Author: jollysailor

Team Report: RSC Toppers at the NSSA Single Handed Team Racing Event

 
A team of Reading youth Topper sailors consisting of Ben, Joe and William (ably supported by their respective Dads) competed in the weekend just gone in the National School’s Sailing Assoc. single handed team racing event at the Hunts Sailing Club at St Ives in Cambridgeshire.  This was a large event consisting of 32 teams from all over the country from as far afield as Plymouth, Barry in South Wales, and Lancashire, but also including Reading’s arch rivals, Claire’s Court, coached by Reading’s very own Vice Commodore – the turncoat !
 
The weather was fine on both days with a fresh 9-11 mph breeze that picked up during both days. For the event’s size it was very well run with some 160 races sailed over 2 days, in sequences of 6 flights of boats with a constant stream of team/boat changeovers. So the boys had to get their eyes in from the get-go in terms of the sausage machine that was the start sequence.  Success came early for Reading, winning 3 out of the 6 races sailing on Saturday placing them 9th overall (and ahead of both of Claire Court’s teams !).  However, reality dawned a little on the second day of racing.  Firstly, came the news that one of the races had been recorded incorrectly, and in fact Reading had only won 2 on Saturday. Secondly, as the boys faced tougher competition they found out that team racing is about tactics, as well as sailing well.  Despite, some hard fought races frustratingly being pipped at the post a number of times, Reading couldn’t add to their overall tally of wins, and so ended the competition well down the field.  It was a learning experience for the Dads as well who had a chance to go out on the umpire boats, and pick up umpiring tips as well as some of the finer points of the racing rules – just don’t mention rule 42 to Steve, you’ll never get him off it! 
 
At the end of the day, the boys should be proud of their performance, their standard of sailing was consistently of a very high standard throughout 2 days of a fairly gruelling sailing schedule. It is a question of focusing now on the tactics to turn those sailing skills into points.
 
The NSSA and Hunts SC should be commended for staging such a large event and all the preparation necessary to make it go so smoothly. Congratulations should also go to Claire’s Court, whose 2 teams came 12th and 25th respectively.
 
 
Some video footage courtesy of the official Reading SC Team Photographer – Steve.
 
 
James Primrose
Team Manager

pink day

THE NEXT PINK DAY IS SATURDAY 10TH SEPT
 Usual format, breakfast, bacon rolls etc £2, 0930  race 1100.

Please contact Monica or Paul and Jan
if you would like to have break fast.

Have a great sail

Monica

Sunday 20th September Bart’s Bash Races

Last Sunday all over the world races were being held to raise funds for the Andrew Simpson Sailing  Foundation and Reading SC was taking part as we did last year for the first Bart’s Bash.
 
It was decided to hold one race for the Juniors and then a second race for the Oldies starting about 45 minutes later. However the weather had other ideas and although the sun was breaking through by 10.30 there was no sign of any wind so the Junior start was delayed.
In the meantime Paul R was distributing “Build your own Boat” kits to the kids with a view to holding a race of these little boats at the end of the day and a sponsor form was going round so that punters could back the boat number of their choice.
At 11.00 with still no wind, Karen and Hadey initiated a wind dance with the juniors to summon up the wind spirits and Mike N donned his Indian Head Dress and gave a cameo performance as Big Chief Get the Wind Up (nothing to do with barbecue sausages he was cooking !)
At 11.30 after a pow-wow it was decided that the oldies should go for it first and the juniors could start later if any wind appeared and lo and behold five minutes before the first gun the wind arrived !
Just shows what a little faith and a good dance can do !
 
Newton was SOOD and set a first beat down to 4 then 2, 5, 6, 7 and back through the start line.
There were 18 starters, unfortunately down on last year, but well done to everyone who signed on.
Jon (Laser with a new sail) was first back through the line followed by Richard S and Dave L also in Lasers, then Ellen & Matt (RS 200) and John H (Laser), Adrian (Rooster) and Hadey (4.7).  Then another trio of Lasers came through, James, Alistair S and David M followed by Mike A (Lightning), Alexander (Buzz), Chris (Comet), Paul W (Radial), Rick (Laser) Bob & Roland L (Leader), Stan (Laser) and finally Matt R (Skipper).
There were not too many changes in position on the second lap apart from John H who came to grief rounding 6, but soon got going again. David M moved up three places to 7th and James up two places to 8th and Rick also gained two places.
As the race progressed Jon maintained his lead, but Dave L moved up to 2nd place and Adrian came through to 3rd. In mid fleet Hadey, Mike A and Alistair S were having a good battle.,
Matt R received the gun after two laps and Stan after three laps with Chris, Hadey and Bob & Roland finishing at the end of five laps.
The final positions on the water after six laps were 1st Jon; 2nd Dave L; 3rd Adrian; 4th Richard S; 5th Ellen & Matt; 6th James.
 
The Junior Race set off after the oldies had come through their first lap and there were seven Topper and three Oppies competing.
After one lap William was in the lead with Joe 2nd, Ben 3rd, Thomas 4th, Milo 5th Rhys 6th and Katie 7th.
Jemima was leading the Oppies with Chloe 2nd and Bee 3rd and they were given the gun at the end of the lap.
At the end of the second lap William still led but Ben had moved up to 2nd and Rhys up to 3rd with Thomas 4th, Joe 5th, Mile 6th and Katie 7th.
Well done to all of you and for being patient at the delayed start.
 
Despite the delayed start it turned out to be a great day for sailing with a nice breeze (eventually) and sunshine. There were cakes, soup and hot dogs and other goodies provided by Geesje, Ann and Sally and the head barbecue chefs Mike N and Stuart.
 
Thanks to Ellen for organising the event and to Matt from Hyde Sails for backing the event and providing T shirts and prizes.
 
Thanks to Newton and Paul R and the OOD Team of Alistair J, Mike C, Nick J, Graham K, Pat, John H and Wendy and Karen (who did a great job of encouraging the juniors both off and on the water).
 
Thanks to anyone else who helped in any way and indeed thanks to everyone who turned out for this worthwhile and enjoyable event.
 

Tree pruning Saturday 26th September

Please be aware that some tree pruning will be taking place behind the clubhouse, from about midday on Saturday. Avoid this area until the work is finished.
The contractors will need access via the grassed area to the right of the car park. This will have to be kept clear.

Bart’s Bash Sunday 20th September

Reminder that this Sunday is Bart’s Bash. Junior and Novice race at 10.30 main race at 11.15 ish.
Please register at www.bartsbash.com/registration Registration on the day is possible but it is much easier to do in advance. A £5 donation to the charity is requested from competitors on the day.
 
There will be a BBQ and raffle with the proceeds going to the charity.
 
Non members and spectators welcome.
 
The RS200 will be available after the race and in the afternoon for people to try out. 

Cobley Series 2 13th September

With an E wind, but variable both in direction and strength, Mike N had a tricky job setting the start line and used Tektona with a beat down to 6 then 8, 5, 2, 3 and back through the start.
 
Traditionally the Cobley was a 90 minute pursuit, but it had been decided to use the Summer Series format of a 35 minute Pursuit Race followed by a 45 minute Handicap Race.
 
There were 20 starters for the Pursuit Race and Ellen & Newton (RS 200) were first back through the start line followed by Hugh (Byte), Richard S (Laser), Adrian (Rooster) and Curtis and Mark B in Lasers. There was quite a mixed fleet this morning with eight Lasers, the two Toppers of William and Joe, Chris H (Comet), Hadey (4.7), Peter R (Enterprise), Nev single handed in his Leader, Stan (Pico), Steve P (505) and Mike A (Lightning).
At the finish gun Ellen & Newton were still in 1st place with 2nd Richard S, 3rd Adrian, 4th Hugh, 5th Curtis, 6th Neville.
 
Everyone stayed on for the Handicap Race and at the start three boats jumped the gun and were over the line.
This time Richard S was first back through the line with Newton & Ellen 2nd,  Mark 3rd, Adrian 4th, Steve P 5th and Curtis 6th. Stan decided one lap was enough for him. Neville took a chance by squeezing inside Hadey at No 6 and got a right telling off from her and he decided that he had to do penalty turns or never hear the last from her.
Richard and Newton & Ellen retained their leading positions to the end, but on the second lap Peter R was up to 3rd. Hugh must have got the message that he was one of the OCS offenders and retired.
Towards the back of the fleet Rick decided to take Mike out by ramming him twice and then had to do penalty turns under instruction from Hadey !   At the end of the second lap William and Joe received the finish gun with William taking the Topper honours on this occasion.
At the end of the final lap the first three boats had maintained their positions, but Steve P had moved up to 4th, David C, Adrian and Rick all gained a place on the last lap. Poor Neville finished the race only to discover that he was one of the boats over the line at the start. The other boat was actually Adrian but he rounded and restarted avoiding DSQ.
 
The final positions on the water were 1st Richard; 2nd Newton & Ellen; 3rd Peter R, 4th Steve P; 5th Mark B; 6th Curtis.
On Handicap the first three retain their positions but Chris H should move up to 4th.
 
Thanks to Mike N and the OOD Team Sally, Issy, James and John W.

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