Dinghy Race Report 10 07 2016

Summer Evening Series Thursday 16th July : Ave Lap, Wind SSE2-3

An Evening Nap

There was about half the southerly wind forecast on the river so the fleet did not so much gallop as plod around an otherwise perfect course for the conditions laid out by Matt & Emma Broad – their first Average Lap PY race; ably assisted by Karen Biggs – veteran of   the scoreboard.

In the first race a proportion of the cortège prematurely slunk across the line – Andy Biggs Spars entangling with another forcing a penalty and came 8th. The Juniors were of as if tadpoles swimming in jelly, yet all bar Matt Broad suffered prolonged periods of enforced lassitude generally ascribed to the front of the fleet that had wind and the back which didn’t.

Team Kestin & McDonald’s citrus yellow spinnaker eventually filled but did not fulfil its usual promise as a bemused laser wafted curiously in tandem, until a little extra puff finally sent the lemon leopard languidly ahead to come second to the Lasers third.

In the second race: emerging rested from under the duvet in the king sized cockpit of his Blaze Phil, Philpott sped again to the head of the fleet; this time came 2nd. Young Beks Hosking saw of the challenge from both Andy & arch rival Matt to come third. Brooks had a late start, caught up with the radials and then went left at the windward mark whilst the rest of the fleet went right & came last. Dave Philpott had a consistently solid PY performance in both races and saw his grandson Sam in a 4.7 halve the margin to PN with a much improved 2nd race. Similarly, Ben Johns finding himself in a boat that could float had a much better 2nd race. Team McDonald & Kestin were in fine form – this time with Beccy trimming the spinnaker, and whilst not exactly zooming, glided to a good minute ahead of their closest threat – the Blaze. Saddle sore from 5 hours tending the HRCST Inter Schools Regatta and HRSC evening race, Andrew Hosking with equanimity, dutifully towed most of the smaller sailed dinghies home.

Results
Overall
1st R Kestin & R McDonald, 2nd M Broad, 3rd P Philpott 4th R Hosking
Juniors
1st M Broad. 2nd Beks Hosking, 3rd B Johns, 4th S Philpott

Captain Dinghies Andy Biggs thanks all those in support of the fleet on the day
Committee: Chris & Emma Broad, Karen Hemsley-Biggs
Safety Boat: Andrew Hosking

Spring Evening Laser Plate Mini Series 1 of 3 Thursday 25th June : Olympic TSL, Wind SSW 3-4

Laser Plate Race 1

Veteran race officer Phil Samuel tasked his stewards with forming an old style Olympic Triangle course in a breeze that blew variously south to north, if not at all on Thursday

Hugo the Hugonaut – so called for his nautical adventures, took the opportunity at Helford’s 2015 Laser Plate miniseries to reprise his performance as a youthful Laser racer on the opposite side of the Channel some 17 years past. When it comes to beating his relation McD, on his own turf, it would not be a piece of cake; so it proved in a fluky evening’s breeze on Thursday.

Our garrulous Gallic guest took great care of Ginnie Sykes sleek Black craft, but of Hugo’s disarming chatter, it was wise to ignore as he scampered after McD; leaving all else behind. Biggsey was performing in fine style as he dinged his way about the Radials to finish fourth behind the Hugonaut.

Of the Juniors, Harry Broad eventually led the radials of his brother Matt Broad, Ben Johns, and Beks Hosking – with only1½ minutes separating them all after near an hour’s close racing. Despite his best efforts, Sam Philpott couldn’t go any faster than his 4.7 would let him. Sam’ s Uncle, Phil, had only got one sail, the right, one and gradually moved up to middle orders.

Beccy Kestin was the distant beacon to which the Radial racers aspired as she increased her lead to near 1½ minutes by the finish of this class. At the final accounting McD led by 22 seconds per lap over Beccy and 27 seconds over Hugo to win overall the first stage of 3.

Results

Overall 1st R McDonald, 2nd R Kestin, 3rd le Hugonaut

Juniors 1st H Broad, 2nd M Broad, 3rd B Johns

Laser Fleet 1st R McDonald, 2nd le Hugonaut, 3rd A Biggs

Radial Fleet 1st R Kestin, 2nd H Broad, 3rd M Broad

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

Committee & Safety: Phil Samuel, Andrew Hosking, Chris Broad.

Spring Weekend Series Sunday 26th April 2015 :
Triangular Average Lap x 2 BCX Wind N3-4

A Pin Tale

A faultless Met Office forecast for Thursday’s racing gave way to one that lost 15 & 35mph gusts over 36hrs for Sunday. Culdrose recorded a sun blessed 11-14MPH during the race – perfect for a spring’s first outing. Thus a cosy little fleet set of from Bosahan without the un-persuaded – usually attired in wetsuit shorties, or indeed shorts of the red kind. The Met Office is still working with their old 2009 £33 million computer – before a new 140 tonne £97 million replacement begins service in September 2015, reaching full capacity by 2017. In the Interim, keep wetting the forefinger.

Each race was decided almost from the start, with Roger McDonald taking a 30 yard advantage the Pin end offered in shifty conditions of the lee shore. It took the first race to loosen the rust from Andy Biggs navigational gyros – giving away, as he did, near 50 seconds per lap. Despite voluntarily acknowledging the error of his starting ways, Biggsey was again lured to the Committee boat for the start of the second race. Giving himself a stiff and unrepeatable talking to, and a kick to the gyros, Andy’s resolve returned and caught McD half way to Central.
Whispering in his old & faithful Laser’s ear with a promise both: to polish her bottom, and buy a shiny new mast before the next race; McD encouraged his charge to victory by 7 small seconds.

Results 1st R McDonald 2nd A Biggs

Captain Dinghies Andy Biggs thanks all those in support of the fleet on the day
Safety Boat: Stephen Brooks