Dinghy Racing Sailing Instructions out now!!!
Here are this years Dinghy Racing Instructions and Entry form. If you can have a read and bring a signed Entry form that would be great, I will have some at the club tomorrow if you dont!!
Here are this years Dinghy Racing Instructions and Entry form. If you can have a read and bring a signed Entry form that would be great, I will have some at the club tomorrow if you dont!!
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.
The Helford River Sailing Club is starting Adult Dinghy Sailing every Saturday during the summer season beginning at 2.00 pm on 8th July. The start time will alternate between 2.00pm and 10.00am depending on the tide. Our aim is to attract new members to the club by offering an opportunity to Try Sailing a Wayfarer or our new Drascombe Lugger with an experienced club sailor.
All existing club members with or without dinghy experience will be most welcome to join us. Most importantly we need to build up a list of experienced sailors and safety boat crews who are able to help.
This will be promoted in the West Briton as an opportunity to “Try Sailing” which, as you know, has taken place for many years and with great success on Tuesday nights.
If you would like to take part or want to help, please email Angie Watson at [email protected]
Thank you
Spring Weekend Series Sunday 31st May : Pursuit, Wind NW 4-6
Communal Capsize
Phil Samuels reports “The wind was pretty lively and all five lasers capsized. McD won from Andy Biggs with Phil Philpott in third, on his first laser outing. The two 4.7s had a close tussle with Matt Broad in 4th just ahead of Beks Hosking”
Results 1st R McDonald, 2nd A Biggs, 3rd P Philpott
Captain Dinghies Andy Biggs thanks all those in support of the fleet on the day
Safety Boat: Phil Samuel & Andrew Hosking, Chris Broad.
Summer Weekend Series Sunday 5th July : Pursuit, Wind SW 4-6
Hasty Pursuit
With no Lasers out Sunday the PY handicap fleet had the morning to themselves. With the Hooter Blown at 9.30 under large black clouds, a clap of thunder in the distance, and flat calm at the clubhouse was the usually reliable Met Office forecast for Culdrose going to deliver? 25 minutes later as a Wayfarer and National 12 crossed the startline, gone was the mill pond, to be replaced by streaks of foam as gusts +25knots propelling racers through the narrows and into the main racing area. Beccy Kestin helming and racing her new Wayfarer for the first time, enjoyed the shove in the back as her craft nosed ahead of Andy & Karen Biggs’ sea sawing N12 – but not for long as the Wayfarer needed its Lemon coloured spinnaker to stay ahead. Nothing like sorting a vessel out in the last race before Saturday 11th July Open Regatta at Helford.
As the sun broke out fully on the beat back up river to Trebah the force of the gusts soon became apparent as the double handers showed excessive hull and even a hint of centreboard – useful if checking for seaweed fouling the foils. Needing a winch to haul in the ropes Beccy gave the helm to her crew Roger McDonald as Trebah beach drew a little close for comfort. With a look of intense concentration on their faces Andy & Karen planed on the bareaway around Trebah mark; looking back to see the Wayfarer about ½, and Roger Philpott’s Halo hardly a minute away. By the time the N12 reached the mouth of the river, it was well and truly in the Halo’s gaze, and from this point on – apart from an unplanned dismount to free up the Cunningham of Toll it was Phil’s race to sail at the edge of the crafts stability.
Stretched over the bow Beccy managed to free the launch of her spinnaker and began to make inroads on the N12’s lead. Racing became a lot closer as a double gybe and pirouette around the leeward mark saw Karen bailing the N12 furiously. Staying together the two similarly handicapped boats close raced until the 90th minute with N12 just ahead for 2nd.
Results 1st R Philpott, 2nd A&K Biggs, 3rd R McDonald
Captain Dinghies Andy Biggs thanks all those in support of the fleet on the day
Safety & Photography: Stephen Brooks.
Andy & Karen Biggs in their N12 round the Leeward mark as Phil Philpott in the Halo prepares to overtake
Andy & Karen Biggs in their N12 overtaken by Phil Philpott in the Halo