Percuil Regatta & HRSC Racing

Weekend Series: Sunday 22nd June 10.30  E3  90Min Pursuit   B T U B T U ( V C U) All Marks to Port

 

Blazing Performance!

Choosing their day carefully for the National 12, Andy, and Karen Biggs set of at the head of the fleet into a gentle easterly breeze on a flooding tide on Sunday – and stayed there for the rest of the race. Like many thoroughbreds the N12 is an unstable craft, but will reward a skilled crew that treats her gently.

Setting of opposite the Club House the advantage came to those that kept out of the tide by hugging the south shore with a series of small tacks to the mouth of the river. Any attempt to get to close to the wonderful geology of the Lizard is not without risk – hence the reason for keeping north of the cardinal mark at Voose rocks. Brook’s dreams of glories to come were abruptly terminated as was his passage forward, all to the melody of barnacles feasting on fibreglass.

Phil Philpot had other plans in his new Blaze – the first of these red hot Tamales to grace the Helford and wiggled past as Brooks disqualified himself by failing to round Voose Cardinal the right way. Phil’s second race in the Blaze produced another third place with Roger McDonald & Beccy Kestin’s RS400 taking most of an hour to catch him for second.

It was an otherwise a quiet day for Dave Church & fleet photographer Daniel Flunder in safety boat – time enough to plot the steady progress Andrew and his daughter Beks Hosking delicately made in coming to an honourable fourth in their Laser 2.

An earlier than advertised blowing of hooter wrong footed the Chamberlain fleet planning a “Just in Time” arrival for the start and, despite their best efforts, were not able to reach the lower orders.

Results: 1st A. Biggs, 2nd R. McDonald 3rd PJ. Philpott

Captain Dinghies Andy Biggs invites you Join us for Helford’s Dinghy Regatta 10am – briefing at 9am Sunday 6th July – open & free to racers in mid and west Cornwall. There will be a RYA Feva Traveller series, Junior, and adult PY fleet racing. Forms etc on helfordriversc.co.uk

Captain Dinghies Andy Biggs thanks all those in the support of the fleet on the day

Dave Church & Dan Flunder: Safety & Photography

Spring Weekend Series Sunday 28th June 2015 : Pursuit SW, Wind S-W 4-6 

In Pursuit of Happiness

Andy Biggs had a huge grin on his face as he had been just been thrashed by the 4.7s, and taken part in one of Helford’s best pursuit races of the season. Deciding his relative – the garrulous Gallic Hugonaut – should have a good workout before Sunday lunch, race officer Roger McDonald set a course that ran and reached in the odd 25+knot shifty gusts down river; strained sinew and shrouds on the gallop upriver.

First off, Beccy Kestin and Beks Hosking popped out of the Narrows in their 4.7’s planeing downwind in the big gusts; by the time they both rounded Toll Beccy was clearly well ahead. It wasn’t until a gust caught Beccy between Committee & Toll turtling the 4.7 that young Beks Hosking finally pounced and stayed at the head of fleet with Beccy snapping at her ankles to the end of the race for their 1-2.

A little stumble at the first hurdle and our chatty Hugonaut chum slipped to the back of the Laser queue; where, despite huge efforts, his loaned Laser scooped up water as if a Canadair. This flightless canard however was for sinking – and came last; not by much as the entire fleet were within seconds of each other.

So it was for the remaining Lasers to wait for the slightest error or favourable gust to gain advantage. Phil Philpott’s slowish start on his third Laser outing soon turned into a display of confident seamanship; the throttle opened 110% when Biggsey cuffed Central and turned a 360 penalty into a pirouette.  

Team Hosking & Brooks were out on their first date. Despite loose head prop Brook’s fight with the wet spaghetti in the front of the Laser 2 there was enough ballast & brains in the rear to hold the craft flat on the long beats and upright on the reaches to tease a third within seconds of the finish.   

Results 1st R Hosking, 2nd R Kestin, 3rd A Hosking

Captain Dinghies Andy Biggs thanks all those in support of the fleet on the day

Safety Boat: R McDonald

  

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Autumn Weekend Series – SW Pursuit T D U Q T U Q ( T C Q)        10:52 Start

Helm
Crew
Class
Name-No.
PY

Pos
HRSC Pursuit Time

After Hooter

Phil Philpott
Carrie Hoskins
RS400
766
948

1
34:42

Andy Biggs
Karen Biggs
Nat 12
3326
1104

2
25:36

Emily Broad
Tom Lake
RS200
1145
1057

3
28:21

Stephen Brooks

Laser
179651
1085

4
26:43

Chris Hosken
Ed Hosken
Laser II
100
1035

5
29:38

Ginnie Sykes

Laser
134714
1085

Rtd
26:43

Jonathan Sykes
Katie Sykes
Enterprise
21399
1117

Ave Pts
24:51

Phil Philpott Devours the Fleet

Phil’s battleship grey RS400 was the perfect foil for duelling dinghies on a gusty grey day on the Helford.   A Met office forecast for the Lizard suggesting SW 4 was mirrored on the river with Gusts to + 30 knots by race end.

The Biggs’ continuing their consistent form regardless of conditions this season , started first in their National 12 – only succumbing to the rapier like speed of the RS400.  A minute after the N12 the lasers of Brooks & Ginnie Sykes commenced a chatty & congenial intercourse for the long planning run to Toll before separating for the hard beat upriver.

Both Emily Broad and Ginnie delighted in taking a warm spa treatment in the central section of the river – Ginnie, pausing for a restorative with her sister in law Katie at the safety boat. Emily & Tom with no further need of dagger board inspection saw of any further challenge from the lasers & Chris & Ed Hosken’s  laser II.

Many’s the father and son team have graduated from the Laser II – an experience similar to formula one racing with wet spaghetti for control lines.  Much to Ed’s chagrin the spinnaker would not deploy from behind the main halyard, thus reducing downwind speed – but which had nothing to do with their dunking on the long beat home after race end. Or for that matter 3 little dry ones by Brooks in front of the clubhouse where Phil and Carrie having not quite lapped him were found dry and the RS’s all stored away.

Results: Phil Philpott 1, Andy Biggs 2, Emily Broad 3.

Captain Dinghies Beccy Kestin thanks all those supporting the fleet on the day

Safety cover: Katie Sykes, Dave Church, Dan Flunder
Photographer in Residence: Dan Flunder

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]

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Variously N-NW 3 Culdrose N 4     RYA PY Spring Series Windward Leeward x2

Helm
Crew
Class
Name-No.
PY
Race 1
Elapsed
Correct
Race 2
Elapsed
Correct

Phil Philpott
 
Solo
4785
1150
1
2426
2110
2
1584
1377

Adam Mason
 
Solo
4099
1150
2
2473
2150
1
1577
1371

Andy Biggs
Karen Biggs
Nat 12
3326
1083
3
2424
2214
6
1732
1582

Roger McDonald
Beccy Kestin
RS400
958
948
3
2099
2214
4
1348
1422

Ollie Berryman
Ed Bolitho
RS400
588
948
5
2116
2232
3
1342
1416

Anton Chamberlain
 
Comet Trio
417
1085
6
2528
2330
7
1776
1637

Stephen Brooks
 
Laser
179651
1085
7
2620
2415
9
1874
1727

Matt Ridout
 
Laser
163110
1085
8
2698
2487
8
1823
1680

Tony Statham
 
Laser
91500
1085
9
2702
2490
5
1651
1522

Mark Belshaw
 
Firefly
F3591
1168
10
Duty
Ave Points
 
 
 

The Greek Connection

This week’s alpha-beta males Adam Mason and Phil Philpott inseparably and alternately triumphed with laurels earned over two races within a spring series of Odyssian proportions Sunday.

2340 years before the Olympic Flame arrived at Culdrose, Pytheas, the first literate Greek to visit Cornwall likely moored in Helford’s haven before rounding the Lizard for tin at Ictis – St Michaels Mount. Whether coracle racing was provided as entertainment in 330BC is not recorded, however a veritable feast of sailing was on offer this weekend at Helford River SC.

The fleet proceeded phalanx like to the start under Bosahan, apart that is from one dissenting hoplite Adam Mason hoping for advantage from the pin end. Hope and a 720 degree penalty for hitting Tony Statham’s laser was all Adam got whilst under the Stygian gaze of marshal Mark Belshaw. Belshaw’s Pythagorean designs and sun dial timings left some in momentary self doubt – but not the Purple RS400 that streaked away.

Adonises of the fleet, Ollie Berryman and Ed Bolitho got off to a spluttering start after the nautical exertions and excesses of the previous 24hrs. Facing a herculean struggle following a back sliding by Ollie, the boys pursued McD and Nauarch Kestin, but not until race 2 was satisfaction had with a 6 fine seconds lead. Ollie – think Mr Zog’s.

Andy & Karen Biggs had received enough sailing treats already and a commendable 3rd in the first race signalled the end of their honeymoon, with the RS400’s giving no quarter in the stiffer gusts of the second. Anton Chamberlain stoic in single handing the Comet Trio did well to keep out of Poseidon’s clutches. The same could not be said for Brooks & true Corinthian Statham. Someone had substituted knicker elastic for the mainsheet of Tony’s laser – not helpful on the gybe at Bosahan. Brooks offered no excuse other than the lure of Sirens on the run from Durgan leaving a young Matt to profit from his own impressive endeavours and his mentors’ errors.

Nothing compared to the small dramas at the Helford with those of a true Olympian Ben Ainslie winning his 6th world title at the Finn Championships Friday. Athletes and indeed heroes earn their place in history combating Titans real and metaphorical sent against them. Whatever happens after Friday 18th May, Cornwall will remember Ben winning 3 races in monstrous conditions.

The summer sailing season approaches – and it’s entirely possible Chris Hosken & son’s forbears emerged from their Fogou at Boden Vean one morning to race their coracle to a vessel from Brittany carrying a Greek from Massalia. In his lost book – On the Ocean, Pytheas describes the Cornish as especially friendly to strangers having adopted a civilised way of life because of their interaction with traders and other peoples. It seems […]