd Peter R; 4th Monica; 5th Mike A; 6th Franz.
 
On handicap Steve will retain the victory and the LEX Cup, but Monica should move up to 2nd with Peter R 3rd, Mike A 4th, Ralph 5th and Phil M 6th.
 
Thanks to Paul R, James P and Steve P for ensuring the cup race actually took place.
 

Summer Series 28 August 2016

This morning was dull with a threat of rain, but a good SW wind about 12 mph. Mike A set the first beat down to 4 then 2p, 5s, 8p, 6s, 7s, and back through the start.
 
Pursuit Race
There were 17 starters including Monica, who seemed quite spritely after the Jazz night revels and also out were the Mirrors of Pat and Robbie. Ralph last seem helming a Feva turned up with his newly acquired Laser for its first outing
 
Ellen & Luke (RS200) were first back through the line having got past Steve S (Solo), Monica (Europe), Chris A (Solo) and Dave & Ann (Leader) who had all gone off at the same time. Mark B (Laser) was 6th, having just passed Dave I (Radial) who was now being caught by the Lasers of Rod, Ralph and Rick (sounds like a band!) and they in turn were being caught by Adrian in his Rooster Rig Laser (sounds like a guitar!). Then came the Lasers of Alistair S and Gareth with Pat (Mirror) just ahead of Paul W (Radial) and Robbie in her Mirror.
 
Just after the start of the second lap a squall came through, the wind got up and it absolutely threw it down. Monica, Pat and Robbie quickly decided that there was no fun in that and came in to retire.
 
At the gun Ellen & Luke were clear ahead with Mark B in  2nd place and the 3rd place being closely contested by Steve S and Adrian.
 
The final positions were –
1st Ellen & Luke; 2nd Mark B; 3rd equal Steve S and Adrian; 5th Ralph; 6th Dave & Ann
 
Handicap Race
The fleet was down to 12 for the start of the second race and Ralph came through the line just ahead of Rod to lead on the first lap. Steve S was next through in 3rd place followed by Mark, Gareth and Adrian. Next came Dave & Ann in the only remaining double-hander followed by Rick, Chris and Franz who was braving his Contender in the frisky conditions. Alistair S and Paul W were bringing up the rear of the fleet.
 
By the end of the second lap Mark had moved up to 3rd place and Adrian up to 4th. Rick and Franz had both gained a place to move to 7th and 9th respectively.
 
At the end of the third and last lap there was a really close finish as Ralph crossed the line just ahead of Adrian with Mark and Rod close behind them. There were no changes in position behind these four.
 
The final positions on the water were –
1st Ralph; 2nd Adrian; 3rd Mark; 4th Rod; 5th Gareth; 6th Steve S
 
As the finish was so close, on handicap Steve should snatch the victory from the boats ahead of him with Ralph 2nd, Mark and Rod still 3rd, and 4th. Dave & Ann should take 5th pushing Gareth down to 6th.
 
Thanks to the OOD Team of Paul R (who stepped in to help although not on the rota) and Jerry C and John H who stoically manned the rescue boats sitting in the pouring rain!
 
 

Gillette 20. – 24th August

With a WSW wind of about 8 mph David C (taking a bread from Triathlons) had to set a start line fairly close in to the bank with 5 as the first mark, then 9s, 4p, 2p, 8p,6s,7s and back through the start line.
At the start Rick mad a good attempt to take out some of the opposition by motoring down the line on starboard, pushing the leeward boats before him! 
Despite this there were 13 starters, but no juniors tonight, although Hugh (Laser),who has now moved up from junior to youth or should that be to student, was first back through the line at the end of the first lap, followed by Julian W (Solo), who probably falls into the Senior class!
Sally & MIke C in the first of the three Leaders came through in  3rd place, just ahead of the two Solos of Newton & Bob. Nev & Mike N in the second of the Leaders were 6th. Then there was quite a gap back to Dave & Ann in the third Leader, who were just ahead of Curtis (Radial),Paul H (Supernova), Mike A (Lightning) and Rick (Laser) with Mike T (Laser) and Chris & Carol (420) bringing up the rear.
At the end of the second lap Hugh had increased his lead slightly and Sally & Mike C  had closed up on Julian challenging him for 2nd place. Newton had suffered a rigging failure and came in to retire and Mike N & Nev had got past Bob to move up to 4th. Chris & Carol got the gun at the end of this lap.
On the last lap Hugh went further ahead and crossed the line two minutes ahead of Julian with Nev & Mike C managing to get past Sally & Mike C to take 3rd place. Dave & Ann just managed to pip Bob for 5th place and Curtis and Rick both gained a place.   
The final positions on the water were –
1st Hugh; 2nd Julian W; 3rd Nev & Mike N; 4th Sally & Mike C; 5th Dave & Ann; 6th Bob
That’s Leaders in 3rd, 4th and 5th places!
On handicap it looks impossible to split Hugh and Julian for 1st place, so we’ll leave that to the spreadsheet!  There should be no change in the other positions.
Thanks to David C and the OOD team of Jon, Nick, Cliff and Chris.
nt from Windows Mail

SOOD NEEDED MONDAY 29th

We have a last minute problem with no SOOD for Mondays Lex Cup race. If someone is available to do this then please let me know or just turn up. This can be taken as a swap for a duty that you have later in the year. If no one is available then the race will be CANCELLED. I will be away myself on that day.

Newton

Gillette Series 19 – 17th August

The forecast was for an Easterly wind of 7 mph, but it turned out to be more of a NE wind between 0 and 5 mph! Rod used a Committee Boat start just North of Tektona with a first beat to X (which was in line with 7 but further down the lake) then 5p, 2s, 4s and back through the start. Well that was the plan, but the wind was so light that the course was shortened and the race finished at 2.
 
There were 12 starters, which was quite good considering the conditions. The fleet split into two groups at the start with one group heading out left to the buoy line and another group heading straight down the lake. Newton (Solo) led the buoy line group and Ellen who had gone to a full rig Laser led the middle of the lake group. Ellen rounded the first mark just in the lead from Newton so there was not that much difference in choice of course.
As to be expected in the light winds the fleet got well spread out and there was not a great deal of overtaking.
At the gun the positions on the water were 1st Newton (Solo), 2nd Ellen (Laser), 3rd Dean & Nick (Vago), 4th Julian W (Solo), 5th Karen (Laser) 6th Mike A (Lightning).
Dave I (Laser) was 7th just ahead of Bob (Solo) with Nev in the first Leader next, then Rick (Laser) followed by Dave & Ann in the second Leader and Paul H (Supernova).
On handicap the first two should keep their positions but Julian should move up to 3rd with Mike A 4th ,
Dean & Nick 5th and Karen 6th.
 
Juniors
Edward and Joe were out in their Toppers and Jemima in her Oppie. Edward managed to ease away from Joe to lead at the finish and Jemima resolutely kept going to get a finish and a third place. After finishing her race Karen kindly remained on the water to sail alongside Jemima giving her encouragement.
The final position were 1st Edward, 2nd Joe, 3rd Jemima, but it is interesting to note that had Edward been sailing in the adult series he would have got a 2nd place on handicap!  
 
Thanks to Rod and the OOD Team of Bob H, Martin W and Neil B.
 
 
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