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Dinghy Racing: May 17th
Spring Weekend Series Sunday 4pm 17th May 2015 : Pursuit S Wind SW3-5
Beccy’s Breeze
There’s nothing that Beccy Kestin likes more than a good breeze in a 4.7 Laser on the Helford and to prove the point sat at the head of the Helford PY fleet the entire race. Sitting is perhaps not an accurate description of what Beccy does on her sleek craft as she uses all are her skill and agility to keep it upright and pointing in the right direction. Setting of with Beccy were the two other 4.7’s of Beks Hosking, and on his first race of the season, Sam Philpott. Sam made the correct rounding of the Leeward mark at Toll without his mainsheet wrapped around the Laser’s stern. Unfortunately the race camera’s battery had already expired and thus DO Andrew Hosking was unable to capture the tender moment. Steam rose as Beks pulled her sail out of the water and spent the rest of the race chasing down Sam’s superbly prepared hull.
Phil Samuel having mastered a good breeze the previous weekend was well prepared for the gusts in his Solo but despite a sail near double that of the 4.7 at 90 sq ft was unable to quite catch Beccy on her breeze-around. Always putting every ounce of effort into his racing, Andy Biggs can and did catch Kestin at the final can; had he stayed on the same tack, his full rigged laser might have worn Gold. Phil Philpott’s Blaze wasn’t wearing its Halo – possibly needed if Phil could have wrestled the larger 124sq ft rig round the circuit but had nearly made it to the Solo.
Then came a threesome of double handers. Anton in the Comet Trio and Ben Johns in a Feva, risking it without crew, but definitely not risking their spinnakers. Both valiantly made it all the way round to the back of the fleet – but stayed dry. Brooks wisely had a crew, the very trusting novice Vinod Ghantiwala, on his first ever sail & race and was promptly tipped in on the first gybe at Toll. Much to his credit Vinod calmly did whatever he was told and thanked his helm for the experience of racing – keenly observed from the rear of the fleet.
Results 1st R Kestin 2nd A Biggs 3rd Phil Samuel
Captain Dinghies Andy Biggs thanks all those in support of the fleet on the day
Safety Boat & Photography: A Hosking, N Glossop
First Laser Training of the Year.
Good turnout for the Laser training. The wind wasn’t too cooperative, but a fun and useful couple of hours (with Duncan Skingley providing entertainment with his no-wind capsizing skills ).Many thanks to Keith Wilkins and Linda for running the session.
Dinghy Racing 2015
After the success of the 2014 season I think we are all looking forward to another fantastic fun and competitive season of dinghy racing on the Helford. This season will again be a mix of line start courses, average lap racing and pursuit races. With the number of racers increasing we should be able to increase the use of the Q20 committee boat and have more line starts. Committee boat duties will be requested of racers during the season.
There will be a pre-season briefing on Thursday 16th April at 7.00pm. The weekend races are mainly on Sundays and I hope to organise several fun Saturday events to encourage new sailors and progressing juniors to join the fleet. The formal racing starts on Thursday 23rd April but depending on weather and enthusiasm there may be some informal practice races earlier in April. These events will be notified by email circulation. The Dinghy Regatta Day will be on Saturday 11th July, with the first race at 10.30am. This will be a day of 5 average lap races allowing all standards of sailing ability and speed of dinghy to compete in fun exciting races.
The Susanna May Cup will be held on Saturday 8th August at 3pm. The May family are again hosting this fun race afternoon and party/prize giving event, and everyone is welcome. My thanks to everyone who helped make the 2014 season such a success and I hope 2015 is as enjoyable for everyone.
If you would like to try dinghy sailing, experience racing or join the adult sailors in the Club fleet of Wayfarers on a Tuesday evening, then please get in touch. Email me on [email protected].
Andy Biggs – Captain Dinghies

Dinghy Racing: May 21st
Spring Evening Series Thursday 21st May 2015 : Linestart NW, Wind W-NW 3-4
A Hot Line
Starting in the middle of the river between Bosahan and Durgan HRSC’s PY fleet set of on Thursday evening’s NW course into variously a W-NW moderate breeze and a perfect flooding tide. Just back from an Italian job, a thirsty McD executed a perfect manoeuvre to get to the head of the Bosahan cream tea queue; except this was race night and the rest of the fleet had gone to Trebah, the short way.
Phil Philpott’s Blaze with its 125sq ft Halo was the first to elegantly round Trebah before the gentle run out to the Gew. Luring no one with him, McD’s Laser rejoined the main peloton at the rear, chattily working his way through its congenial ranks to within 30 seconds of Andy Biggs’ Laser, himself 30 exhausting seconds behind the understated gentleman on the Blaze.
Out racing for the first time this season, Andrew Hosking anticipating a forecast gentle breeze soloed his immaculate Laser 2 against the refurbished Radial rig of his daughter Beks. Both found themselves performing limbo dance like as the shifty gusts on the beat over powered their sails; the more supple Beks finally chalking up a good two minutes ahead of her father.
Phil Samuel’s Solo and Beccy Kestin’s Radial stuck glue like to the Peloton the entire race; their dogged persistence & skilful navigation paid off at the final accounting – Beccy piping the Solo for first by 3 small seconds, and the Blaze with Bronze a further minute behind.
Results 1st R Kestin. 2nd P Samuel 3rd P Philpott
Captain Dinghies Andy Biggs thanks all those in support of the fleet on the day
Safety Boat & Photography: Stephen Brooks