Reading Sailing Club Members

Very light winds for the latest rounds of the Cobley series today.

10 boats made it out for the start of the pursuit race, with the Toppers of Elissa and Tatiana & Rob in his Mirror first to set off.

Suddenly becalmed, the rest of the fleet, consisting primarily of Comets & ILCA6’s set off in pursuit.

Aileen (Comet) was first around the windward mark, followed by Will S (ILCA6) & Chris H (Comet). Aileen was ahead for the first lap, before being overtaken by Will. With just a few minutes until the final gun, Aileen once again took the lead.

Elsewhere in the race, Tatiana (Topper) managed to pass Ron (Mirror), who had stalled at the beginning of his second lap.

Ian H (ILCA6) hit the windward mark, and in doing his penalty turn, capsized. The lack of wind provided no resistance for clambering back into the boat, and spectators were treated to a triple capsize before Ian managed to sail on.

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

The wind built slightly, maybe even to a full knot for the Handicap race, with most boats getting a good start. Mike & Alé (470) took an early lead, followed by Will & Aileen. Aileen & Karen managed to overtake Will on the 3rd leg, having both noticed the wind shift before him.

With the wind dying, the race was a one lap wonder, with Mike & Alé crossing the line first, followed by Aileen & Karen.

On handicap, Aileen was 1st, with Karen 2nd & Mike & Alé 3rd.

A big well done to all the sailors who went out today and persevered in the trying conditions.

Thanks to Hugh & his team for running the racing today.

After the race, there were bacon rolls, made by Ann.

We’re back next Sunday for the next rounds of the Cobley Series.

Very light winds for the annual Twilight race last night. Marking the end of the Wednesday evening racing for the year.

21 boats headed out, with their boats adorned with lights as they sailed around the course.

There was a packed start line, with a lot of boats favouring the pin end. Karen (Comet) & Emily (ILCA6) made great headway towards the windward mark. The rest of the fleet followed, with Hugh & Will (RS200) leading the best of the rest, before losing time during a futile spinnaker hoist.

Mike & Alé (470) made great gains, passing Emily, but couldn’t pass Mark B (AERO7).

Elsewhere in the race, Newton & Ellen (2000) were having a close battle with Hugh & Will & Joel (ILCA6) was having a good race with Richard G (AERO7), who had lost out in his battle with Mark around the windward mark.

The race was finished after one lap, due to the dying wind conditions.

Karen crossed the line 1st, followed by Mark B & Mike & Alé.

On handicap, Karen finished 1st, winning the Twilight Trophy, with Emily 2nd and Mark B 3rd.

Also awarded was the best decorated boat, which this year went to Hugh & Will in their 200.

Thanks to Chris H, Rick & the rest of their team for running the race last night.

After the race, there was a BBQ, which attracted the best evening meal attendance of the year. Expertly cooked by Ann & Steve M.

We’re back on Sunday for the next rounds of the Cobley Series.

Jewels & Ron Vass were at the Mirror Nationals at Netley. Despite the difficult conditions, Jewels came away with 1st singlehander.

4 sailors went to the ILCA open at Frensham Pond, with Will S achieving 3rd & Rhys P 5th in the 6 fleet. Hugh finished 3rd in the 7 fleet.

Make sure to send your travel experiences to us so we can share them.

A perfect wind for our final Junior Regatta of the year.

11 sailors made it out in a steady force three from the north east. Despite, the numerous wind shifts, the young sailors improved throughout the afternoon, with 5 short races.

Our instructor & coaching team were on hand to offer support and advice to the more novice members as they worked their way around the course.

A big thank you to Karen & her team for organising the event & to Newton & Jess for running the races.

There are plenty of further opportunities for our junior racers, with the Eric Twiname Team racing event coming up in October, along with our regular Pink Fleet & Sunday morning racing.

Shifty winds for the latest rounds for the Cobley series yesterday. But blue skies and sun meant 15 boats headed out for the pursuit race.

Paul W set off first in his Morbic, with Tatiana in her Topper following shortly after.

The wind filled in for the Comets of Karen, Chris H & Sally, before a lull at the start line left the ILCA6’s & Solos struggling to get away. Karen got ahead, and kept her lead for the rest of the race. Newton (Solo), Will S (ILCA6) & Hugh (ILCA7) were having a close race to round off the podium. Meanwhile, Steve S (ILCA7), Richard G (AERO7) & Chris H had dropped further back and were having a fight of their own.

At the finish gun, Karen was first, with Newton 2nd And Hugh 3rd.

The wind filled in slightly for the handicap race. The shifts made it difficult to decide on a starting position, but Will S read it perfectly, starting at the pin end & port tacking the entire fleet. Newton was next around the windward mark, followed by Richard G who promptly capsized.

What followed was a close battle between Will & Newton, before Newton dropped back.

Meanwhile, there was a close battle between Chris H & Karen (Both in Comets) Alé (470), Richard G & Rick (ILCA7) were all having a close battle in the midflet.

Will S crossed the line 1st, with Newton 2nd & Hugh 3rd.

On Handicap, Will retained 1st, with Newton 2nd & Chris H 3rd.

Thanks to Ron & his team for running the racing yesterday.

After the race, there were bacon rolls made by Ann.

We’re back on Wednesday for the Twilight Race, which is the final Wednesday evening race of the year.

A strong breeze from the southwest with gusts up to force 6 for the final round of the Gillette series last night.

9 boats made it out for the start, where the wind quickly built further. All boats were right on the line at the start, but Will S (ILCA6) & Darren (ILCA7) both suffered capsizes just after the starting gun.

Will quickly recovered, but Darren’s tiller extension broke and he was forced to retire.

A long beat up to the far end of the lake had Mike & Alé (470) in first, followed by Hugh (ILCA7) & Rhys (ILCA6).

Rhys overtook Hugh on the reach, before both of them passed Mike & Alé, who had capsized on the penultimate mark. Further back, Joel (ILCA6) & Richard W (ILCA7) were having a close battle & Paul W was braving the conditions in his Morbic.

Mike & Alé required assistance from the safety boat team to right their 470 & retired.

Ralph meanwhile had opted for the smaller rig (ILCA6) but after two capsizes also retired.

Rhys crossed the line 1st, with Hugh 2nd & Will S 3rd, having worked his way back through the fleet.

On handicap, Rhys was 1st, with Will S 2nd & Hugh 3rd.

A big thank you yo Newton & his team for running the racing and providing great safety boat cover.

After the race, there was Pasta Soffrito & Mushrooms in white wine sauce, made by Steve P.

Yesterday’s race marked the end of the Gillette series, with the overall results:

Newton 1st

Hugh 2nd

Rhys 3rd

We’re back on Sunday for the next rounds of the Cobley series, as well as the Junior Regatta.

Very light winds for the Barts Bash race yesterday.

12 boats took to the water despite the light winds. Aileen (Comet) was first to the windward mark before being overtaken. Newton shot into 1st, followed by Jess and Chris H. Further back, Aileen, Mark (Aero7), Karen (Comet) and Nigel (ILCA7) were having a close battle, before Aileen and Karen pulled ahead.

Newton crossed the line first in his RS200, Tatiana crewing for the first time. Followed by Jess (ILCA7) & Chris H (Comet) 3rd.

On handicap, Chris H finished 1st, with Aileen 2nd & Jess 3rd.

Donations were collected to support Barts Bash & the Andrew Simpson Foundation.

A big thank you to Darren & his team for organising the racing yesterday.

After the race, there were Bacon rolls, made by Ann, the proceeds from which also went to the Andrew Simpson Foundation.

More shifty winds from the Southeast for the penultimate round of the Gilette series last night.

15 boats took to the water, there was a significant bias as the starboard end of the line and most boats chose to start there. The wind shifted after the start and Hugh (ILCA7) & Newton (Solo) broke away from the rest of the fleet.

Nigel (ILCA6) was stuck in a lull at the port end and was last across the start line. But the wind shift worked to his advantage and he rounded the windward mark 6th. Despite starting at the pin end, Darren (ILCA7) was last to the windward mark and had his work cut out working his way back through the fleet.

Meanwhile, Will S, Rhys & Joel (All ILCA6), along with Richard W (ILCA7) & Karen (Comet) were all having a close race trying to fill out the final spot on the podium.

Further back, Mike T (Solo), Nigel, Steve S (ILCA7) & Ian (ILCA6) were all having a close battle, although Steve S edged ahead at the final lap.

Hugh crossed the line 1st, with Newton 2nd & Darren 3rd, having made a great comeback through the fleet.

On handicap, Hugh was 1st, with Newton 2nd & Karen 3rd.

A big thank you to Alé & his team for organising the racing yesterday.

After the race, there was Chicken Korma & Naan, made by Karen, who skillfully avoided a photo, so we had to find an old one on file!

Were back on Sunday for the next rounds of the Cobley Series.

A very shifty and inconsistent wind for the first races of the Cobley Series.

Typically coming from the south, the wind direction meant a short course at the far end of the lake. 17 boats made it out for the Pursuit race, which was led by Tatiana (Topper) at the start, who set off first. The rest of the fleet then set off to catch up, with a lull allowing the ILCA 7’s to catch up with the slower boats almost immediately. It was a busy first beat, with all the boats close together, vying for position.

Newton (Solo), Chris H (Comet) & Hugh (ILCA7) all made it out of the fleet, with Newton ending up far ahead. Chris & Hugh were having a close battle, which allowed Darren (ILCA7), & the ILCA6’s of Chris K, Rhys & Will S to catch up.

At the end of the race, Newton finished first, with Hugh 2nd & Chris H 3rd. The race was so close in the midfleet that the race officer had a great time tyring to work out who was closer.

Most boats stayed out for the handicap race, and there was a bust start line as most opted for a starboard end start. Darren made it out in front, with Will S & Chris H close behind. Newton, Chris K, Rhys & Hugh were all slightly further back fighting for position.

Newton managed to pass Chris H to get up to 3rd place, who dropped back behind the ILCA’s of Hugh & Chris K. Darren crossed the line 1st, with Will S 2nd & Newton 3rd. On handicap, Chris H won, with Will S 2nd & Chris K 3rd. A big thank you to Jess & her team for running the racing yesterday.

We’re back on Wednesday for the next round of the Gilette Series.