Helford River Sailing Club » Dinghy Racing: April 15th

shifty northerly 3 – 4 RYA Average Lap Series – 2 triangular races

Berryman and Bolitho: on the art of brinkmanship

In the finest tradition of “never first - always second”, Ollie Berryman ably supported by Ed Bolitho, recover from the “Rear Brake” manoeuvre gifting the trawler of Roger McDonald and Beccy Kestin with a race winning 0.4sec.

The 4th outing of the spring HRSC dinghy series saw tight racing in capricious winds. Doldrums off Durgan and the occasional sailor’s gale by Bosahan tested the most experienced. A figure of eight rounding at Bosahan during a 6ish gust left Adam Mason to contemplate a future in holy orders. Solus cum Deo solo. First race excitement was provided by the duelling RS400s of Roger McDonald & crew Beccy Kestin and Ollie Berryman & crew Ed Bolitho. Mid stream runs turned to reaches favouring Ollie who took full advantage to blast home with all sails flying. Approaching from the opposite reach the same winds turned the McD RS into a trawler at spinnaker downhaul. Ed Bolitho’s six pack maintained boat trim nudging Ollie’s RS ahead – only to be piped overall by an average lap speed of 0.4sec in McD’s favour.

It was Phil Philpot’s tacking on each wind shift on the beat to Durgan that held his Solo in contention for the finish of the 2nd race. Hitherto, Andy Biggs had masterfully wrestled his Laser around the course threatening even Ollie’s RS. Phil took full advantage of Andy’s distraction (forthcoming nuptials?) and the gift of a breeze to tightly round the now infamous Bosahan mark and get above Andy on the beat to the committee boat. Sailing a tight proper course on the final tack firmly held Andy in the rear and Phil to 2nd place.

Helm	Crew	Class	Name-No.	PY	Race 1	Lap Sec	Race 2	LapSec
Roger McDonald	Beccy Kestin	RS400	958	948	1	589.3	1	577
Ollie Berryman	Ed Bolitho	RS400	588	948	2	589.7	3	738
Phil Philpott		Solo	4785	1150	3	819	2	861
Andy Biggs		Laser	138471	1085	4	788	5	881
Adam Mason		Solo	4099	1150	5	866	4	900
Stephen Brooks		Radial	179651	1110	6	847	6	931

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

Marshalls: Steve Kestin & Margaret Statham Safety Cover & Love Boat: Sammy Hubbard & Jack assisted by K&J Hubbard

Photography: Robert Floyd 157 photos – Outstanding! Victuals wet & dry – Ben Williamson for staying open

Average lap race accounting whilst demanding of logistics and support is deemed fairest to PY dinghy competition. A great credit to all those behind the action for selflessly putting themselves forward for duty.

: Grab a gust – get on a reach

: Aim for the windward mark

: Take the power off and leave time to………..

: Take in all the washing and close haul

: That would be ALL the washing

: Closing on the trawler

: and work off that lunch

: The overtaking red RS of Berryman & Bolitho keeps clear

: Gotcha! Leaving Ed Bolitho time to inspect the trawler’s mackerel haul

: Outstanding Sportsmanship – Rear Brake applied at the committee boat

: How many have we caught now Beccy?

: Berryman & Bolitho take a premature – if not a well earned rest by the committee boat leaving McD and Beccy to take honours.

: A gutsy performance from Andy Biggs gives the Red RS a run for its money

: But watch out for Phil Philpot’s Solo

: Phil tightly rounds the mark at Bosahan

: Hmmmmm…. would Karen prefer the Royal Doulton or the fluted Waterford Crystal? Andy please look round – the Solo (PN 1150) has a rig as big as a Laser Rooster 8.1 (PN 1052)