Reading Sailing Club Members

Sunday tempted out only the dedicated. The wind was from the SE with strong gusts over 30mph and varying in direction. First away was Ron then followed by Aileen and Kate who seemed to miss time the start. Daren and Newton followed in their Solos with Daren soon pulling away from Newton. Adrian F followed in his Laser, no Rooster just a full rig today along with Gareth. Darren soon past the slower boat but Aileen was going well in her small rig and put up a good fight against Newton before relinquishing 2nd place to him. She also put up a good fight against Adrian who past her just before the time ran out. The final places where Darren, Newton, Adrian, and Aileen.

The handicap race started in much the same conditions. Darren and Newton were the early leaders with Newton hanging on well to Darren for the first lap or so. Adrian was a little way back in his laser and Aileen and Chris were having a great battle in their Comets which was to last the whole race. Darren eventually pulled a bit further away from Newton who in turn pulled away from Adrian. That was the order at the finish line and it did not change on corrected time. Chris 4th just piping Aileen who had been ahead two buoys from the finish. Gareth, Kate, who only capsized once, and Ron completed the order.

Another evening of uncooperative winds for the latest rounds of the Commodore’s Cup on Wednesday.

The wind shifted just before the start, leaving a fetch to the windward mark.

Both Mark B (AERO7) & Mike T (ILCA7) got away well, starting at the pin end on port.

Karen (Comet) was just behind, but the rest of the fleet were stuck in their dirty air. Steve S (Solo) also made good headway, but the other Solos of Ralph and Newton got caught with Hugh (ILCA6) at the windward mark. A lot of disagreement ensued of whether there was an overlap or not. This cost the three of them several boats lengths.

Further back, there was plenty of noise in the mid fleet as Aileen (Comet) & Hadey (ILCA6) were having a battle for both position and who was the loudest on the water.

the positions remained lately unchanged throughout the race, but Ralph & Richard W (ILCA7) both passed Hugh, meanwhile, at the sharp end of the fleet, Steve S had passed Karen.

At the end of the race, Mark B crossed the line 1st, with Mike T 2nd & Steve S 3rd.

On Handicap, Karen was 1st, with Steve S 2nd & Mike T 3rd.

A big thank you to Rick & his team for running the racing on Wednesday.

After the race, there was Lasagne & Crumble, made by Sally.

We’re back racing on Sunday for the next rounds of the Spring Series

A fresh breeze for the May Day Pennant on Monday, with 19 sailors taking to the water.

A Northeasterly meant starting down the far end of the lake. A hectic start again at the committee boat end, but Dave & Ann (Leader) made terrific gains at the starting gun, starting at the pin end, reaching the windward mark first.

Mark B (AERO7) also had a good first leg, starting at the opposite end. He was second around the windward mark.

Hugh (ILCA7) and Newton (Solo) both passed the leaders, with a tight battle ensuing between the two. Hugh got ahead, but Newton and the rest of the fleet remained close. Karen and Chris H (Both Comets) were having a close battle with each other which went right to the finish line.

At the front, Hugh crossed the line 1st, with Newton 2nd and Mark B 3rd.

On handicap, Karen wins the May Day Cup, with Chris H 2nd and Jess 3rd.

A big thank you to Mike T and his team for running the racing on Monday.

After the race, there was Quiche, new potatoes and salad, made by Ann.

Strong and shifty winds from the northeast again for the latest rounds of the Commodore’s Cup.

Only 5 sailors made it out, with quite a few additional helpers on the safety boat team.

The three ILCA 6’s of James P, Hugh & Will S all started well, with Will able to cross over Infront of the others.

The wind was playing havoc at the windward mark and caused several boats to lose ground.

Will and Hugh we’re neck and neck around the windward mark. However, both Hugh & James lost control on the run, with the latter capsizing.

Will meanwhile sailed on, increasing his lead throughout the race. He crossed the line 1st over 4 minutes ahead of the next laser.

Meanwhile, Aileen (Comet) & Kate (ILCA4) were both making progress around the course. The wind and the strong gusts eased towards the end of the race which made it more manageable.

Hugh was second across the line, with James P 3rd.

The positions remained unchanged on Handicap.

A big thank you to Steve S and his team for running the race and providing such excellent safety cover.

After the race, there was Chicken & Chorizo Gnocchi, made by Karen.

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

Shifty winds for the latest rounds of the Spring Series on Sunday.

16 boats made it out for the start of the pursuit race, with Milo in his Topper 4.2 first off, followed by the rest of the fleet.

The majority of the fleet set off together, however the wind suddenly shifted, with the boats starting later able to make the windward mark on almost one tack.

This pattern followed for much of the race, with most of the fleet in the top 3 at some point. Not detracting from those that finished near the top, but it was definitely a race of luck rather than skill.

At the finish gun Hugh (ILCA7) & Steve S (Solo) were neck and neck, with neither knowing who was ahead. The race officer ultimately decided that Hugh finished 1st, with Steve S 2nd and Newton (Solo) 3rd.

The wind once again shifted for the start of the Handicap race, with several boats colliding as they struggled to make the line. Newton & Jess (ILCA6) got away well into clear air, with Hugh & Karen (Comet) close behind.

Jess dropped back several places, with positions frequently traded between Steve S, Aileen & Chris H (Comet) and Richard S (ILCA6.)

At the finish gun, Hugh crossed the line 1st, with Newton 2nd and Karen 3rd.

On handicap Karen was 1st, Newton 2nd & Chris H 3rd.

A big thank you to Adrian and his team for running the racing on Sunday.

We’re back on Wednesday for the next round of the Commodore’s Cup

Sunday saw 13 boats turn out in shifty light to moderate northly wind just enough to be fully hiked and planing on occasions. Ron was off first followed by Aileen and Karen. Then three Solos, lasers and Mark’s Aero. Ron was well away before the others started. Karen lead the comet pursuit. Newton got the best of the Solo starts from the favoured port end of the line, and lead the Solos at the first mark followed by Steve. Down the second leg Steve was surprised that he had been quickly caught by Ralph. It transpired Ralph had taken a short cut having missed out the first mark. Ralph’s concentration was a bit sub optimal, suffering a little from a sore head, not this time from his head and boom sharing the same time and space but from a night out on the town. Anyway he returned to round the mark. Ahead Newton was catching Aileen and past her at the start of the 2nd lap when found a better wind shift. Karen in the meantime had past Ron. Newton then caught and past Ron downwind to 9 but lost steerage when sailing by the lee and hit the mark. This was keenly pointed out by Ron who retook 2nd as Newton did his turn, but this was short lived. In the meantime Steve had past Aileen for 4th. Newton continued to gain on Karen ahead but time ran out. At the gun it was Karen, Newton, Ron.

Steve and Ralph initially got a good start out of the middle of the line, whilst Karen, Mark and Newton battled each other for clear air at the favoured port end. However half way up the beat Steve and Ralph sailed into a bit of a hole and Mark, Karen and Newton sailed over the top. At the windward mark it was Mark, Newton and Karen. At the second mark, Mark was just ahead of Newton then Karen, but up the next windward leg Newton out pointed Mark and past him. At the end of the first lap it was Newton, then James who had fought his way up, Karen, Steve. Over the following laps James Karen Mark and Steve battled it out whilst Newton pulled away at the front to over 1.5 mins ahead of James at the end who had in turn managed to pull away from the group behind. At the finish line it was Newton, James, Mark, Karen. On Handicap 1st Newton just 3 sec ahead of Karen, 3rd James.

Strong winds for Saturday’s Pink Fleet. With only 3 boats out on the water, it was great to see them get lots of practice in, including Newton & Kate getting to grips with the RS200’s Spinnaker.

Tatiana was the deserving winner of this month’s Pink Fleet Cup.

A big thank you to Monica & team for running the event

Strong winds once again for Sunday’s Spring Series.

12 boats took to the water, with the usual keen volunteers watching from the shore or assisting with Safety Boat Duties.

The Comets of Aileen and Chris H were off first, followed by a pack of ILCA6’s. A long beat up to 3 meant Hugh was first around the windward mark. The wind was strong but manageable for the first half of the lap, with the fleet bunching up again in the wind shadow around Buoy 2. Two long runs followed, where the wind decided to fill in. This caught most sailors off guard, with many losing time and the gust made them head up to windward.

Hugh, Steve S & Ralph(All ILCA6) gbyed round buoy 6 at the bottom of the lake. Hugh made it round, but a gust caught both Steve & Ralph & they ended up in the Drink.

Newton, Jess, & Mike T all decided to retire. Along with Ralph after he’d recovered from his capsize.

Positions remained the same for the second lap, but Darren capsized of the Buoy line and was struggling to right his Solo. Hugh meanwhile capsized in from of the shore which allowed Steve S to take the lead.

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

Most chose to come in for the handicap race, but Aileen, Chris H & Kate all stayed out. A close race between the two comets, but Chris H finished 1st, with Aileen 2nd. Kate unfortunately had to retire.

A big thank you to Ron and his team for running the racing on Sunday.

We’re back on Wednesday for the next round of the Commodore’s Cup.