Reading Sailing Club Members

 

Gillette Junior Series Race 5 – 25^th August 2021

The wind was NWish about 8-10 mph tonight and there were just three starters.

The positions were the same throughout the race and did not change on corrected time –

1^st Jasmine Topper

2^nd Toby Topper

3^rd Ollie Oppie  

Gillette Junior Series Race 6 – 1^st September 2021

The wind was similar to last week and the same three sailors turned out.

The race was slightly longer with Jasmine and Toby completing four laps and Ollie three.

Toby led from Jasmine for three laps, but unfortunately capsized on the fourth and let Jasmine through to take the victory.

The positions did not change on corrected time and were – 1^st Jasmine; 2^nd Toby; 3^rd Ollie

Overall Series

The series ran over six races and involved 14 competitors racing Oppies, Toppers. 4.7s and a Radial.

The final order was –

1^st Ollie            Optimist

2^nd Jasmine     Topper

3^rd Toby           Topper

In fact, Ollie was the only one to sail in all six races, so congratulations to him for winning the series and well done to everyone who took part.

Thanks to Karen, Hadey, Newton and Richards S and others who helped to organize and run the races.  

The format of the Lex Cup tends to change from year to year and last time it was a single race and there were more OODs than competitors (incidentally won by Chris H from a fleet of only four!). This year there were four races of two laps with three to count in the overall tally with 10 competitors and only three OODs. Hadey had kindly taken on the SOOD duty helped by Chris A and Bill C in the SB.

It was good to see Pippa and Charlie out in their Oppies.

Race 1

The order on the second lap remained the same as on the first lap, which was – 1^st Newton (Solo); 2^nd Mark (Laser); 3^rd Mike C (Solo) then Ron (Mirror), Aileen (Comet), Pippa (Oppie), Rich (Comet Duo) and Charlie (Oppie).

Race 2

Jeremy turned up with his Laser to swell the fleet for the second race, which was slightly different as there were some positional changes on the second lap.  

Mark, Newton and Mike C occupied the first three places for both laps, but Jeremy and Ron both gained a place on the second lap by passing Aileen with Pippa and Charlie coming in behind her and Rich retired on the first lap.

 Race 3

More excitement as another Laser joined the fleet when Alistair arrived. The order on the first lap was pretty much the same as the previous race, especially as Alistair politely stayed at the back sorting out his sheets. On the second lap Jeremy snatched 3^rd place from Mike C by 3 seconds and Alistair moved up three passing Rich, Charlie and Pippa to finish just behind Aileen.

Race 4

Mark and Newton again led the dance for both laps, but Alistair had found his mojo and was 3^rd on the first lap although Mike C did pinch that place from him on the second lap. Jeremy, Ron and Aileen were steady in the middle and Rich just pipped Pippa by 3 seconds on the line.

Pippa and Charlie did well to finish all four races and their positions on the water were improved on corrected time. However, Ron sailing steadily in the middle of the fleet came out on top.

The final order on corrected time being –

1^st Ron; 2^nd Newton; 3^rd Mark; 4^th Pippa; 5^th Mike C; 6^th Aileen and Charlie was 8^th.

Congratulations to Lex Cup winner Ron and well done Pippa and Charlie.

Thanks to Hadey for volunteering again and to Chris A and Bill C for their able assistance.

It was an overcast morning with a light wind and a few stronger gusts coming through.

Pursuit Race

There were 14 starters and at the end of a lap the early starters, Ron Laser (Mirror), Chris H (Comet) and Dave & Ann (Leader) were still ahead of the chasers led by James (Laser), Newton & Sam (RS200) and Mark (Laser).

At the 35 minute gun the order was -1^st Newton & Sam; 2^nd James; 3^rd Chris H; 4^th Mark; 5^th Dave & Ann; 6^th Ron.

Handicap Race

First back across the line was Chris H (Comet) followed by the Lasers of James and Mark. Chris K in another Laser and Newton & Sam (RS200) crossed the line together competing for 4^th place and behind them Dave & Ann (Leader and Rick (Laser) also crossed together fighting for 6^th place. Mike C (Solo) was next along in 8^th spot, but he was a minute ahead of Ron (Mirror), who in turn was a minute ahead of Alistair (Laser). The there was a gap back to Hattie (one of our newer members and a welcome addition to the racing fleet) in her Laser and she was well ahead of one of our old salts Paul W in his Morbic12 followed by another new recruit to the racing fleet Chris in a Mirror (which should please Ron).

By the end of the second lap Newton & Sam had taken the lead with James and Mark still in 2^nd and 3^rd places. Dave & Ann had prevailed over Rick to consolidate 6^th and Mike C had also passed Rick to move up to 7^th. In the battle at the back Chris had managed to catch and pass Paul and they along with Hattie ahead of them received the gun at the end of the lap.

Newton & Sam finished the last lap in 1^st with James still 2^nd, but Chris K and Dave & Ann just pipped Mark across the line pushing him down to 5^th. Mike C moved up a place to 6^th by passing Chris H and Rick, Ron and Alistair brought up the rear.

On corrected time the order changes to – 1^st Ron; 2^nd Chris H; 3^rd Newton & Sam; 4^th Dave & Ann; 5^th James; 6^th Mike C.

This just goes to show that whatever class of boat you sail, be it Mirror, Comet, Leader, Solo, RS200 or the ubiquitous Laser, you are in with a chance! (Well some of you are – not sure about the rest of us)

Thanks to SOOD Darren and the small race team of Phoebe (star footballer) and Ralph.

With a wind ranging from 5 – 12 mph, Mark set a course of A, 5, 4, B, 2 and back through the start.

At the end of the first lap Dave & Ann (Leader) were first back across the line followed 10 second later by Ellen then Darren and Steve S, all in Lasers. Newton & Sam (RS200) came through in 5^th just ahead of Alistair, Hilary and Paul H, again all in Lasers.  Then along came Ron in his trusty Mirror followed at some distance by Rich F (Comet Duo), Fleur (4.7), Paul W (Morbic) and Angus in another Mirror.

On the second lap Ellen took the lead but there was no other change in the positions down to 6^th place. Paul H moved up to 7^th by passing Hilary, Fleur moved up to 10th by passing Rich and everyone else maintained station. Angus and Paul received the gun at the end of this lap.

The third and last lap saw Darren cross the line in 1^st place with Ellen holding 2^nd and Dave & Ann moving up to 3^rd and Newton & Sam up to 4^th.  The only other change was Rich repassing Fleur.

The order on the water was – 1^st Darren; 2^nd Ellen; 3^rd Dave & Ann; 4^th Newton & Sam; 5^th Steve; 6^th Alistair

On corrected time this becomes – 1^st Dave & Ann; 2^nd Ron (never write him off if you can still see him and sometimes when you cannot see him!); 3^rd Darren; 4^th Ellen; 5^th Newton & Sam; 6^th Steve.

Thanks to SOOD Mark and the team of Alessandro, Hadey and Mike C.

This Jolly Sailor was on holiday this weekend so I am relying on the race sheet for the details. Newton was SOOD using a course of A, 4, C, B and back through the start. Yes -your guess is as good as mine, but I suspect it was a light wind from a Westerly direction.

Pursuit Race

Only 10 starters this morning, so probably quite a number of others were on holiday. The wind must have been light because none of the Lasers managed to catch the early starters.

So, the final order on the water was – 1^st Chris H (Comet), 2^nd Ron (Mirror) 3^rd Dave & Ann (Leader); 4^th Chris K (Laser); 5^th Mark (Laser), 6^th Darren (Laser) then Ralph and Rick in Lasers with Paul W (Morbic) and Adrian who was last to start with his Rooster rig.

Handicap Race

Newton had wisely set a short course, so the race turned out to be a five lapper.

With the light wind the whole fleet stayed fairly close together for the duration of the race.

Daren was first back across the line with Mark not far behind him and these two led for all five laps. The battle for third place was very close and at the end of the first lap just 30 seconds covered everyone apart from Ron who serenely sailed his own race at the back of the fleet.

Adrian who was 3^rd on the first lap gradually slipped back with the Lasers of Chris K, Ralph and Rick coming through to claim 3^rd, 4^th and 5^th respectively. Dave & Ann were in 6^th spot for most of the race and ominously for the leaders Chris H was still up with the rest of the fleet in 7^th place. In fact, the 6^th, 7^th and 8^th placed boats crossed the finish line with only four seconds between them. 

The order on the water was – 1^st Darren; 2^nd Mark; 3^rd Chris K; 4^th Ralph; 5^th Rick; 6^th Dave & Ann

On corrected time this becomes – 1^st Chris H; 2md Darren; 3^rd Mark; 4^th Chris K; 5^th Dave & Ann; 6^th Ralph.

Thanks to SOOD Newton and the race team of Aileen and Mike C.

It is rumoured that Mike C volunteered for duty as he was suffering with a slight groin strain from last Wednesday night as a result of standing with one foot on the jetty and the other on his boat when a gust came along. This resulted in the boat being taken by the wind and drifting outward taking Mike’s leg with it. As Mike’s stance got wider and wider the inevitable eventually occurred, plop!

I believe that he then engaged in a spot of friendly horse play with a fellow sailor, but I don’t I am not sure about the speculation that he has applied for a position as lead chorister  with the celebrated Trinity Boys Choir or should that be the celibated boys choir!

With a tricky wind varying between 5 and 12 mph, Hadey set a course of A, 5, 9, 4, 2 and back through the start.

It was quite a busy start line with 22 boats lining up (well loosely) for the gun. The pattern for the race was established at the end of the first lap when Newton & Ainhoa (RS200) led across the line followed by Ellen (Laser) and Mark (Laser) and these three maintained those positions for all three laps.  There was a good battle for the next six places between Nigel (Laser), Steve & Rick (RS200), Roland S (Solo), Dave & Ann (Leader), Mike T (Laser) and Dean & Nick (Vago). Joe (Laser) was right behind Dean & Nick, but he retired on the second lap leaving Jamie and Paul H in Lasers and Mike C (Solo) to do the chasing. Strangely Ralph was languishing towards the back of the fleet when he is usually in the leading group and battling with Jeremy (Laser) and Sally (Comet).

Dairmuid (Laser) retired on the first lap and Casten (Laser), Paul W (Morbic), Hattie (Laser) and Rich F (Comet Duo) all received the gun at the end of two laps.

At the end of the last lap Dave & Ann had triumphed in the fight for 4^th place with Nigel 5^th and Mike T up to 6^th, which would normally be down for him!  In the battle further back Paul H and Mike C had gained the advantage both of them managing to get past Dean & Nick.

The final order on the water was – 1^st Newton & Ainhoa; 2^nd Ellen; 3^rd Mark; 4^th Dave & Ann; 5^th Nigel; 6^th Mike T  

On corrected time the only change is Dave & Ann leapfrogging Mark to take 3^rd spot.

Thanks to SOOD Hadey and the race team of Monica, Angus and Chris H.

The wind was quite a strong SSW about 16 – 17 mph and gusting over 20 and not surprisingly there were only three juniors out tonight.

Lucy in a 4.7 won and completed four laps with Jasmine completing one lap in her Topper taking 2^nd place and Ollie in his Oppie retied on his first lap, but takes 3^rd place.

Well done to all of you for going out in such windy conditions.  

Thanks to Newton and his helpers for running the race.

There was a 10 mph WSW wind and Hadey set the first beat as 5, then 9, 4, 2, A (behind the start line which was parallel to the shore) and through the start.A new boat appeared this morning, a Goat Island Skiff with a traditional gaff rig which originated in Australia. Owner Steve had built it himself from a set of plans with a little collaboration with our other gaff rig sailor, Paul W. Also we had four new racers joining the fleet Carston and Dairmaid & his two little ones. Welcome to you all.  

Pursuit Race

There were 12 starters and at the end of the lap the early starters Ron (Mirror), Chris H (Comet) and Dave & Ann (Leader) were still leading the fleet with Newton & Ainhoa (RS200) in 4^th place and Mike A (Lightning) in 5^th. Then there were the Lasers of Mark, James P and Jamie being chased by Adrian (Rooster) who had just overtaken the Laser of Dairmaid & daughter (sorry you will have to tell me your name). Rick & Lottie (RS200) and Carston (Radial) were battling to avoid the lanterne rouge.

At the gun the final order was – 1^st Newton & Ainhoa: 2^nd Chris H; 3^rd Mark; 4^th Dave & Ann; 5^th James P; 6^th Dairmaid.

Handicap Race

Hadey and Ralph tweaked the course for the second race inserting B as the first mark (halfway between 5 and 6) then 5, 1 (instead of 9) 4, 2, A.

Mark was first back across the line followed 30 seconds later by Newton & Ainhoa, then James in 3^rd place. Dairmaid & son were through in 4^th place just ahead of Dave & Ann, who were 20 seconds ahead of Adrian and Jamie. Chris H crossed in 8^th place followed by Mike A and then there was a gap before Ron and Rick & Lottie came through. Carston retired on this lap.

On the second lap there was no change in the order of the first three, but Adrian was up two places to 4^th. Further back Jamie moved up to 6^th by passing Dave & Ann and Rick & Lottie passed Ron.

At the end of the third and last lap the first four remained the same, but Jamie was up another place to finish 5^th by passing Dairmaid. There were no other movers and the order on the water was – 1^st Mark; 2^nd Newton & Ainhoa; 3^rd James P; 4^th Adrian; 5^th Jamie; 6^th Dairmaid.

On corrected time some of the slower handicap boats appear and the order becomes – 1^st Mark; 2^nd Newton & Ainhoa; 3^rd James; 4^th Chris H; 5^th Ron; 6^th Dave & Ann.

Thanks to SOOD Hadey and the race team of Ralph and Brian M (who volunteered to help as we were struggling for numbers).      

The wind was quite a breezy SSW tonight, about 16 mph at the start of the race and dropping down to about 12 mph as the race went on. Rick used a first mark as A (near Tektona but more in the middle of the lake) then 4, 9, 5, 6, 7 and back through the start.

There were 18 starters tonight and before the start Mike A found his rudder was jammed in a horizontal position. Trying to move it he manged to pull it off the pintles and was heading smartly towards the buoy line when Steve S & Nick J in the safety boat managed to halt his progress. Mike then managed to reseat his rudder, albeit in a jammed down position!

At the end of the first lap Mike T (Laser) crossed the line in the lead followed by Newton & Sam (RS200) then the Lasers of Jamie H, Mark and Ralph. Next through in 6^th place was Roland (Solo)  with Alex & Matt (470) going well in 7^th place with Mike C in another Solo just 6 seconds behind them. There was a gap of about 2 minutes before the Comets of Chris H and Aileen came along, battling for 9^th place with Dave & Ann just behind them in 11^th place.

Mike A (Lightning) was next along, about a minute ahead of Sally in another Comet.  Then Nick H (Laser), Paul W (Morbic) and Angus (Mirror) made up the remainder of the fleet.

The two Richards, respectively RH in a Laser and RF in a Comet Duo both retired. Not sure what happened to them, but at one stage Richard H was seen heading rapidly towards No 2 with his boom pointing skywards!

On the second lap Mark and Jamie both passed Newton & Sam to move up to 2^nd and 3^rd places. Ralph and Roland maintained 5^th and 6^th but were starting to open a gap of a minute on the next boat, which was Mike C with Dave & Ann moving up three places to 8^th pushing Alex & Matt down to 9^th place. Chris H had moved away from Aileen in the battle of the Comets and she was now only one second ahead of Mike A as they crossed the line. Nick H gained a place by passing Sally and Paul W and Angus were persevering at the rear of the fleet.

The third lap saw no change in the first two, but Newton & Sam had repassed Jamie to move up to 3^rd place. Further back Dave & Ann had passed Mike C to move to 8^th and Mike A had passed Aileen to move to 10^th. Alex & Matt and Sally retired on this lap and Angus received the gun at the end of his third lap.

By the end of the fourth lap Mark had moved into the lead and Ralph had now moved to 3^rd place passing Jamie and Newton & Sam. Roland was still in 6^th place and these leading six boats had a gap of over 4 minutes on the rest of the fleet. There were no changes in the positions of the following boats. Mike A, Aileen, Nick H and Paul W all received the finish gun at the end of their fourth lap as the had been lapped by the leader. In fact Aileen whooped for joy as Mark came past and Mike A sailed a somewhat peculiar course after rounding 6 to make sure that he was lapped!

On the last lap Mark held his lead with Mike T one minute behind him and there were no changes in position, so the final order was –  1^st Mark; 2^nd Mike T; 3^rd Ralph; 4^th Newton & Sam; 5^th Jamie H; 6^th Roland.

On corrected time the only change is Roland moving up to 3^rd place.

Thanks to SOOD Rick and the race team of Ian S, Nick J and Steve S.

Mike A ended the evening as he started with a minor disaster when he nose dived into the lake attempting a jump into the water to glide his boat onto the trolley (Tom Daley he ain’t and he can’t knit either!)

Today there was a SW wind about 10 mph to start with, but gradually increasing to 13 mph during the morning. SOOD Sally set the first beat to 4, then A (going towards 2), 8, 6, 7 and back through the start.

There was a bit of excitement before the start when a large dead Carp was found on the small slipway, but no-one claimed ownership!

Pursuit Race

There were 14 starters and at the end of the first lap early starter Chris H (Comet) was still ahead with Dave & Ann (Leader) in 2^nd place. Next there was a line astern of seven Lasers led by Mark then James P, Rick, Karen (Radial rig),Jamie M-F, Jon and Richards S. These were followed by a motley collection of boats, Mike A (Radial), Ralph (Laser), Adrian (Rooster), Paul W (Morbic) and Alex & Mike T (470).

 At the gun the only change in the first six was that Karen had passed Rick giving a final order of  –

1^st Chris H; 2^nd Dave & Ann; 3^rd Mark; 4^th James P; 5^th Karen; 6^th Rick.

Handicap Race

Everyone went for the second race and Karen was first back across the line with Mark in 2^nd place, then Rick, James P, Adrian and Jon with these first six covered by just 30 seconds. Chris H came through in 7^th place With Richard S only 3 seconds behind him and only 10 seconds ahead of Ralph and Dave & Ann who crossed the line together. These were being chased by Jamie M-F and Alex & Mike T with Mike A and Paul W bringing up the rear.

Mark took the lead on the second lap and Karen and Rick crossed the line together battling for 2^nd place. James was still 4^th but Jon and Richard S moved up to 5^th and 6^th pushing Adrian down to 7^th. Ralph gained one place to move to 8^th and Jamie and Alex & Mike gained two places to move to 9^th and 10^th.

At the end of the third lap there was no change with the first two apart from Rick suffering a slight nose bleed as a consequence of being so high up the leader board. James P was up to 3^rd place and Jon up to 4^th, both of them having overtaken Karen.  Richard S was steady in 6^th spot, but Ralph had gained a place by passing Adrian and Alex & Mike T were up another place to 9^th pushing Jamie down to 10^th.

Mark crossed the line to take the victory at the end of the last lap with Rick and James P crossing behind him in 2^nd and 3^rd places. Karen repassed Jon to take 4^th but there were no other changes in position. The final order on the water was –

1^st Mark; 2^nd Rick; 3^rd James P; 4^th Karen; 5^th Jon; 6^th Richard S.

Unusually everyone kept the same positions on corrected time.

Thanks to Sally & Mike N and Bill C for ensuring the race went smoothly and well sailed Rick.