Adult Dinghy Sailing

Autumn Weekend Series Sunday 4th October 2015: SE Linestart Wind SE 4-6

Lazerette Lashing

Nick Glossop – ably assisted by a sleepy-eyed Ben Johns, rose to the challenge for his first Helford Race Officer duty, competently setting a delightful beat South East from Trebah out to Gew. With its back to the wind, trees and cliff’s protect the dinghy park, deceiving the unwary to what lies around the corner. Mid morning, the Met Office’s promise duly delivered 10-25kts of bliss. Bliss, that is, for Lazerettes Matt Broad and Beks Hosking comprehensively thrashing the seniors in both real and handicap time with a 1-2.

There is no secret to sailing the Laser into the wind in a good breeze; it has to be sailed flat and upright and that’s why there are four sizes of sail catering for all sizes of helm.     Shadowing the leading Wayfarer, Matt & Beks relentlessly chased each other the entire race with Matt delivering the coup de grace in the final seconds at Bosahan

By contrast, in the over powered slow fleet, Brooks & Andrew Hosking fighting in the Heavyweight section (90+kg) could not stay on their feet under the sustained assault from Bantamweight Dave Philpott in the Solo class. Dave’s experience over many years at club and national level saw him able to coax and tempt his large sail to a mostly calm yet always dry canter.

Attempting to hide from the wind on the first beat to Gew in the Laser Two, Andrew Hosking battered the swell along the south shore; multitasked his way back into contention with the spinnaker on the reach back to Trebah. Second time round, Andrew was less lucky on the gybe under Toll, turning the Two turtle. Paul Greensmith in safety, handsomely & divinely crewed by son Sam & fiancé Amandine, attended the supine racer who seemed to take rather, and perhaps wistfully, longer than usual to return to the fray.

A few minutes later on an uncontrolled reach to Central, Brooks’ Laser tossed him in, a just reward for any gloating – concealed or otherwise over his rival’s demise.

Results: 1st M Broad, 2nd R Hosking, 3rd R Kestin & McD

Captain Dinghies: Andy Biggs thanks all those in support of the fleet on the day

Committee: N Glossop, B Johns

Safety: P Greensmith, S Greensmith & Amandine

Photography: © D Flunder

Following: C Broa

Spring Weekend Series Sunday 9.45am 10th May 2015 : Pursuit S Wind S3-5

It’s a Breeze

Encouraged by a wind forecast set to be strengthening later, Helford’s PY dinghy fleet sleepily set of a little earlier than is usual for a Sunday morning. Chris Broad armed with camera took the family’s RIB out for a rescue duty but was not placed to record the pre race entertainment provided by Andy Biggs’ dunking and Stephen Brooks’ close inspection of Avocets mooring buoy. In complete contrast youth sailors Beks Hosking and Matt Broad set out very impressively in gusty conditions with Beccy Kestin in the 4.7 Laser fleet.

Revelling a breeze, Beccy could not quite find enough of it to hold of Phil Philpott’s charge on the Blaze or the seemingly nonchalant approach of McD’s full rigged laser. Phil Samuel’s reinvigorated sailing with the Solo almost got him to the 4.7, and had there been pedals attached would have made it.

Everyone enjoyed the planeing reaches between Toll and Durgan. Sailing high Brooks was favoured by the gusts and would catch up with Biggsey on the reach but a dipette at Durgan and slothfulness on the beat allowed his quarry to escape. Beks and Matt slogged it out all the race and were only devoured on the penultimate leg with Beks achieving family honours

Results 1st R McDonald 2nd P Philpott 3rd R Kestin Youth 1st R Hosking, 2nd Matt Broad

Captain Dinghies Andy Biggs thanks all those in support of the fleet on the day Safety Boat & Photography: Chris Broad