Breezy Summer Holidays

Sunday 19th May 11am Spring Weekend Series Northerly 1-2 Average Lap N Windward – Leeward

Capsize Drought Continues

The Helford provides the dinghy sailor with relatively consistent sailing conditions when blowing a moderate breeze parallel to its latitude but beware when the alignment is with longitude. Steve Kestin had the daunting task of satisfying racers with a windward / leeward course for light airs that mostly came from the North – otherwise West or not from anywhere at all.

The first of three races was remarkable in fickle conditions for the closeness of the top 3 – no more than 9 seconds between McDonald, Berryman & Biggs. Andrew Hosking and his daughter Beks were firing on all cylinders by the second race & within 6 fine seconds of Biggs in second place. Ollie Berryman and Ed Bolitho suffered mechanical problems with their sky hook in race 2&3 leaving McDonald and Beccy with the tightest times, & indeed the only consistent winning presence on the Helford that day.

And nobody got his or her hair wet – again!

Results Overall 3 races: 1st Roger McDonald, 2nd Andy Biggs, = 3rd Andrew Hoskin & Ollie Berryman

Captain Dinghies Andy Biggs thanks all those supporting the fleet on the day

Committee Boat: Steve Kestin, Margaret Statham Safety Cover: TBC

Freya (13) & Lilly (12) had a great day crossing to and competing at the Percuil Regatta Sunday, 25th – results to follow at St Mawes SC. Thanks to their Parents and Tom & Troy for escorting them across! More Pics on St Mawes Face Book Page. Percuil SC and its regatta have been merged into St Mawes SC.

At HRSC on the same day TJ Hart gambled on a full RIG and took first over a TopperTastic holiday maker.

Spring Weekend Series Sunday 28th June 2015 : Pursuit SW, Wind S-W 4-6 

In Pursuit of Happiness

Andy Biggs had a huge grin on his face as he had been just been thrashed by the 4.7s, and taken part in one of Helford’s best pursuit races of the season. Deciding his relative – the garrulous Gallic Hugonaut – should have a good workout before Sunday lunch, race officer Roger McDonald set a course that ran and reached in the odd 25+knot shifty gusts down river; strained sinew and shrouds on the gallop upriver.

First off, Beccy Kestin and Beks Hosking popped out of the Narrows in their 4.7’s planeing downwind in the big gusts; by the time they both rounded Toll Beccy was clearly well ahead. It wasn’t until a gust caught Beccy between Committee & Toll turtling the 4.7 that young Beks Hosking finally pounced and stayed at the head of fleet with Beccy snapping at her ankles to the end of the race for their 1-2.

A little stumble at the first hurdle and our chatty Hugonaut chum slipped to the back of the Laser queue; where, despite huge efforts, his loaned Laser scooped up water as if a Canadair. This flightless canard however was for sinking – and came last; not by much as the entire fleet were within seconds of each other.

So it was for the remaining Lasers to wait for the slightest error or favourable gust to gain advantage. Phil Philpott’s slowish start on his third Laser outing soon turned into a display of confident seamanship; the throttle opened 110% when Biggsey cuffed Central and turned a 360 penalty into a pirouette.  

Team Hosking & Brooks were out on their first date. Despite loose head prop Brook’s fight with the wet spaghetti in the front of the Laser 2 there was enough ballast & brains in the rear to hold the craft flat on the long beats and upright on the reaches to tease a third within seconds of the finish.   

Results 1st R Hosking, 2nd R Kestin, 3rd A Hosking

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

Safety Boat: R McDonald

  

5 Races 4 to count – Race officer scores average points

 

Race 1
Race 2
Race 3
Race 4
Race 5
Race 6
Race 7

Race Date
12th April
19th April
26th April
3rd May
10th May
24th May
7th June

Helm

Total score
Position

Adam Mason
2
4
2
1
cancelled
1
cancelled
6
1

Phil Philpott & Carrie Hoskins
2
2.2
1
2

4

7.2
2

Roger Mac & Beccy Kestin
I
3
3
4

3

10
3

Olly Berryman&Ed Bolitho
4
1
4
3

3

11
4

Phil Samuel
3
2
6.2
10

10

21.2
5

Stephen Brooks
10
5
5
7.5

10

27.5
6

Nick Maidwell
10
10
6
5

10

31
7

Andy & Karen Biggs
10
10
10
10

2

32
8

Matt Ridout
10
10
10
10

5

35
9

 

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Solo d’Or

Phil Philpott continues to reap success in his father Dave’s Solo dinghy at HRSC Thursday. After 60 years sailing Dave’s having a long overdue gap year but is taking the Solo back for 2013 – sooner if he can finish his leaking conservatory roof.

Dredging up the missing Committee buoy David Church and Dan Flunder provided the necessary start line at the mouth of the Helford in glorious sunshine. Intensive study of Race Officer’s Notes for HRSC Dinghies MK0 gave Brooks every confidence for his first solo race duty – ably assisted betwixt texting & self portraiture by Zoe – his 15 year old daughter. Racers were particularly helpful with advice as to the importance of synchronicity between 4 minute hooter and hoisting preparatory P flag.

In light airs McD & Beccy’s sixth sense of timing took their RS400 first over the start line and to domination of the heavier six packed frames of Berryman and Bolitho. Whilst the RS400s sailed into the distance a merry troupe close raced for a good 60 minutes. With sails : weight ratio crucial to the result before handicap correction, first to finish in ephemeral airs at Trebah were McD & Beccy with laggards B&B trailing by 2 minutes.

Always competitive Andy and Karen Biggs gracefully sailed their National 12 to 14 fine seconds before the Solo – with Emily and Tom’s RS200 gliding past 15 seconds later. Tony Statham’s lithesome 10 stone and pre race preying on his centreboard at the start line gave him the edge in the laser fleet only to throw it away with his tiller extension – expertly piped at the finish by Phil Samuel.

Sol d’Or to Phil Philpott, Argent to the Biggs and Le Bronze to McD.

Helm
Crew
Class
Name-No.

PY

Pos

Min

Sec

Sec

Correct

Phil Philpott

Solo

4785

1150

1

60

15

3615

3143

Andy Biggs
Karen Biggs
Nat 12

3326

1104

3

60

1

3601

3262

Roger McDonald
Beccy Kestin
RS400

958

948

4

51

49

3109

3280

Phil Samuel

Laser

186886

1085

5

61

20

3680

3392

Tony Statham

Laser

91500

1085

6

61

20.5

3681

3392

Ollie Berryman
Ed Bolitho
RS400

588

948

2

53

43

3223

3400

Emily Broad
Tom Lake
RS200

1145

1057

7

60

28

3628

3432

Stephen Brooks

Laser

179651

1085

Duty

Ave Points

Captain Dinghies Beccy Kestin thanks all those supporting the fleet on the day.

Marshalls: Stephen Brooks & Daughter Zoe
Safety: David Church & Dan Flunder
Guest Photographers: Zoe Brooks & Dan Flunder