Some of our members swapped dinghies for yachts at the weekend.
James P won the Tall Ships Charity Race around the Isle of Wight aboard Challenger 5. James volunteers with Tall Ships as a watch leader, which provides sailing trips to disadvantaged kids across the UK.
Meanwhile, also in the Solent. Kate had her Day Skipper Practical Course, a perfect mix of weather across the weekend
Just one race for the first rounds of the Spring Series on Sunday. Strong winds of force 4/5 meant that only 6 hardy sailors made it out.
The pursuit race was won by Mike T (ILCA7), with Newton (Solo) 2nd & Ron (Mirror) 3rd.
Tatiana (Topper) was the only other finisher, with the rest retiring.
Everyone has decided they’d had enough after one race, and retired to the Galley to warm up.
A big thank you to Aileen and her team, for running the race in difficult conditions.
We’re back on Sunday for the next rounds of the Spring Series
3 Reading members descended on the Frensham Frenzy at the weekend. With a force 4 and shifty winds, it was a great day out. 32 boats made up the fleet with a full range of boats on display.
2 Pursuit races of 96 minutes, with a nice break for lunch in-between.
The small size of the pond and the strong wind meant a very complex course, with a lot of crossing over that made it difficult to tell where you were in the pecking order.
In the first race, Will S had a collision with a GP14, which rammed into him at the start. Thankfully, there was no damage but his race was compromised. Meanwhile, Paul W in his Morbic suffered a failure with his belaying pin, causing the mast to fall down.
Hugh meanwhile had a great first race, finishing 9th. Will was 13th and Paul DNF.
In the second race, Paul managed to repair his mast, albeit with only the mainsail up. Will meanwhile had a much better second race, finishing 3rd. Hugh finished 11th & Paul 29th.
Overall, Paul finished 32nd, quoted as finishing in his customary position of first out, last in!
Hugh finished 9th overall, with Will S 7th & first Youth.
A great result from Reading as not only having the most sailors from a visiting club, also taking the honours of the only visiting club with two sailors in the top 10.
A big thank you to Frensham Pond SC for a great day of racing.
Club racing was back on Sunday, with this week’s report ghostwritten buy Newton.
Light winds under 10mph from the ssw nothing like the forecast or the 30mph plus forecast from earlier in the week.. Ron was first away, then Tatiana, Aileen and Kate. Darren and Newton in their Solos starting a couple of minutes later. Ron was first to the windward mark. Newton caught Aileen and the others shortly before the first mark and rounded just ahead of Aileen, and the Darren and little way back. Aileen and Newton we I close quarters on the way back down the lake in pursuit of Ron. By the time they got to the windward mark for the second time, Newton was close behind Ron, and then passed him on the way to B. Darren had also made this way past Aileen and on way back down the lake Darren then past Ron. At the time finish it was 1st Newton 2nd Darren, 3rd Ron.
The course was changed slightly for the handicap race, at the start Darren postioned himself nearest the port end with Newton a bit further back and the rest nearer the pin end. Again it was the postion nearer the port end that paid off but this time for Darren. Darren and Newton battled it out up the beat with a bit of a tacking duel. Darren reached the windward mark first, and it was very close back down the lake. As they were closing towards 6 Newton gybed across behind Darren and got the overlap on the inside. However as they reached the mark Newton now on the wrong gybe for the wind angle had sub optimal control of his boat and hit the mark as he rounded. By the time he had done his penalty turn Darren was back ahead.
Newton crossed the line 1st, with Darren 2nd and Aileen 3rd. On corrected time the positions remain unchanged
A big thank you to James P and his team for running the racing on Sunday.
After the racing, there was Lentil Soup, made by Ann & Kate.
We’re back on Sunday for the final rounds of the Frostbite Series.
Hugh currently leads the handicap series whilst Newton is in front in the pursuit.
A great turnout of modellers for the Tuesday and Friday series this week.
12 boats went out for 7 races on Tuesday, despite the light winds.
Mark P won the day with 3 wins, rounded out by a compliment of 2nds. Steve S was 2nd, also with 3 wins. Ron was 3rd. The final win was from Chris B.
12 boats again for the Friday series, with 9 races run. Newton won the day with 4 wins, with Mark P just one point behind, also with 4 wins. Steve S was third, with the final win.
Mark P is just ahead in the Tuesday series, whilst Newton extends his lead in the Friday series.
Only one day of racing for the modellers last week due to ice on the lake.
Despite the lake thawing enough for racing on Friday, only 6 helms decided it was warm enough to head down for racing.
9 races were run, with Newton winning the day with 6 wins. Ron was 2nd with one win, and Pete S 3rd, also with one win.
The final win was from Alistair, in 4th.
11 helms out for the Model Yacht’s Kingfisher Cup this week.
19 races were run over two days. With a heady 15 races to count, it was essential to be there for both days to make sure you qualified.
Despite some close racing over both days, Steve S dominated, taking 6 of the available wins and winning the Kingfisher Cup.
Chris B was second with 3 wins, and Ron was 3rd with one win.
Chris and Ron both had the same number of points, but Chris took 2nd place based on the number of wins.
There were also:
4 wins from Newton, 3 wins for Pete S and a win each for Richard S & Peter M.
Congratulations to Steve S & thanks to all the helms that made it out for racing.
The Model Yacht’s are back on Tuesday for the first rounds of the Icicle series.
A great turnout for the club’s AGM on Friday. With a great chance to thank both the committee, and all the other members that give up so much of their time to keep the club running smoothly.
Afterwards, prizegiving was held for the series races. Newton had almost a clean sweep, winning:
Frostbite Handicap
Spring Pursuit
Spring Handicap
Commodore’s Cup
Gillette
Summer Handicap
Summer Pursuit
Cobley Pursuit
The were only two series won by others: The Frostbite Pursuit was won by Chris H & the Cobley Handicap, won by Will S.
There were 8 different winners of the cup races, held throughout the year.
The committee prizes were awarded to:
Helm of the Year: Newton
Endeavour Cup: Tatiana
Perseverance Trophy: Aileen
Almost Trophy: Joel W
The Kimble Trophy: Steve S
Novice Racer: Kate Waters
Young Racer: Molly S
Well done to all our winners, we look forward to seeing you all out on the water during the year ahead
A shifty force 3 for the latest rounds of the Frostbite series on Sunday.
Despite the floodwaters lapping at the edge of the road, 13 sailors made it out for the start. Tatiana set off first in her topper, with the rest of the fleet close behind.
A lull around the windward mark bunched everyone together, with Steve S (Blaze) & Hugh (ILCA7) getting out in front. Further back, it was close racing between the ILCA6’S of Will S & Richard S, whilst Newton & Ralph were having a battle of the Solos.
The fleet bunched up once again at the windward mark, with James P (ILCA7) getting past much of the fleet.
At the finish gun, Steve S was 1st, James P 2nd & Will S 3rd.
All boats stayed out for the Handicap race, with Steve once again getting away.
Mark B (AERO7) & Will S were next around the first mark. Will missed and then hit one of the bouys, losing valuable places.
Hugh and James meanwhile had passed Mark, who was fighting off Rick.
Further back, most of the fleet was battling together, with Newton uncharacteristically towards the back end of the fleet.
Back towards the front, Hugh’s outhaul came off, allowing James & Rick to pass him. Hugh managed to gain the places back on the final lap.
The race looked like it was going Steve’s way, but a patch of weed and lull thwarted his progress.
Steve crossed the line 1st, with Hugh 2nd and Rick 3rd.
On handicap, Hugh won, with Chris H 2nd & Rick 3rd.
Well done to all competitors for sailing in such challenging conditions.
A big thank you to Darren & his team for running the racing & providing support for launching and recovery in the flooded conditions.
After the race, there was a choice of Christmas Dinner or Spicy Sweet Potato soup, made by Ann.
We’re back on Sunday for the next rounds of the Frostbite Series.
