Autumn Weekend Series Sunday 2.45pm 19th October 2014: Pursuit SW Wind SW 4-6
Result: 1st R Hosking, 2nd M Broad, 3rd PJ Philpott, 4th R McDonald, DNF A Hosking
Captain Dinghies Andy Biggs thanks all those supporting the fleet on the day: Carol Lawrence & Heather Ibbotson for Safety and Photography, Chris Broad: Safety & following
Autumn Weekend Series Sunday 4th October 2015: SE Linestart Wind SE 4-6
Lazerette Lashing
Nick Glossop – ably assisted by a sleepy-eyed Ben Johns, rose to the challenge for his first Helford Race Officer duty, competently setting a delightful beat South East from Trebah out to Gew. With its back to the wind, trees and cliff’s protect the dinghy park, deceiving the unwary to what lies around the corner. Mid morning, the Met Office’s promise duly delivered 10-25kts of bliss. Bliss, that is, for Lazerettes Matt Broad and Beks Hosking comprehensively thrashing the seniors in both real and handicap time with a 1-2.
There is no secret to sailing the Laser into the wind in a good breeze; it has to be sailed flat and upright and that’s why there are four sizes of sail catering for all sizes of helm. Shadowing the leading Wayfarer, Matt & Beks relentlessly chased each other the entire race with Matt delivering the coup de grace in the final seconds at Bosahan
By contrast, in the over powered slow fleet, Brooks & Andrew Hosking fighting in the Heavyweight section (90+kg) could not stay on their feet under the sustained assault from Bantamweight Dave Philpott in the Solo class. Dave’s experience over many years at club and national level saw him able to coax and tempt his large sail to a mostly calm yet always dry canter.
Attempting to hide from the wind on the first beat to Gew in the Laser Two, Andrew Hosking battered the swell along the south shore; multitasked his way back into contention with the spinnaker on the reach back to Trebah. Second time round, Andrew was less lucky on the gybe under Toll, turning the Two turtle. Paul Greensmith in safety, handsomely & divinely crewed by son Sam & fiancé Amandine, attended the supine racer who seemed to take rather, and perhaps wistfully, longer than usual to return to the fray.
A few minutes later on an uncontrolled reach to Central, Brooks’ Laser tossed him in, a just reward for any gloating – concealed or otherwise over his rival’s demise.
Results: 1st M Broad, 2nd R Hosking, 3rd R Kestin & McD
Captain Dinghies: Andy Biggs thanks all those in support of the fleet on the day
Committee: N Glossop, B Johns
Safety: P Greensmith, S Greensmith & Amandine
Photography: © D Flunder
Following: C Broa
Autumn Weekend Series Sunday 9.45am 12th October 2014: Pursuit NE Wind NE 2-4
What is it about the collective British psyche that causes them – even in the most extreme environments – to spontaneously break out into gaudy flamboyant dress? So, what about a Colourful Boat prize to brighten up the final 3 dinghy races of the Helford’s Autumn series? Oooooooh yes please!
It was Roger McDonald the previous week that seeded the germ of an idea by protecting the seat of his wetsuit with a less than conservative pair of pink patterned board shorts.
Needing little invitation to party, Beccy Kestin took a crow bar to her husband’s dressing up box and relieved him of a fluffy red tutu, red & white striped tights which in combination with the one sensible item from her sailing wardrobe – a red spray top – completed her transition to utter daftness.
McD, Beccy’s Helm in the RS400, had found himself a fine pin stripped purple pinkish dress shirt – a left over from his glam rock days – that perfectly clashed with “THOSE” board shorts.
Thus the RS400’s purple hull and blousy pink spinnaker were transformed into a riot of colour – winning both the days Colourful Boat award and indeed the pursuit race itself.
Phil Philpott, having raced almost every RS designed dinghy in Greece the week previous was not too tired to come 4th in his Red Hot Tamale, the Blaze; trailed by Brooks a long way behind – the only spark in his performance coming from his shorts.
Andy & Karen Biggs clearly demonstrated their passion for exotic swimwear, and for coming second behind the RS400, with a masterful race that took them past an immaculately attired Phil Samuel – leaving him with a third.
Andrew Hosking soloing in Laser 2 jousted with Phil Samuel winning the reaches in the moderate breeze with his spinnaker but lost the beats to the large monosail – but finally managed to catch his daughter Beks’ Laser 4.7
Result:
1st R McDonald
2nd A Biggs
3rd P Samuel
Captain Dinghies Andy Biggs thanks all those supporting the fleet on the day: Dave Church and Dan Flunder for safety and camera
Summer Thursday Series 2012
7 Races 5 to count
Race officer scores average points
Race 1
Race 2
Race 3
Race 4
Race 5
Race 6
Race 7
Race 8
Race Date
21-Jun
05-Jul
19-Jul
02-Aug
16-Aug
23-Aug
30-Aug
06-Sep
Helm
Cancelled
Total score
Position
Andy & Karen Biggs
5
1
2
3
2
2
2
9
1
Phil Philpott & Carrie Hoskins
1
5
1
3
3
3
11
2
Roger Mac & Beccy Kestin
4
3
3
4.8
1
4.8
15.8
3
Adam Mason
13
2
6
1
1
23
4
Olly Berryman & Ed Bolitho
2
2
6
1
13
24
5
Emily Broad
6
4
7
5
4
26
6
Phil Samuel
3
9.4
4
13
13
42.4
7
Stephen Brooks
13
13
9.4
4
13
4
43.4
8
Tony Statham
13
13
5
13
13
57
9
Richard G Vivian
13
13
13
5
13
57
10
Chris Hosken
13
13
13
13
7
59
11
Ed Hosken
13
13
13
13
7
59
12
Summer Weekend Series 2012
8 Races 5 to count
Race officer scores average points
Race 1
Race 2
Race 3
Race 4
Race 5
Race 6
Race 7
Race 8
Race 9
Race Date
17-Jun
17-Jun
01-Jul
04-Aug
11-Aug
11-Aug
19-Aug
25-Aug
01-Sep
Helm
Cancelled
Total score
Position
Roger Mac & Beccy Kestin
3
6
2
2
2
1
10
1
Andy & Karen Biggs
2
2
3
1
3
2.2
10.2
2
Phil Philpott & Carrie Hoskins
1
1
6
2
2
12
3
Stephen Brooks
5
4
4
3
3
4
3
17
4
Adam Mason
1
1
12
12
1
27
5
Olly Berryman & Ed Bolitho
4
3
1
12
12
32
6
Emily Broad
6
5
5
4
12
32
7
Anton Chamberlain
12
12
12
2
5
43
8
Phil Samuel
12
12
12
12
3
51
9
Chris Hosken
12
12
12
12
7
55
10
Ed Hosken
12
12
12
12
8
56
11
Thursday 25th April – Spring Evening Series NW2 Pursuit W 6.15pm
McDonald in the Pink
Thursdays light winds suited the largest sail area & lightest of crews. With no skiffs on the Helford, the next best for these conditions is undoubtedly the RS400 with capacious spinnaker. Especially in Neon Pink and crew Roger McDonald & Beccy Kestin in the peak of condition.
The Laser fleet were first of from the Helford Pursuit start line in front of the Club House. The larger full rigs whittling away the minute and a half handicap advantage of the radials on the slow drift to the mouth of the river under Toll.
Next of the double handers with Brooks playing it safe without deploying kite with daughter Zoe on her first race in Laser II. By the time the lasers were on the beat back up stream the RS400’s set forth all sails flying, catching leading Laser Andy Biggs on the run back down river from Voose rocks.
The lightest of airs were found under Trebah and again by Voose smothering the performance of the Lasers. Faced with early victualing a cold and hungry teenager or completing another drift to rivers mouth Brooks chose wisely. That left Phil Philpott and Carrie Hoskins to make it back to shore behind race leader McDonald, with Messer’s Greensmith and Brandreth towing a grateful laser fleet home before last orders.
In the Pink – McD & Beccy
Phil & Carrie catching the lightest of airs
The only similarity between RS400 & Laser II – the number
Emily leading the fleet on the first run down river
Becalmed at Trebah
Results: 1st Roger McDonald, 2nd Phil Philpott, 3rd Andy Biggs
Thursday 25th April – Spring Evening Series NW 2 Pursuit W 6.15pm
T U V Q ( U V C ) All Marks to Port
Helm
Crew
Class
Name-No.
PY
HRSC Pursuit Time
Pos
After Hooter
Roger McDonald
Beccy Kestin
RS400
958
947
32.39
1
Phil Philpott
Carrie Hoskins
RS400
766
947
32.39
2
Andy Biggs
Laser
138471
1087
25.39
3
Emily Broad
Radial
173728
1117
24.09
4
Stephen Brooks
Zoe
Laser II
7666
1035
28.15
DNF
Captain Dinghies Andy Biggs thanks all those supporting the fleet on the day
Safety cover: Paul Greensmith & Dom Brandreth
Guest Photographer: Paul Greensmith
HRSC 67th Dinghy Regatta 2015 Saturday 11th July Wind WSW 4-6
67th Helford Regatta
Helford’s Senior racers were as delighted with the performance of their Junior section, as the Juniors themselves. In the combined Youth & Senior fleets, Youth Laser 4.7 sailors Olly Chamberlain and Beks Hosking relieved the seniors of their two largest pieces of silverware; Phil Philpot left content with a Bronze for his Blaze.
Race organiser Andy Biggs had been promised a breezy days sailing all week by Culdrose, and he wasn’t disappointed with an average of 12 knots and double again in the gusts. Four racers and three generations of the Philpott family were out on the water, proving dinghy sailing is for all ages, taking prizes in youth, senior and overall categories.
There were thrills and multiple spills for most, yet peri octogenarian, Grandfather Dave Philpott kept his immaculate middle aged wooden Solo upright and raced all five races with panache – to the envy of everyone. Phil Samuel had a promising morning with a modern Solo, and with 3 good races under his belt had rightly every expectation of a podium finish had not Aeolus tripped him up. Getting the Solo out of an inversion & going again is an exhausting exercise, given a cockpit as large as a double bath.
With room to bath a rugby scrum, three conventional double handers out racing would try at all costs to avoid capsize.
Roger Philpott and his young crew Gabriel in a Graduate were holding nicely to middle orders; nevertheless it was too gusty for their large sail area and retired. Team Kestin & McDonald on a second outing racing Beccy’s Wayfarer decided there was no profit to be had flying a big yellow kite on the short downwind course and shorter reaches; a wise choice as they stayed dryish and medalled. Anton Chamberlain’s Comet Trio needed a crew and reef both, which he finally got after lunch, when a brave Jack Lawrence joined him after abandoning an exhausting wrestle with his over powered Laser in the morning. Jack gave the Comet just the edge needed in the battle royal that had being going on all day with Andrew Hosking’s Laser. Just as Andrew was really showing superiority over Brooks and Anton in the stiffer winds of the afternoon, he threw it all away with a moment’s indiscretion on the penultimate gybe.
Chris Hosken boldly went where he had never been before, into an RS Vareo, and probably wished he hadn’t on this particular day, but made sure he gave it a wash – in fact several – out of gratitude to Tom Smith, its owner.
Phil Philpott’s Blaze, a veritable aquatic version of his Ducati, roared ahead of the fleet, yet did on occasion, skid on gravel around the leeward bend; there being no ABS on the big red beautiful beast, still at least the landing was soft.
In the first race Phil’s nephew Sam was third in a 1, 2, 3 triumvirate of youth Laser 4.7’s. For the first 3 races it was Olly Chamberlain […]
Spring Evening Thursday 18th June : Average Lap
Results
Race 1
Overall: 1st P Samuel, 2nd P Philpott, 3rd D Philpott,
Juniors: 1st R Hosking 2nd S Philpott
Race 2
Overall 1st P Samuel, 2nd R Hosking, 3rd P Philpott
Juniors 1st R Hosking, 2nd S Philpott
Captain Dinghies Andy Biggs thanks all those in support of the fleet on the day
Safety & Comittee Boat: A&K Biggs
