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Dinghy Racing 2016
What a great 2015 year hosted by Team Captains Dinghies Andy and Karen Biggs. Writing this with 70 mph gusts outside we are reminded how generous the wind was with only one outright race cancellation. Andy gained huge support from the Committee for re-investment in 2016 dinghy racing.
Two RS Visions – think Wayfarer with easy righting / crew recovery, naturally aspirated with huge Spinnaker and a 1134 Handicap to die for. The perfect introduction to club racing.
A dual purpose Safety / Committee boat with a robust construction we think will tempt more Safety Boaters out in all weathers.
We need to get on the water a little earlier for three equipment acquaint sessions starting 3rd April to hone our Safety and Asymmetric skills before racing starts on 14th April.
Andy on [email protected] is keen to take out new and adult Members for refresher race training in the Visions on Tuesday evenings or as convenient. If any juniors’ parents are kicking their heels on the quay, we hope to offer similar temptation on Friday evenings. The Club’s stock of lovingly maintained Wayfarers is also available for adult sailing / training on Tuesday evenings. Contact Dave Sumner on 01326 240350 or [email protected].
We are actively exploring ways HRSC and HRCST can encourage the flow of adults and juniors into racing and hope there are opportunities with RNAS Culdrose. The Club, founded in 1948 by many ex-RN members, naturally should exploit their “special relationship”.
Saturday 18th June 14:00 – HRSC Dinghy Regatta: we have the return of the Junior Feva Travellers , Laser 4.7ers, and let’s see if we can lure RNAS Culdrose to the friendly melee. We are delighted and proud to have secured Commodore Grafham Water – Tom Smith, to RO the day. Tom will require the generous loan of a Committee boat capable of comfortably holding 4-6 volunteer spotters and recorders under cover.
Saturday 23rd July 18:00 – Susanna May Memorial Cup: the perennially popular event for the May family and friends to joust with HRSC Dinghies. Congratulations to Captain Reginald ‘Fido’ Vivian-May for his British Empire Medal awarded last September!
Saturday 17th or Sunday 18th September – Bart’s Bash: www.bartsbash.com it is appropriate in an Olympic year to honour Sir Ben Ainslie’s late friend Bart Simpson by sailing for Bart on 18th September.
I look forward to meeting old and new rivals alike on the river for an exciting programme of Club racing, regattas, and even the odd expedition or two.
Stephen Brooks – Captain Dinghies [email protected]
Dinghy Racing: April 30th
Spring Evening Series Thursday 30th April 2015 : Linestart NE, Wind 2-3
A Fine Line – By Chris Hosken
A NE line start at Voose was agreed as fitting for the evening’s handicap race, & with no hooter or whistle DO Chris Hosken conducted the countdown by loud shouting. With the usual jostling for pole position, Phil Samuel in his Solo, closely followed by Roger McDonald in his Laser were first off as the rest of the fleet ventured over the line in a close huddle. Ginnie Sykes, taking a dislike to the argy-bargy chose to follow the rest in a neat and tidy way. Ginnie’s first outing for a couple of years; good to see her back racing.
The fleet split for the first mark at Central; Samuel chased by McD opted for mid channel, while a majority took a tip from Phil Philpott, and sailed the southern shore. Andy Biggs decided a happy medium was best sailed between the two groups. It was the Solo that reached Central first, followed by Philpott, McD, and Biggs, while Brooks and Sykes brought up the rear.
The Solo and Blaze kept close on the run to Bosahan, the Lasers following looking for any advantage. Again the Solo rounded first, followed closely by the Blaze; the lasers of Biggs, McD, Brooks, and Sykes nearby.
Philpott’s Blaze also on its first outing soon moved away from Samuel’s Solo heading for Toll on the North shore. This mark was misjudged by all, apart from Philpott, & without the extra tack he gained the space needed to get a good lead. Gunnel to gunnel, Samuel and Biggs were next around Toll, McD, and Brooks following. Sykes sailed with thought and clarity and rounded each mark in a very seaman like manner, regaining her confidence on the water.
His lead growing, Philpott blazed ahead to Trebah, rounding at half time. Behind, two schools of thought were evident in the rest of the fleet. Samuel and Biggs decided centre of the river was the place to be, McD and Brooks were convinced the north side might gain them some time. With all apart from the Blaze closing in on each other, it was McD’s mature Laser that took the mark followed by Samuel’s highly polished Solo – Biggs and Brooks next.
In lighter airs, Sykes decided a graceful retirement was her goal, and sailed impeccably back to the club house.
Heading to the mouth of the river on the final downward leg, the Blaze with its new larger sail continued to stretch the lead. McD with a never say die attitude had put some distance between himself and Samuel – but would it be enough to beat the Solo’s handicap? Philpott crossed the finishing line back at Voose in 59m10s, in the same calm and understated manner he had competed all evening. McD followed 4 minutes later with Samuel at 65.44, the lasers of Biggs and Brooks battling it out to the end with 67.25 and 67.53. At the final accounting […]
Dinghy Racing: May 10th
Spring Weekend Series Sunday 9.45am 10th May 2015 : Pursuit S Wind S3-5
It’s a Breeze
Encouraged by a wind forecast set to be strengthening later, Helford’s PY dinghy fleet sleepily set of a little earlier than is usual for a Sunday morning. Chris Broad armed with camera took the family’s RIB out for a rescue duty but was not placed to record the pre race entertainment provided by Andy Biggs’ dunking and Stephen Brooks’ close inspection of Avocets mooring buoy. In complete contrast youth sailors Beks Hosking and Matt Broad set out very impressively in gusty conditions with Beccy Kestin in the 4.7 Laser fleet.
Revelling a breeze, Beccy could not quite find enough of it to hold of Phil Philpott’s charge on the Blaze or the seemingly nonchalant approach of McD’s full rigged laser. Phil Samuel’s reinvigorated sailing with the Solo almost got him to the 4.7, and had there been pedals attached would have made it.
Everyone enjoyed the planeing reaches between Toll and Durgan. Sailing high Brooks was favoured by the gusts and would catch up with Biggsey on the reach but a dipette at Durgan and slothfulness on the beat allowed his quarry to escape. Beks and Matt slogged it out all the race and were only devoured on the penultimate leg with Beks achieving family honours
Results 1st R McDonald 2nd P Philpott 3rd R Kestin Youth 1st R Hosking, 2nd Matt Broad
Captain Dinghies Andy Biggs thanks all those in support of the fleet on the day Safety Boat & Photography: Chris Broad
Dinghy Racing: May 24th
Spring Weekend Series Sunday 24th May 10:30am : Pursuit W, Wind WSW-W3-4
Youth Sailor Rebekah Hosking Wins All
Beks Hosking made the right choice in Sunday mornings freshening westerly with her 4.7 rigged Laser, setting of 3 minutes ahead of Phil Samuel’s Solo and Beccy Kestin’s Radial on the long run out to the mouth of the Helford river. Beks stayed at the head of the fleet the entire race despite a superb effort by both Beccy & Phil to close the gap – Beccy within inches – for a one two three finish.
Phil Philpott – bosun to the Philpott family fleet – had his work cut out. Alison, his daughter visiting from Oxford, was out for the first time in a renovated vintage ’78 Laser; his father Dave out for the first time racing in two years in a refurbished ‘85 International OK; all required his attention whilst trying to rig his Blaze. Without apparent fluster all three made it in time to the club pursuit start line.
Assuming the mantle of Grandfather of the Fleet from Phil Samuel, Dave Philpott was next of, sailing confidently a conservative first race in the powerful 1956 designed Knud Olsen OK, a smaller version of the Olympic Finn class. Without putting the pedal all the way to the metal on the 2000m run to Toll, Dave was met for the gybe by Andrew Hosking’s Laser 2 and Stephen Brooks’ Laser, both continuing their tussle for middle orders until race end.
Tendered good fatherly advice, Allison Philpott took the opposite tack suggested at the start, and got her first capsize drill out of the way before sailing in the right direction for the remainder. A saintly Phil Philpott tenderly stood by before Andy & Karen Biggs in the safety boat arrived. Ensuring Allison was fully settled on the run to Toll, Phil had delayed his own charge for victory; nevertheless catching Books on the first reach to Voose, but could not quite make it past the Solo for a podium finish.
Results 1st R Hosking 2nd R Kestin 3rd P Samuel
Captain Dinghies Andy Biggs thanks all those in support of the fleet on the day