Reading Sailing Club Members

It was a lovely evening, but there was only a 4-5 mph wind from the NNW. Darren used a CB start down near Tektona with a first beat to 5 then to A (on the buoy line halfway between 5 and 4), C (towards no 2) and back through the start.

Newton & Sam (RS200) led Mike T and Karen in Lasers by 10 seconds at the end of the first lap.  Mike C and Roland in Solos were having a good battle for 4^th place with Mike just ahead as they crossed the line. Nigel (Laser) came through in a lonely 6^th place being chased by Emily (4.7) who was also on her own. Alex & Matt (470) crossed in 8^th place being chased by Sally (Comet) who was four minutes ahead of Martin in a Radial. He was two minutes ahead of Aileen in another Comet, who in turn was two minutes ahead of Jack & Ron (Mirror), Carston (Laser) and Angus (Mirror). Alex & Matt and everyone behind them were finished at the end of this lap.

At the end of the second and final lap the only change in position of the remaining seven boats was Roland passing Mike C to take the Solo honours.

The final order on the water was – 1^st Newton & Sam; 2^nd Mike T; 3^rd Karen; 4^th Roland; 5^th Mike C; 6^th Nigel.

On corrected time this becomes – 1^st Mike T; 2^nd Newton & Sam; 3^rd Roland; 4^th Karen; 5^th Mike C; 6^th Emily.

Thanks to SOOD Darren and Mike A and Jamie H.

With a SW wind about 6 mph Adrian set a first beat to 5, then 2, 8, A,9 and back through the start.

Pursuit Race

There were 14 starters, the same as last week and Mike C (Solo) managed to stay ahead of the late starting boats to take 1^st place. Newton & Sam (RS200) were 2^nd with Roland in another Solo in 3^rd place. Then the Lasers of Darren and Mark were 4^th and 5^th ahead of an earlier starting trio, Emily (4.7), Ron (Mirror) and Sally (Comet).

Handicap Race

Adrian tweaked the course for the second race, dropping 5 and using A for the first mark then 4, 2, 8 and through the start.

First back across the line were Newton & Sam (RS200) followed by Mike C (Solo), then Alessandro & Mike T going well in the 470 in 3^rd place. Then a close group of three boats came along with Roland (Solo) just ahead of the Lasers of Mark and Darren. There was quite a gap before Ron (Mirror) crossed in 7^th place followed 30 seconds later by Richard S and Alistair both in Lasers. Emily (4.7) and Aileen (Comet) were having a ding-dong for 10^th spot with Sally (Comet) and Rick and Lottie (RS200) crossing the line abreast just behind them. The racing at the back of the fleet being more keenly contested than at the front! Last, but not least was Jasmine in her Topper, the youngest sailor out today and she received the gun at the end of the lap.

At the end of the second and last lap Newton & Sam crossed the line ahead of the fleet. Roland had moved up to 2^nd place, but Alessandro & Mike T were still 3^rd. Mark was up one place to 4^th pushing Mike C down to 5^th with Darren steady in 6^th place, but it was very close with only 15 seconds covering the three of them. Richard S had gained a place by passing Ron to take 7^th place and Rick & Lottie had also passed Ron and gained five places to finish 8^th, they must have found the switch to the auxiliary motor! Alistair crossed next, just one second ahead of Emily and behind her Sally won the battle of the Comets by pipping Aileen.

The final order on the water was – 1^st Newton & Sam; 2^nd Roland; 3^rd Alessandro & Mike T; 4^th Mark; 5^th Mike C; 6^th Darren.

On corrected time this becomes –

1^st Newton & Sam; 2^nd Ron (old smoke & Mirrors does it again! 3^rd Roland; 4^th Mike C; 5^th Mark; 6^th Darren

Thanks to SOOD Adrian and the race team of Hadey and Christine.

It was a lovely evening, but there was only a 4-5 mph wind from the NNW. Darren used a CB start down near Tektona with a first beat to 5 then to A (on the buoy line halfway between 5 and 4), C (towards no 2) and back through the start

.Newton & Sam (RS200) led Mike T and Karen in Lasers by 10 seconds at the end of the first lap followed by the Solos of Mike C and Roland S battling for 4^th place. Nigel (Laser) was next across the line in a lonely 6^th with Emily (4.7) a further two minutes behind him. Sally (Comet) and Alessandro & Matt (470) came through in close company followed by Martin (Radial) and Aileen (Comet). Next across the line was young Jack being mentored by Ron in one of the growing fleet of Mirrors and finally Angus in another Mirror and Carston in a Laser. Everyone behind 7^th man Nigel received a finish at the end of this first lap.

On the second and last lap there was only one change in position with Roland just pipping Mike C across the line to take 4^th spot. The final order was –

1^st Newton & Sam; 2^nd Mike T; 3^rd Karen; 4^th Roland S; 5^th Mike C; 6^th Nigel.

On corrected time this becomes –

1^st Mike T; 2^nd Newton & Sam; 3^rd Roland S; 4^th Karen; 5^th Mike C; 6^th Emily

Thanks to SOOD Darren and Mike A and Jamie H for running the race and thanks to Jeremy for helping us to put the safety boats away.

This is the annual event to raise funds for the charity set up in memory of Andrew (Bart)

Simpson, a former GB Olympic sailor. Unfortunately, there was very little wind this morning, despite an earlier forecast for NE winds of 6 mph, but we still had 8 Juniors and 10 adults turning out.

Junior Race

As the wind was so light, this was a one lap race and the order at the finish was –

1^st Rhys (Laser); 2^nd William (Topper); 3^rd Emily (4.7); 4^th Rowan (Oppie); 5^th Sebastian (Oppie); 6^th Jasmine (Topper); 7^th Issy (Topaz); 8^th Phoebe (Oppie).

On corrected time, Rhys retains his first place with the Oppies of Rowan and Sebastian in second and third places.

Well done to all of you for competing in difficult light wind conditions.

Thanks to Newton, Alessandro, Dan and Karen for running the race.

Adult Race

There were 10 starters and at the end of the first lap Newton & Sam (RS200) crossed the line in 1^st place followed by the Lasers of Rhys and Karen. Five minutes later Alessandro, sailing a Radial in place of his usual 470, came through in 4^th place then there was a gap back to Hannah (Laser), Emily (4.7) and Aileen (Comet) in 5^th, 6^th and 7^th places. William (Topper) was next along with Christine in her Mirror a further six minutes behind him. Sally (Comet) retired on the first lap and everyone apart from the first four received the gun at the end of the lap.

The only change on the second lap was Karen passing Rhys to take 2^nd place with the finishing order as – 1^st Newton & Sam; 2^nd Karen; 3^rd Rhys; 4^th Alessandro and there was no change to these positions on corrected time.

Thanks to Ron, Hadey, Mark and Martin for running the race.

 

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.