Dinghy Racing: April 21st

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E-ESE 2-3 Helford RYA PY Dynamic Line start East Triangular (U)CD, UCD, UCD

Bonnie Triumph for Solo Artist

A Solo helm rarely reveals the elation brought on by the promise of a leaden sky, a gentle breeze and a line start handicap race. The rest of the PY fleet has about it an air of resignation – and not even the prospect of Sophie Greensmith wake boarding behind the safety boat will lift their spirits. Ollie Berryman might, we fancy, toy with the idea of taking his cabinet making skills in the form of a chainsaw to the Solo’s handicap. Perhaps Ed Bolitho could be tempted to add a few concrete blocks to the Solo’s ballast.

Working his way to the start line close to the North shore, Adam Mason is reminded that the slightest hint of hubris invites Nemesis. A thump to Pants looked promisingly painful were it not for the shear pin on the tripping centre board. Chastened – Adam at the favoured Pin end kick-starts his campaign as leeward boat to B&B persuading the RS400 to reconsider its course. Returning the favour Ollie tacks ahead of Adam – encouraging the Solo to enter the larger swell of Bosahan. From here on, the classes buddy up for close racing.

Following last week’s dunking Nick Maidwell’s laser is now firmly in control and scampers after the Solos praying for a stiffer breeze to threaten. In the faultless tussle between RS400’s it’s not Ed’s six pack that will help. In gentle breezes – it’s his skill at capturing each gift of a favourable puff with spinnaker.

Phil Philpott is always in contention, but ventures a little too close to the slap of the south shore swell on the way to Central. Bantam weight Adam runs the Solo flat and level from Durgan to Trebah whereas Phil tilts hull 15 degrees to port – reducing wetted area & thereby gaining considerable ground – but not quite enough. A Matchless performance by the Solos but with Trophy’s to Adam & Sarah.

Helm
Crew
Class
Name-No.
PY
Race
Elapsed
Correct

Adam Mason

Solo
4099
1150
1
42.32
3698

Phil Philpott

Solo
4785
1150
2
43.27
3772

Ollie Berryman
Ed Bolitho
RS400
588
948
3
36.15
3824

Roger McDonald
Beccy Kestin
RS400
958
948
4
37.14
3928

Nick Maidwell

Laser
170605
1085
5
45.16
4172

Captain Dinghies Beccy Kestin thanks all those supporting the fleet on the day.
Marshalls: Sarah Mason & Stephen Brooks
Safety: Chaperone Paul Greensmith & Sophie
Photography: Stephen Brooks

A great credit to all those behind the action for selflessly putting themselves forward for duty.

Summer Weekend Series Sunday 19th July : Pursuit, Wind SW3-4

Soothing Pursuits

A light to moderate south-westerly breeze with an occasional big gust made for lively sailing.  Three Juniors in Laser Radials started together, chased a minute later by Andy & Karen Biggs in their N12.  Ben Johns & Matt Broad went a toing and froing down the long run-reach to the mouth of the river until Matt pulled away on the beat back up to Trebah, in his own pursuit of the N12 which had just passed the trio off Grebe.

Starting exactly 7 minutes after the Radials in his Halo, Phil Philpott used his knowledge of the river’s flows & where its rocks were to keep out of the fully ebbing tide, hugging the shore whenever he could.

With the intention of getting the Laser 2 flat on the beat or the reach with spinnaker, Andrew Hosking boldly wore his trapeze harness, although for the most part there wasn’t quite enough puff to be tempted out on the wire. Trailing Ben Johns and Beks Hosking on the last run to Committee Andrew had his prayers answered & got the gust he had wanted all day. Cleating the mainsheet and sliding to the transom, Andrew got the hull near half out of the water, yet could steer and work the spinnaker guys for a 250 yard dash past Ben to his daughter in her Radial.

An unflappable Katie Sykes making a welcome return to  the river, kept her photographer dry and the Rescue RIB steady enabling a video of Andrew’s meteoric progress to be made.

In stiffer winds on the final beat to Central, Beks rewarded her father’s earlier impertinence by nipping past him at the very finish.

Towards the front of those queuing in the hunt for Biggsey, Matt was still gamely hiking out as hard as he could but did not have the sail area to get closer to the see-sawing bath in British racing green. The Halo on the other hand did have enough cloth but not quite enough gusts to close a 10 second gap at the final mark.

Results
Overall 1st A&K Biggs, 2nd PJ Philpott, 3rd M Broad
Juniors 1st M Broad, 2nd R Hosking, 3rd B Johns

Captain Dinghies Andy Biggs thanks all those in support of the fleet on the day
Safety Boat: Phil Samuel & Andrew Hosking, Chris Broad.

http://helfordriversc.co.uk/wp-content/movies/00001.m4v

Andrew Hosking is soloing his Laser 2 and catches a good gust on a broad reach to catch Ben Johns and Beks his daughter – watch her pony tail go back and forth in as lantern jawed Beks realises her father will catch her Radial Laser.  Andrew was unable to maintain the momentum being pipped by Beks at the finish.