Author: jollysailor

The Winter / Flooding Season Approaches

 
The Winter / Flooding Season Approaches !!

Remember this ?    Winter approaches and while hopefully we will not see the same extent of flooding as last year,  nonetheless we should be prepared for some flooding.  Therefore the committee kindly requests that members ensure that their boats are properly secured both against flooding and high winds.  This will prevent damage not only to your your boat, but potentially others too by avoiding knocks and bangs. In extremis,  it will also ensure that your boat does not head downstream in general direction of Henley!
 
Now is a good time to do this to avoid being caught out later on.   

James Primrose
 
 
 
 

16th November Cobley Pursuit Race 10

 

A slightly misty morning with a light NNE wind, probably about 6 mph to start, then building up to 8 – 1- and dropping off again towards the end of the race.
There were 20 starters and Andy H used a Tektona start with a beat down to 6, across to 8, back up to 5 then 9 and a run to 2 and then back towards Tektona and the start line.
First away was William P in his Topper and then there was a wait of 11 minutes before Mike A (Lightning) got away followed at 1 minute intervals by Steve S (Solo) then Newton & Roz (Laser 2000) and Paul D (Radial) followed by Peter R (Enterprise).  The Laser pack was next away followed 1 minute later by Ian C (Supernova) then 2 minutes after Adrian in his Vago.
Paul R started somewhere around here in his new Aero 7 followed last of all by Steve P in the 505.
First back through the line were Newton & Roz with Steve S up to 2nd and Mike A and William down to 3rd and 4th.  Peter R was in close pursuit of William and then slightly further back was the first Laser of Richard S with Ian C in close attendance. Then came the next trio of Lasers, David and Jon C and Dave L who were very close together.  Paul R followed having just passed Andy B in another Laser and Curtis not far behind in yet another Laser. There was a slight gap back to another trio of Lasers, Phil A, James P and Dave I and an even smaller gap back to Eddie B (Laser), Adrian, Paul D and Alistair (Laser) with Steve P bringing up the rear, hardly surprising as he had started after the lead boats had crossed the line for their first lap !
By the second lap Steve S led from Peter R who was having a terrific battle with Newton & Roz. Ian C was now up to 4th with Mike A hanging on to 5th but Dave L was closing fast with David and Jon C not far behind him. Eddie had decided to go for his usual early cup of tea leaving the rest of us to it.
At the end of the third lap Peter R was leading and Ian had moved up from 4th to 2nd with Newton & Roz hanging on to 3rd with Steve S 4th, David C 5th, Dave L 6th, Jon C 7th and Paul R moving up to 8th.   
The gun went as the leaders were three quarters round the fourth lap. The leading eight boats were still in the same position apart from Ian taking the lead from Peter. The second pack of Lasers was led by Richard S in 10th place followed by Andy B, Curtis, Dave I, Phil A, and James P. Dave, Phil and James had enjoyed a terrific battle all through the race.
The final podium positions were 1st Ian, 2nd Peter, 3rd Newton & Roz.


AN INVITATION TO THE CHRISTMAS PINK DAY PARTY

THE PINK FLEET CHRISTMAS PARTY
Sat 13th December 2014
NO BREAKFAST – COME FOR LUNCH INSTEAD ! 
Race 11:00
Xmas buffet lunch 1300 ‘ish followed by a quiz, with prizes for the best team.
Tickets £5 adults, £3 children, including wine and beer, less any subs paid.
……hopefully Father Xmas will be stopping by……
 Please let Monica know by Monday 8th  December if you would like to come 

NUMBERS LIMITED – FIRST COME FIRST SERVED 
 
We need some helpful Elves for the following:
  • To drive the power boats
  • Clubhouse decoration on Friday pm with Pat
  • Food shopping
  • Food preparation and serving on the day
  • Clearing up and taking rubbish away
RESERVE YOUR PLACE TODAY 
email monicabeer@aol. com

RSC Juniors Compete at Maidenhead SC.


Saturday 8 November saw two junior teams from the club competing in a single handed, 2 boat team racing event hosted by Claires Court School at Maidenhead SC.  Teams were randomly divided into 4 leagues and after each round promoted and demoted. Reading Girls – Hadey and Amy and Reading Boys – William and Joe all started in League C sailing Toppers, where the girls won their first two races one of which was against the boys. The less experienced boys did well in windy conditions but unfortunately lost both races.  

Round two saw the girls promoted to League B where they again won both races this time in style with a 1,2 in both races.  The boys now sailing in League D began to find their feet and won both of their races too. 

By now the wind was increasing so much that the boats were all reefed before moving onto Round 3. The girls now in League A and sailing Fevas were now up against the better teams and unfortunately lost both races. The boys back in League C won one and lost one. 

Round 4 saw both the girls and boys in League B where the girls lost their race and the boys wet, cold and tired decided they had had enough for the day and did not sail. 

55 races were run in total, on a wet, cold windy day but both Teams enjoyed themselves, have asked when the next competition is, and did the club proud. 

The event was won by Clifton College with Goring Thames Sailing Club as runners up. Reading Girls finished 6th and Reading boys finished 8th. Very good results for their first team racing event. 

Well done, Hadey, Amy, William and Joe.

9th November Cup Race

 

It was a beautiful sunny morning for Remembrance Sunday and the November Cup Race.

With a very light SSW wind, Steve S made a last minute change to the first beat by putting X in place just past Tektona instead of the original No 3 buoy, in case no-one actually reached No 3 ! In fact a nice breeze sprang up shortly after the start and made for a very pleasant sail. There was a two minute silence before the start in remembrance of all those who served their country in past and current conflicts.

There were 15 starters and the fastest away from the line were David C and Karen in Lasers, Newton & Ellen in the Laser 2000 and Adrian in his Laser 8.1.  Well actually Jon C (Laser) was the quickest away but he was adjudged to be across the line and had to go back round again! Mike A (Lightning) did the same thing, but went back round just before the gun, as he arrived at the line too early.

At the end of the first lap, Steve P (505) led, followed by David C then Newton & Ellen and Karen. Peter R (Enterprise) had come up to 5th despite having to do penalty turns after a slow motion bump with Mike. Adrian was 6th with John W (Laser) 7th, Mike 8th, Curtis (Laser) 9th and Jon C up to 10th. Eddie B (Laser) in 11th place had pulled out a lead on Paul W (Radial), Sally (Comet) and Hadey (4.7), with Pat G (Mirror) slightly further back.

By the second lap the first five boats were in the same positions but very close together. At this point Peter R in the Enterprise was probably leading on handicap.  There was a slight gap back to Adrian and John W in 6th and 7th , but again these two were very close to one another. Curtis had passed Mike to move up one place to 8th but Jon and Eddie had retired, which moved Paul W up to 10th closely followed by Sally and Hadey.  These three were having a great battle at the back of the fleet.

Pat had now decided to retire and at the end of the third and last lap David C had just taken the lead from Steve P, but Steve was still in 2nd place.  Karen had moved up to 3rd and Adrian up to 4th with Peter still in 5th place.

The final positions on the water were 1st David C, 2nd Steve P, 3rd Karen; but on handicap Newton & Ellen were close enough to snatch victory with David C dropping down to 2nd with Karen retaining 3rd place.


2nd November Cobley 9

 

With a SW wind between 10 and 14 mph, Rod B set a first beat down to No 4 across to 9 and then back down to 3, 2, 5, 8 and finally 7.
There were 18 starters and first away were the 4.7 of Hadey and the two Bytes of Hugh and Peter S, followed 2 minutes later by Mike A (Lightning) then the deadly duo of Dave P & I (Wayfarer). Then 2 minutes after the Daves; Sylvia and Paul D in Radials and Newton & Roz in the Laser 2000 sallied forth to be followed after a further 2 minutes by the Laser pack, Jon & David C, Richard S, Ken P, Dave L, Richard B and Alistair S.  This cleared the start line for the remaining three boats, Ian C (Supernova), Paul R (Aero) and Adrian in his Vago, to set out in pursuit of the fleet.
First back through the start line at the end of one lap was Hadey followed by the other early starters, Hugh, Peter and Mike, then Dave P & I and Newton & Roz. The first Lasers came next with Jon C leading from David C and Richard S.  At the back of the fleet, Richard B was battling with Alistair S and Paul D.
By the end of the second lap, Newton & Roz were leading with Jon C 2nd and David 3rd. Ken had moved up 3 places to 7th, Paul R moved up four places to 10th, but the highest mover was Ian C going from 11th to 4th.
A lap later and Ian had taken the lead with Jon and David still lying 2nd and 3rd, Newton & Roz had slipped down to 4th with Paul R moving up five places to 5th and Richard S up three places to 6th, Further down the fleet Peter had managed to get away from Hadey and Hugh, but these two were still battling and talking away !
At the final gun the first two were still in place but Paul came through to take 3rd from David and everyone else maintained station. Even with the varying wind conditions there were no retirements and few capsizes, despite the forecast of strong winds.
Final positions were 1st Ian, 2nd Jon, and 3rd Paul.


20th October Cobley 7

 

Well what a difference a week makes, no wind last week and a 14 – 18 mph Westerly this week.  Chris A set a long beat down to No 3 then across to 2, up to 4 and a run down to 8, a gybe into a reach across to 6 with a nice gybe round this mark and back up to 3. A good course for a windy day.
Two Mirrors set off right on the start gun, Gordon P in one and young Joe & William in the other.  After 13 minutes Hugh set off in his Byte followed by Mike A (Lightning) 2 minutes later, with Mike C (Solo) and Nev and Sally (Leader) 1 minute after that and Newton & Ellen (Laser 200) another minute back. . Two minutes later the 10 strong Laser pack set out with Adrian setting out 3 minutes behind them in his Vago. Finally Steve P in the 505 started 10 minutes behind Adrian.
First back through the start was Gordon going well in the Mirror followed by Nev & Sally then Mike A and Hugh behind the Leader. At this point Newton had caught Mike C with David C in the first of the Lasers next. Joe & William were just ahead of the chasing Laser pack. Adrian had come to grief in the Vago, not all that surprising with all that sail area in a blow like that !
On the second lap, Joe & William decided to retire and the Lasers relentlessly moved up through the fleet with David and Jon C enjoying a family squabble towards the front.
On the third lap Gordon decided discretion was the order of the day and retired and after a capsize Hugh decided the same. Alistair’s boom came clean off the gooseneck and he was struggling in the wind to get it back in place. He actually managed to fix it and carry on, but shortly afterwards capsized. However showing indomitable spirit he got going again and persevered to the finish.
In fact all of the remaining fleet made it to the final gun. It got very frisky towards the end of the race and Mike C decided to take an early bath when gybing round 8 with only about 5 minutes to the finish then Mike A demonstrated the death roll on his way back to shore after the race had finished !.
The final positions were 1st David C, 2nd Jon C, 3rd Newton & Ellen


12th October Cobley 6

Last week we had a light wind Sunday and this week we had a no wind Sunday, with a 0 – 1 mph Northish ! Ian C had a real problem setting any sort of course in these conditions.
The lack of wind obviously put some off, as only 10 boats mustered for the off. First away at 4 minutes was young William P in his Topper followed 6 minutes later by Hadey (4.7), with Monica going 2 minutes later. Peter R was next away in the Enterprise with the reduced Laser pack of James P, Phil A, Dave I, Eddie B and Alistair S following one minute later and Steve P in his 505 11 minutes after the Lasers.
First through the start line after one lap was Peter followed by Monica then Hadey. Next came the three Lasers of James P, Dave I and Phil A pretty close together. Then there was a gap to William who was still holding off the Lasers of Eddie and Alistair with Steve bringing up the rear.
After two laps Monica and Eddie had retired, but Peter was still in the lead with James P moving up to 2nd, Dave I to 3rd,  Phil A to 4th  and Hadey  5th.  Steve P had by now passed Alistair and William to move up to 6th.
At the gun the first four were still the same but Steve had made up one more place to finish 5th.
The final podium was 1st Peter, 2nd James, 3rd Dave I.

 


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