Reading Sailing Club Members

Tonight was hot and sunny with a NE wind about 6 mph. Mike A used a CB start line on an East West axis near to No 5 with the first mark as A, then 5, 9, 4, 8, B and back though the start line.

There were 17 starters and 12 finishers with five retirements on the first of the two laps, which tells the story of a course that was too long and a wind that virtually disappeared!

Mike A (that’s me!) would like to apologise to all competitors for extending the expected duration of the race and keeping them out in the doldrums for so long! This apology also extends to the unlucky race team of Sam and Hadey; Sam who recorded the race times in her usual immaculate way and Hadey who provided a tow boat service to many of the stranded souls!

Back to the race and Emily & Newton (RS200) got away at the front and finished over 10 minutes ahead of Mike C (Solo) who had passed Karen on the second lap to take 2^nd place. Roland S in another Solo was 4^th with Mark (Laser) in 5^th place, a position he gained by passing Dave & Ann (Leader) on his second lap.  On the first lap Chris H (Comet) was in 7^th place but he was caught and passed by Steve S & Rick (RS200).

The rest of the fleet was finished (in more ways than one) at the end of their first lap with Thomas M just crossing the line in 9^th ahead of Nigel, both in Lasers. Young Jack & Ron were next to finish with Ron providing some valuable coaching for Jack and then Chris & Carol (Sport 14) made it to the finish line.  

The remaining boats got trapped in the black hole of Number 8, so Sally (Comet), Paul H (Laser), Chris & Hilary (Wayfarer), Rich F (Comet Duo) and Paul W (Morbic 12) all wisely decided to retire. Sorry to inflict that upon you.

The final order on the water was – 1^st Emily & Newton; 2^nd Mike C; 3^rd Karen; 4^th Roland S; 5^th Mark; 6^th Dave & Ann.

On corrected time the order of the first four remains the same, but Dave & Ann leapfrog Mark to take 5^th place  pushing him down to 6^th.

Thanks to Sam and Hadey for their help and to all SOODs a warning to beware of a long course with a chance of a dying wind on a Wednesday night (and avoid 8 if the Wind has an E in it!).

A hot sunny night with a NNW wind of 8-10 mph gave Ron some initial problems in setting the course, along with varied comments on not what to do! He settled on a Tektona start with a first leg up to A on the buoy line then 4, 2, 5,8, 6, 1 (not often used) and back through the start.

It was a good turnout with 23 boats taking to the water, but only 19 definitely racing and others following the fleet. These included Alex & Matt in a 470, James in a new RS300, Angus in a Mirror (who may have started racing and then decided to just enjoy the water and sail his own course) and Paul W (Morbic 12) who may have actually been racing but always sails his own course anyway!

With a light wind and a long course and the Wednesday evening threat of the dying wind, it was a two lap affair.

First back across the line were the Lasers of Darren, Karen, Mark and Mike T (sounds like a 60s pop group – well I might be the only one to know that!), followed by Emily & Newton in the RS200 and they were all in the same order crossing the line at the finish.  Ralph (Laser) came through in 6^th place ahead of Rick in another Laser followed by the motley crew of Chris H (Comet), Mike A (Lightning). and Mike C (Solo). These were followed by another three Lasers led by Jamie, then Jeremy and Richard H. Then along came the Jones boys in the Vago (who said they needed less weight in the light wind – presumably referring to the boat not to their sylph like persons!). Yet another pair of Lasers appeared next, manned by Nigel and Chris A, followed by the fair Aileen and two more Lasers with Paul H and Nick H helming (which goes to prove the best part of any sandwich is the filling!)

On the second lap, the movers were Chris H passing Rick and Ralph to move up to 6^th and Jamie passing Mikes A and C to move up to 9^th place. Richard H retired, so as a result of this and passing Dean & Nick, Nigel gained two places. Further back Nick H and Paul H both passed Aileen, but there were only two seconds in it as they crossed the line.

The order on the water was – 1^st Darren, 2^nd Karen; 3^rd Mark; 4^th Mike T; 5^th Emily & Newton; 6^th Chris H.

On corrected time Chris H moves up to 2^nd place pushing everyone else down one place.

Thanks to SOOD Ron and the race team of Sam, Ian S, Ann & Dave and young Jack.

Ron brought Jack along to check out the Mirror his family now owns and help him rig it.

They didn’t get a chance to sail before the racing, but Jack helped Ron with the race management and did a great job as Tektona did not have any ropes to hoist the flags, so Jack volunteered to stand on top of the cabin and hold them up by hand!!! It must have been quite tiring holding the Club Pennant aloft for 5 minutes!

After the racing Ron took him out for a sunset sail and encouraged him to helm for the first time rounding buoys 6 and 7 and back to the jetty successfully.  Ron thinks Jack enjoyed himself and had a great night. Good for you Ron!

Rick was SOOD and set the course from the shore with a port rounding of 4, back to 9 for another port rounding and then a reach to C near the buoy line (around the normal position of 5, but 5 seems to have drifted down the lake towards 6!). Anyway, starboard rounding of C and off on a broad reach/run to 7 for a port rounding and back over the start.

The wind was 6 – 9 mph from the south west shifting round to the south east and back again on a regular basis, so one minute it was a beat to 4 and the next a fetch. 

Pursuit Race

There were 13 starters this morning and it was a momentous occasion for Dave & Ann in their Leader as they managed to catch all the boats starting ahead of them and at the gun were in 1^st place.

Chris H (Comet) managed to stay ahead of the Lasers to take 2^nd place, with the Lasers of Mark, Mike T and Darren in 3^rd, 4^th and 5^th places. Ron and Jewels were 6^th and 7^th in Mirrors and Karen was 8^th sailing a Radial rig Laser.

Well done to Dave & Ann who have been going well all year in their Leader.

Handicap Race

No drop outs for the second race and Dave & Ann inspired by their first race result were first back across the line followed by the Lasers of Mike T and Mark. Karen (Radial) came through in 4^th place closely followed by Chris H (Comet) and Darren (Laser). About one minute later Adrian (Rooster) crossed in 7^th place with Sally in her Comet just 10 seconds behind him. Alistair S (Laser) was next in 9^th ahead of the Mirror duo of Ron and Jewels and Emily in her 4.7. Finally along came Paul W, in his distinctive gaff rigged Morbic 12, sailing his usual idiosyncratic course due to the nature of his rig.

By the end of the second lap Karen had taken the lead with Dave & Ann in 2^nd place and Mike T in 3^rd. Darren and Adrian were both up two places to 4^th and 5^th places and Ron was also up two places passing Jewels and Alistair. Emily, Alistair and Paul all received the gun at the end of two laps.

Darren crossed the line in 1^st place at the end of the last lap having caught and passed the three boats ahead of him, but he was only 10 seconds ahead of Karen in 2^nd place. Most other maintained station, but Sally had caught Dave & Ann to cross the line abreast in an equal 7^th place.

The final order on the water was – 1^st Darren; 2^nd Karen; 3^rd Mike T; 4^th Mark; 5^th Adrian; 6^th Chris H.

In the light wind the faster boats could not get sufficiently ahead of the slower handicap craft, so there were significant changes in order on corrected time – 1^st Ron; 2^nd Chris H; 3^rd Sally; 4^th Dave & Ann; 5^th Darren; 6^th Karen.

Thanks to SOOD Rick, who was ably assisted by Lottie, Alessandro, Sam and Jeremy. Thanks to you all.

With a SW wind of 10-12 mph Mike T set a first beat to 4 then 8, 5, 7 and back through the start. There were 11 starters, 7 Lasers, a Solo, RS200, Comet and a Supernova.

First back across the line was Mark just ahead of Karen and Darren, all in Lasers. Emily & Newton in a RS200 were through in 4^th place followed by the Lasers of Richard H, Jeremy and Nigel. Mike C (Solo) was next across the line in 8^th about 30 seconds ahead of Paul H (Supernova) who was over a minute ahead of Chris H (Comet) and Nick H (Laser).

On the second lap Darren passed Karen to move up to 2^nd place and Richard H and Jeremy both passed Emily & Newton to move to 4^th and 5^th places. Further back Nick had gained a place by passing Chris H.

At the end of the third lap there was no change in the order of the first three, but Emily and Newton had regained 4^th place by retaking Richard and Jeremy. Chris H had repassed Nick H and these two received the gun at the lap. Paul H disappeared from the charts having been disqualified for sailing an incorrect course. It is not clear if he had been sailing an incorrect course all the time or had just decided on a passing whim to sail a different course at a later stage.

Mark crossed the line to take 1^st place and behind him there were no other changes in position. In fact the most consistent performers were Mark who led every lap and Nigel and Mike C who were steady in 7^th and 8^th on every lap. It used to be Rick who occupied 7^th heaven in most races, but now he is flirting with RS200s he is all over the place!

The final order on the water was – 1^st Mark; 2^nd Darren; 3^rd Karen; 4^th Emily & Newton; 5^th Richard H; 6^th Jeremy.

On corrected time the only change to this order is Mike C moving up to 6^th spot relegating Jeremy to the Doldrums..

Thanks to SOOD Mike T ably assisted by Sam S and the PBs Sally and Angus.

With a South-ish wind varying from 3 to 10 mph, Mark decided to set an interesting course using nearly every number in the box and adding A and B as well. I expected him to run up the Stars and Stripes as well, but we must have lost that flag.

It was a standard flagpole start followed by a completely non-standard course using 9, 4, 2, A (near the buoy line halfway between 4 and 5), 5, B (going towards 8 but in the middle of the lake) 6, 7 and back across the start line.

The saving grace was that we could write the course down before leaving terra firma. It would have been a nightmare if it had been a Committee Boat start as well!

Perhaps we should have a new trophy for the SOOD who manages to set a sailable course using every mark plus A, B, C and D!

Pursuit Race

There were 11 starters this morning and first man away Ron (Mirror) was still leading at the end of the lap followed by Chris H (Comet), Dave & Ann (Leader), Mike C (Solo) and then the Lasers of Chris K, Mike T, Karen, James and Jamie M. Languishing at the rear of the fleet were Mike A and Alistair, who were still exhausted by the tension of watching England beat Ukraine by 4-0 on Saturday night. It takes some time to overcome a shock like that!

At the gun the positions were – 1^st Chris K; 2^nd Dave & Ann; 3^rd Chris H; 4^th Mike C; 5^th Ron; 6^th Mike T.

Handicap Race

Everyone stayed on for the second dance and this time it was the four Lasers of Mike T, Chris K, Karen and James who were first back across the line. Dave & Ann came through in 4^th place with Chris H not far behind them. Mike C was next in 7^th place, but he was only two seconds ahead of Jamie M in his Laser. Then there was a slight gap back to Alistair (Laser), Ron (Mirror) and Mike A (Lightning).

The second lap saw no change with the first two, Mike T and Chris K, who were having a good battle for the lead. James had manged to pass Karen to move up to 3^rd and further back Jamie M had got past Mike C. Mike A had passed Alistair and Ron and these three were enjoying a battle at the back.

Chris K crossed the line in 1^st place just about 10 seconds ahead of Mike T in 2^nd with James and Karen holding 3^rd and 4^th places. Chris H pipped Dave & Ann for 5^th spot but there were no other changes.

The order on the water was 1^st Chris K (a nice doble for him today); 2^nd Mike T; 3^rd James; 4^th Karen; 5^th Chris H; 6^th Dave & Ann.

On corrected time the order becomes – 1^st Ron (that man again – if you can see him – he can beat you!); 2^nd Chris H; 3^rd Chris K; 4^th Mike T; 5^th Dave & Ann; 6^th James.

Thanks to SOOD Mark and the race team, who all answered the last minute call for volunteers.

So thank you very much Aileen, Jewels, Leon & Ethan and Rick

The forecast was for a NNE wind of 7 mph, but on the race sheet SOOD Mark recorded a wind strength and direction of “NOTHING!” There was also no course recorded, but there must have been a short one because they managed to fit in four laps in 45 minutes.

Mike T (Laser) was first back through the line with Emily & Newton (RS200) in 2^nd place followed by Roland S (Solo), Karen (Laser) and the A Team (Rick & Steve S) in another RS200. Chris H (Comet) came through in 6^th place, still recovering from Sunday morning. A mystery boat came along next, a 470, sail number 868 and a helm designated A (perhaps this is the real A team or perhaps A stands for anonymous). Anyway if anyone can identify the sailor we will feature him in the next race report.  The Commodore crossed in 8^th position (can anyone remember his name? Then came the friendly bunch Pip & Squeak in the Leader, Sally (Comet), Ron (Mirror), William S (Topper) and Angus the boatman in another Mirror.

Mike T led for the remaining three laps and Emily & Newton and Karen kept swapping places in the battle for 2nd spot.  Roland was a steady 4^th and Rick and Steve a steady 5^th. There was a ding dong for 6^th and 7^th places involving Nigel (that’s his name!), Dave & Ann and Chris H, with A maintaining 9^th place. Ron had received the gun at the end of his third lap as he had been lapped by the leaders.

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

On corrected time this changes to – 1^st Mike T; 2^nd Karen; Equal 3^rd Emily & Newton and Roland; 5^th Chris H; 6^th Dave & Ann.

Thanks to SOOD Mark and the race team of Andrew, Mike C and Nick H.

Mike T was SOOD today, but I could not make it down and Mike and his team declined to record the wind conditions and the course on the race sheets, so your guess is as good as mine, but I think the wind was fairly light!

Pursuit Race

Quite a good fleet this morning with 16 starters and it was nice to see Mike N and Stuart out in the Leader and it looked as if throughout the race they were just behind Dave & Ann in the other Leader.

Ron started first and finished second, but it looks like the fast boys were chasing him down as the next seven boats were all Lasers (plus N & S in the RS200). Milo and Will out in Radials had a good battle, but strangely Adrian (Rooster), Chris H (Comet) and Emily (4.7) were at the back of the fleet. Normally in a light wind Chris and Emily would be up at the front and Adrian at the back and vice versa in a strong wind!

The positions at the gun were – 1^st Darren (Laser); 2^nd Ron (Mirror); 3^rd Newton & Sam (RS200); 4^th Mark (Laser); 5^th Ralph (Laser); 6^th Chris K (Laser).

Handicap Race

Mike and Stuart decided that one race was enough to start with and sat the second out.

Ralph was first back across the line followed by Newton & Sam and then the Lasers of Mark, Darren, Chris K and James. Emily (4.7) was doing better in this race and came through in 7^th place just one second ahead of Dave & Ann. Karen (Laser) was next along in 9^th place (the shock of seeing Stuart back on the water must have distracted her). Milo and Will in Radials were sandwiching Rick in his Laser and behind them came Adrian (Rooster) and Chris H (Comet). What were they doing at the back of the fleet!

At the end of the second lap Newton & Sam had taken the lead with Mark and Darren close together in 2^nd and 3^rd. James had moved up two places to 4^th and Emily was up one place to 6^th with Will up four places to 7^th. Dave & Ann were still in 8^th place and Milo moved up to 9^th by passing Karen, but there was only one second between them. Ralph having led at the end of the first lap was down to 11^th and Adrian and Chris H received the gun at the end of their second lap as they were lapped by the leader finishing the race.

That leader was Darren who had a good last lap crossing the line in 1^st place nearly one minute ahead of Mark who took 2^nd place. James and Chris K crossed in 3^rd and 4^th with the previous lap leaders Newton & Sam down to 5^th.  The only change behind these was Karen repassing Milo. Rick finished the race but was subsequently disqualified for missing a mark and Ralph retired.

The final order on the water was – 1^st Darren; 2^nd Mark; 3^rd James; 4^th Chris K; 5^th Newton & Sam; 6^th Emily.

On corrected time this becomes – 1^st Darren; 2^nd Emily; 3^rd Ron (from 11^th on the water – never take your eyes off him!); 4^th Mark; 5^th James 6^th Chris K.

Thanks to SOOD Mike T and the race team of Alistair S, James & Rozete C and Paul W.

The forecast was for a NE wind, but it turned out to be more or less a West wind of about 6 mph, but this dropped as the evening progressed. Ralph set the first beat to 5 then B (towards Tektona), A (up near the buoy line halfway between 4 and 5), C (near 8) and back through the start.

There were 17 starters and the boats starting on the Port end of the line made the right call and led round the first mark.

Karen and Mark (Lasers) were first back across the line with Emily & Newton (RS2000) just behind them in 3^rd place. The Lasers of Mike T and Jess were next along followed by Chris H (Comet) and the two Solos of Roland S and Mike C. Dave & Ann (Leader) crossed in 9^th place with Chris K (Laser) 10 seconds further back and Ron (Mirror) another minute behind him. Aileen (Comet) came along in 12^th followed by Mike A (Lightning) and Richard H (Laser). Then there was a gap back to Paul H(Laser), Rick & Steve S (RS200) and Sally (Comet).

At the end of the second lap there was no change in the leading two, but Mike T had moved up to 3^rd passing Emily & Newton and Chris H moved up to 5^th by passing Jess. In the battle of the Solos Mike C had managed to get past Roland to move up to 6^th. Mike A moved up three places and Richard H was up two. Rick & Steve and Sally moved up a place by passing Paul. By this time, the wind was starting to drop and Rick & Steve, Sally and Paul H all received the gun at the end of the lap, which turned out to be a stroke of luck.

On the last lap Karen managed to get past Mark to take 1^st place and there was no change in the next three positions, but both Mike C and Roland passed Jess to take 6^th and 7^th places. Dave & Ann were beginning to suffer from the drop in wind strength and finished in a solitary 9^th. However, this was nothing compared to the fate of the boats behind them. Aileen retired earlier in the lap, but Mike A, Ron, Chris K and Richard H found themselves virtually becalmed. They struggled on to reach the line and Richard H with the end in sight could not stand it any longer and retired as did Ron when he slipped back from Chris and Mike.

The final order on the water was – 1^st Karen; 2^nd Mark; 3^rd Mike T; 4^th Emily & Newton; 5^th Chris H; 6^th Mike C.

On corrected time this changes to – 1^st Karen; 2^nd Mark; 3^rd Chris H; 4^th Mike T; 5^th Emily & Newton; 6^th Mike C.

Thanks to SOOD Ralph and the race team of Phoebe & Sam S, Roland L, Nick H and Nigel.  

With a light wind Ron set a course of A, 5, 2, 4 and back through the start.

Pursuit Race

Thirteen starters and the first boats away were the Comets and at the end of the lap Chris and Aileen were 1^st and 2^nd with Sally 5^th.  Mike C (Solo) was 5^th and the first Laser was Mark in 4^th place. Steve S (Blaze) was last man away and in the light wind decided he had no chance of making ground and retired after completing the first lap.

At the gun the positions were – 1^st Chris H; 2^nd Mike C; 3^rd Mark; 4^th Aileen; 5^th Mike T; 6^th Ralph.

Handicap Race

Mark and Steve S decided not to do the second race, so the fleet was down to eleven. Darren and Karen in Lasers were first back across the line with only 5 seconds between them. Chris H (Comet) came through in 3^rd place just ahead of Roland S (Solo), then Ralph and Mike T in Lasers crossed the line together battling for 5^th place. The second Solo of Mike C was 7^th not far ahead of James (Laser). There was then a gap of two minutes before Sally and Aileen in Comets came along and they were followed by Rick & Lottie in their RS200.

No change in the two leaders on the second lap but Roland, Mike T and Ralph had all passed Chris to move up to 3^rd 4^th and 5^th places. James moved up to 7^th by passing Mike C and Rick & Lottie gained a place by passing Aileen. Sally retired on this lap.

On the last lap there was no change in any of the positions, so the final order on the water was – 1^st Darren; 2^nd Karen; 3^rd Roland; 4^th Mike T; 5^th Ralph; 6^th Chris H.

On corrected time this becomes – 1^st Chris H; 2^nd Darren; 3^rd Roland; 4^th Karen; 5^th Mike T; 6^th Ralph.

A great start to the Summer Series for Mr H with a nice double success, you could say a H2S triumph!

Thanks to SOOD Ron and the race team of Jewels, Ann & Dave.

No not a Requiem !

The previous post should obviously have been the 16th JUNE NOT JULY.

Don’t know why I jumped a month, perhaps I should drop anchor and hang up my wetsuit boots!