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Domination in the Summer like conditions |
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Written by Fiona Tylecote
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Tuesday, 01 April 2008 |
Great conditions generated the best turnout of the year to-date out on the water at Rutland Water. Medium breeze, sunshine and warmth met the many sailors who had remembered the clock changes and made it to the line on time.
It was the first of big race series and the beat took sailors from Normanton Church up past the club moorings, then the legs were given light relief on the downwind legs.
The first start saw a great battle between the Shadow catamarans who are starting to get a good fleet out on the water on a regular basis. The asymmetrics were a little less on the ball missing their start, but in the great spirit of the class the Musto Skiffs waited for one another and had an unofficial start when they all made it down to the committee boat. Their racing was tight but friendly and there were rather loud whoops to be heard as they flew downwind. I think this is their friendly way of saying ‘lookout I’m here and I’m almost out of control!’. At the final windward mark the wind was all over the place giving quite a few handling problems.
The dinghies were dominated in numbers by the Lasers, however it was the Flying Fifteens who got the best start rightly identifying the biased end of the start line. Back in the Lasers Fiona Tylecote led the racing briefly before being overtaken by Sailing School Senior Instructor Ben Lulham. Mike Guy put together a good recovery, having missed the start he sailed well to overtake Ben, before his outhaul rope broke and he had to do a few emergency repairs. Up at the windward mark a few big shifts saw Ben take a swim, however the shift that had sent him swimming also lifted him into the mark and he retained the lead. A bit further down the race Mark Haslam (who had also missed the start) and a Laser radial (who was sailing incognito) had a great battle which unfortunately saw both of them attached to the windward mark! Down the last run Mike threw in a roll to windward to allow Fiona back into 2nd place.
In the second race the course was shortened slightly to help the now aching legs of some of the hiking sailors. Paul Linford led the Lasers and pulled into a good lead. The two Laser radials had a great battle swapping positions numerous times before Fiona just pipped Mr Anonymous on the line. The Flying Fifteens also had a great race with John getting the better start. Karen and Nick caught them by the windward mark but John did a better mark rounding and pulled away. However Nick was not to be beaten and a good run and great spinnaker handling saw Karen and Nick overtake and take another win.
It was incredibly friendly out on the water with all the fleets being particularly considerate. Where a boat could keep clear more easily it did. |
The third race and finally everyone managed to start on time. In the Musto Skiffs it was Richard had to bail out of the start and cross behind the fleet on port. However this pain was short lived and he was soon leading the fleet again. In the dinghies Fiona did a last minute dive to leeward and tacked onto port to cross the fleet. However it was Paul Linford and Rob Stenhouse starting at what looked like the wrong end of the line who got the better wind and were leading up the first leg. There is always a downside to leading and having to find the windward mark is one of them. Rob sailed to the wrong mark allowing Paul and Fiona to get ahead. Mike took a trip towards the shore and found a rather large flat patch and was unfortunate to fall behind. Paul and Fiona had a great battle in the Lasers with leebow tacks, covering downwind and great boat on boat action. Eventually Paul pulled ahead just enough to force Fiona to tack off on to the header and Paul got away and was never caught again.
Jon Williams unusually to be found in the rescue boat rather than at the front of the Laser fleet was found armed with a camera and a few people had to hike a lot harder than they might otherwise to look good in the picture. These shots were eagerly reviewed in the bar later.
In the end it was a day of domination. In the three fleets the same boat won all three races. Phil Neal in the catamarans, Richard Stenhouse (Rutland Times Sportsman of the Year) in the asymmetrics and Nick Clarke and Karen Wilkins in the dinghies.
It was only within the Laser fleet that the winners changed. Ben Lulham upsetting the pattern and taking a win in the morning race.
It was great fun, great weather and great action on the water – time for everyone else to get their boat on the water – the summer is here!
Catamarans
Race 1,2 &3 Phil Neal – Shadow
Asymmetrics
Race 1,2 &3 Richard Stenhouse – Musto Performance Skiff
Dinghies
Race 1,2 &3 Nick Clarke and Karen Wilkins – Flying Fifteen
Laser
Race 1 Ben Lulham
Race 2 &3 Paul Linford |
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 01 April 2008 )
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