Dinghy Racing: May 26th

ByJeff

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Dinghy Racing: April 23rd

Dinghy Racing: April 23rd

ByJeff

Spring Series Thursday 23rd April 2015 : Triangular Average Lap x 2 UCD Wind ESE3

First Race
It’s always best to get the first race done discretely, particularly if the boat or brain were left in a metaphorical compost heap for the winter. In what could only be described as blatant trolley neglect McD spent most of Thursday evening swapping boats, sails, trolleys, & banter – in quite possibly a novel attempt to distract the opposition. Andy & Hamish Biggs in Committee boat – blissfully unaware of the protracted comings & goings at the dinghy park – had plenty of time to lay a delightful triangular course, and for a quick nap before the fleet’s tardy arrival.

For most of the week an easterly wind had piled surf and sunshine into the Helford, but abated as per forecast to a gentle ESE breeze & swell. Indistinct in the haze, the first mark at Central proved elusive as racers, dressed for Armageddon, sweated, and toiled on the beat to a fuzzy memory of where the mark should be. McD’s memory and strategy proved correct as he first rounded central for the reach to Durgan. Aided by a gentle swell on the shifty run to Trebah, Brooks was clearly overwhelmed by the idea of getting closer to the front of the fleet and went off in the wrong direction at the leeward mark. Phil Samuel’s immaculate boat preparation and bicycling throughout winter led to his seemingly effortless performance in a gleaming Solo as he elegantly cruised to a third, 5 close seconds behind the Lasers.

With a combined age in the region of 180 the top 3 helms on the day prove that competitive dinghy racing is suitable to all. Newcomers, are always welcome at HRSC so if simply dipping your toes in or ready to challenge our teenage hotshots contact Captain Dinghies Andy Biggs via 01326 231006

Results 1st R McDonald 2nd S Brooks, 3rd P Samuel

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

Dinghy Racing

ByDuncan Skingley

Hi All

We’ll be racing most Thursday evenings and Sundays, subject to weather conditions. All will be welcome and there are club boats available subject to booking.

For this to happen we are going to need volunteers to crew the committee / support boats maybe in some form of rota so we can all get some racing in as well ! If you are interested please contact me.

There will I am afraid a few restrictions to help keep us all safe.

Boats can be ether single handed or crewed by a family group/bubble.

Club boats must have a 72 hour gap between use by different family groups/bubbles, unless the boat and gear has been disinfected by an approved method.

Wind conditions will be restricted to 20mph (force 4 touching 5) max, maybe using xcweather forecast for helford as cut off but final decision should take sea conditions, tides and squalls into account. Also the ability of the sailors should be considered (general we say level 3 standard or above) This is to minimize the need for sailors needing help and reducing the chance of the committee / support boat crew having to put them or others at risk.

The final decision should be made by the race officer taking the above into account and completing the new dinghies risk assessment sheet before each race session .

The towing should be done in a line from the stern of the committee boat if needed ( extra floating line has been put on the rib and fun yak)

Committee / support boat crew should be of the same family group / bubble and be required to sign a declaration to say the understand the risks of maybe having to come into close contact during a rescue situation and the the club has put measures in place to reduce that risk.

We must all keep gatherings below 30 people on land and in groups of no more than 6 people so please give each other space when rigging and launching keeping at least 2m apart. 

Hope to see you all out sailing soon 

Cheers 

Duncan Skingley 

07817875706

[email protected]

Dinghy Racing: September 13th

ByJeff

Summer Weekend Series Sunday 13th September 2015: Trapezoid Ave Lap UGDC Wind ESE4-6

Culdrose on Sunday recorded over 20-30 mph average and gusting for an original 3pm race start. Captain Dinghies Andy Biggs had made the correct decision to delay matters until 5pm – just in time for a welcome soft rain to soothe salt-stung eyes in a somewhat milder 15-30mph.
Race Officers Steve & Beccy Kestin found what little shelter there was near Trebah for the start – pointing the fleet into a short steep swell for the first long leg to Gew. Andrew Hoskin deceived by the sheltered nature of the calm under the clubhouse, on reaching Trebah in his Laser 2 decided discretion was the better part of valour, and was the first to retire.
Proving peri octogenarians can surf with a sail, Dave Philpott impressively survived the roller coaster ride to Durgan where others did not, and after a magnificent first lap in the Solo finished on a high. Dave’s son Phil in the fastest boat of the day found he could survive the downwind sections – just – by perching precariously at the end of the scaffolding that counts as Gunwales on his Blaze and was home 5 minutes before everyone else.
Biggs & Brooks battled through the surf together on their full rigged lasers the entire race whooping more in relief as the exhausting beat turned to exhilarating reach up river. Other than a little faux pas on the gybe round Durgan, Biggsey had the edge over his rival, driving himself and craft to the limits, such that his boom broke on a +30mph pirouette through the narrows after race end.
Youth sailors Beks Hosking & Matt Broad in Laser Radials heroically made their way around the course – more than keeping up with the adults – Matt dividing Brooks and Biggs for a third.
Roger McDonald, Helford River Children’s Sailing Trust Deputy Chief Instructor had been out on the river earlier in the day on one of a pair of Trust Laser Visions put up for sale, testing for the first time its qualities in a stiff breeze, and at the same time instructing a mature nephew crewing on his first sail. Deciding his charge could cope with more instruction McD returned to the club in a Wayfarer. Heading the field behind the Blaze, a failure in the Wayfarer’s running rigging on the first reach to Durgan denied the pair a podium position – but not an indifferent start, it could be said, to a Level 1 Dinghy qualification!

Results: 1st D Philpott, 2nd S Brooks, 3rd M Philpott

Captain Dinghies: Andy Biggs thanks all those in support of the fleet on the day
Committee: Steve & Beccy Kestin
Safety: Nick Glossop & Ben Johns
Following: Chris & Emma Broad

Dave Philpott winner of HRSC Sunday race photographed earlier in the week

Dinghy Racing: July 19th

Dinghy Racing: July 19th

ByJeff

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.