Dinghy Racing: May 19th

ByJeff

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

dinghyresults19may

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

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

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Dinghy Racing: Aug 8th

Dinghy Racing: Aug 8th

ByJeff

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Thursday 8th August Summer Evening Series SW 10-20Kts Pursuit South West T D U Q T U Q ( T C Q) All Marks to Port

SW Pursuit

Culdrose recorded a warm 12kt South Westerly 100% humidity and drizzle – as Helford’s dinghy racers set of on Thursday’s Pursuit race. Home from home then for Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club’s successful Laser racer Andrew Richards (3rd in Div A, Middle Island Regatta ‘13) on leave with his young sailing family. Search RHKYC for details of their internationally competing youth 29ner fleets.

First of by the clubs pursuit start line was Beccy Kestin in Laser 4.7 taking the long run to Toll with the odd 20+knot chasing gust in her stride. Adam Mason’s Solo (1st) and Andy & Karen Biggs National 12 (2nd) soon had their sights filled by Beccy’s 50 sq ft sail – being half the pursuer’s size.

Andy Richards pristine 40 year old Laser (no 3413!) fresh out from ~ 20 years storage was next off for its baptismal race at HRSC. There have been over 200,000 lasers built so Andy’s is a rare vintage and he sailed it with a connoisseur’s appreciation leaving Brooks behind to take 4th after his 3rd.

The Laser II fleet started together with Andrew & daughter Beks Hosking taking a lead over Chris Hosken bravely sailing single handed. The gusts were too strong and the sails to big (124sqft) for this inversion prone dinghy and hydrophobic farmer to continue. We expect Beks will be tempted out soon on the trapeze in a good breeze to demonstrate Team Hosking’s true potential. Perhaps former National Laser II Champion Adam Mason can be persuaded to reprise his role as a demo for Beks?

HRSC’s early rising stars Ollie Berryman & Ed Bolitho have been acquitting themselves well this week – a top placing of 16 out of 44 in the RS 400 National Championship Berwick. Now for Falmouth Week!

Thursday 8th August        Summer Evening Series    SW 10-20Kts   Pursuit South West

T D U Q T U Q ( T C Q) All Marks to Port

Helm
Crew
Class

Name-No.

PY

HRSC Pursuit Time

Pos

After Hooter

Adam Mason

Solo

4099

1148

22.36

1

Andy Biggs
Karen Biggs
Nat 12

3326

1104

24.48

2

Andy Richards

Laser

3413

1087

25.39

3

Stephen Brooks

Laser

179651

1087

25.39

4

Beccy Kestin

Laser 4.7

171278

1180

21.00

5

Andrew Hosking
Beks
Laser II

180

1035

28.15

6

Chris Hosken

Laser II

9482

1035

28.15

DNF

Results:
1st Adam Mason, 2nd Andy Biggs, 3rd Andy Richards

Dinghy Racing: August 9th

ByJeff

Summer Weekend Series Saturday 9th August WSW2-4 Average Lap CBGT

Bertha sets Blaze alight

It was with some trepidation that Adult and Junior sections of HRSC set out to race in darkening clouds 3pm Saturday. With the centre of a depression, that was the former Hurricane Bertha, between Iceland and Scotland whipping up air dripping with moisture from the Azores – when would she arrive, and what would she do were the questions uppermost in race organisers minds. A lunchtime Met Office WSW 8-14knot forecast proved accurate – perfect for racing. Perfect for Phil Philpott who blazed a trail at the front of the fleet for four laps to take Ist. Snapping at his heels were Andy & Karen Biggs in the N12 and Andrew Hosking in Laser – but to no avail as Phil’s Blaze flew further ahead on the reach between Gew and Toll.
Leading a trio of Laser 4.7’s Beccy Kestin planked her way on the beats but was just 10 seconds shy of a podium finish. It was Beks Hosking and crew Ben Johns who masterfully dealt with the 90 degree wind shifts to lead a trio of Feva XLs for a first in the Junior section. Watched over in the safety boat by parents: the Broad’s and Foreman’s, Harry Broad and Ollie Foreman did them & their Feva proud. There was a battle royal between the 4.7s of Ollie Chamberlain and Matt Broad – swapping positions throughout the entire race with 2nd place only decided in the final leg from Toll in Ollie’s favour.

A plucky Finley Walsh-Newton showed his courage, and great skill navigating a sprightly Byte upright around all 3 laps just behind the leaders. Wolfe Scrimshaw kept his wife Clare dry on their first serious race together and a couple of cuffings of race marks showed restraint upon the mark cuddlings seen at an earlier informal outing. Cuffings however performed without the required 360 penalty (760 if it’s a boat) as advised by Chris Hosken in the safety Zodiac are met with a DQ. Suggestions for the novice: follow the boats in front, gently round marks, don’t hit anyone or thing- protests written on the back of a £50 note. Anton Chamberlain usually a Comet Trio soloist hoping for 15kts plus in a Pico was impeccably behaved at the rear of the fleet shadowing the Byte – hit nothing, and came last.

Results:
Adult Fleet: 1st PJ Philpott, 2nd A&K Biggs 3rd A Hosking
Juniors: 1st R Hosking & B Johns, 2nd O Chamberlain, 3rd M Broad
Captain Dinghies Andy Biggs thanks all those in support of the fleet on the day, Stephen Brooks Committee Boat, Chris Broad & Chris Hosken in Safety Boats.

Andy & Karen Biggs cross the line with a 2nd

A camera shy Andrew Hosking finishes 3rd at the Pin end

Anton Chamberlain chases Wolfe & Clare Scrimshaw

Duellists OllieC & Matt Juniors 2nd & 3rd

Chris Hosken inspects Scrimshaw mark carving

Dinghy Racing: April 15th

Dinghy Racing: April 15th

ByJeff

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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 […]

Dinghy Racing: July 20th

ByJeff

Summer Weekend Series: Sunday 20th July10.00am NW Pursuit  NESW1-2 

Whilst Culdrose recorded a gentle NW 8–12 mph breeze on Sunday morning Helford did its own thing.  Light airs from every quarter got most of the 19 sailors from the club house to the mouth of the river and back again.  Fortune favoured those that started first or knew where they were going.  Brothers Harry & Ollie Broad, and Matt and Ben Johns got a great start in their club Fevas – staying at the head of the fleet until the big sails of Andy and Karen Biggs in their National 12, and Anton Chamberlain’s Comet reached them.  Further back in the last Feva, the sound of Beks Hosking and Ed Hosken snoring could easily have been mistaken for the put-put of a grey Plymouth Pilot on its way to Gew.

Joining racers for the day was Dominic Horton’s 50 or so year old Albacore. A pleasant reminder when 3 of this class were raced on the Helford some 20 years ago. A 1954 design by Uffa Fox, built by Fairey Marine employing a cross laid ply technique developed from making WWII wooden aircraft such as the Mosquito. Confidently helmed by his young daughter with only the occasional instruction from her crew this lightweight large sailed dinghy took the Hortons to 4th place.

Setting of last in the Blaze – Phil Philpott with the patience of a saint crept past the laser fleet and to 6th place ahead of Phil Samuel.

It was a delight to see the return of Richard Graham-Vivian & crew Katie Sykes in the big Wayfarer – it being the only boat properly organised for the day with paddles – the rest content to drift wherever they wished or Church & Flunder in safety would tow them.

Results: 1st A&K Biggs, 2nd A Cha mberlain 3rd H&O Broad

Andy thanks all those supporting the fleet on the day – Dave Church Safety, Dan Flunder photography

 

The end of season dinghies results 2020.

ByDuncan Skingley

So the results for this year’s dinghy racing are sorted!!
Well done everyone it has be quite a year and anything but normal!
The main thing is we got out sailing and had fun, so a big thankyou to everyone who has helped and taken part it has been quite a learning process for us all….
So the results

Summer series
1st Tim Laws
2nd Freya Skingley
3rd Duncan Skingley

Autumn series
1st Phil Philpott
2nd Duncan Skingley
3rd Lily Butler

And 2 special prizes

Lily Butler for being the only junior to win a race and in fact she won 2 in the end !! Well done!!

And Bob Shepherd for sticking with it despite not being in a great boat and often bringing up the rear but always with a smile, well done !!