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Dinghy Racing: May 7th
Spring Evening Series Thursday 7th May 2015 : Ave Lap UXCx2, Wind 2
Beccy Wins Her Halo
A tranquil evening on the Helford was perhaps relished by those who’d ignored DO Andrew Hosking’s good advice at Sunday’s attempt at racing in 30+kts. Anticipating light airs, Beccy Kestin went for max power to weight ratio as did Phil Philpott with a shiny new 11.4 M Halo, navigated to where there was most wind and least tide and came first & second. Phil Samuel had a great start leading the fleet but it was Aeolus who favoured Andy Biggs; despite a modest beginning, slipped past Ben Johns and Samuel by 1 & 3 tiny seconds for a Bronze.
McD did not ask for, nor was given any favours when wafted around the course, but managed to avoid the trap of tide against wind at Bosahan that befell Beks Hosking in similarly clothed Laser. Keen youth sailor Jim Lea earlier leading the other soloed Feva of Ben Johns on his first race of the season, could not, capitalise on the advantage, and in hindsight was retired a little early by DO Stephen Brooks, but not before piping Beks.
Results 1st R Kestin. 2nd P Philpott 3rd A Biggs
Captain Dinghies Andy Biggs thanks all those in support of the fleet on the day
Safety Boat & Photography: Stephen Brooks
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: September 20th
Summer Weekend Series Sunday 20th September 2015: Triangular Ave Lap DCX Wind S2-4
At sunrise on Sunday, you could hear the bark of a dog across the river at Helford, but not see the village in the quiet Autumnal mist filling the valley. Knowing the river and putting his faith in the Met Office – Race Officer Andy Biggs had wisely chosen a 10.30am race start for Bart’s Bash – collectively the world’s largest charity fundraising event involving 62 countries & near 10,000 participants. See bartsbash.com
After a slow procession on the ebbing tide out to the course a gentle breeze greeted arrivals for the start of the first race; Phil Philpott expertly scooping up most of it with a large rigged Blaze – the Halo.
Refreshed from his holiday, Phil Samuel put in a fine performance in the Solo, leading a threesome behind the Blaze & coming 1 tiny second behind the Halo for a second. Andrew Hosking deployed his Laser Two’s spinnaker on the dogleg back to Durgan from Central, keeping ahead of Brooks in the Laser, but the legs were too short as the wind increased, and there was always the risk of a downhaul tangle for which his rival would show no mercy and came 4th.
Dominic Brandreth on his first competition racing a venerable laser showed promise keeping touch in the early laps with youth racers Beks Hosking and Matt Broad in Laser Radials and Dave Philpott in another Solo; holes in the wind were very unforgiving leaving the rearguard well of the pace.
The second race proved a much closer affair in a freshening breeze with all racers improving upon their individual handicap performances.
Phil Philpott’s first tack to Central was slower going east than those going west, but by the time he got to the end of the lap he knew where he wanted to go, and like a metronome produced 7 & under minute laps for the remainder.
Dave Philpott had an inspired second race giving his 15 years the junior sexagenarian Solo rival the tightest race yet. Both crossed the line in the same second on the first lap, Phil ahead by 1 second on the next and by hardly a boat length on the final lap to take third.
Andrew Hosking, discarding his spinnaker, did what he likes doing best and beat Brooks in the final lap for a fourth place; the two continuing to race back to the clubhouse. Beks Hosking kept pace with the similarly handicapped Solos and ahead of Matt Broad for the first two laps, but the wind evaporated for her in the final. In the rear gunner’s seat, Dom Brandreth continued making progress, knocking a good 2 minutes from his earlier lap times and stayed dry & observant.
Results:
Race 1 1st P Philpott, 2nd P Samuel, 3rd S Brooks
Race 2 1st P Philpott, 2nd P Samuel, 3rd D Philpott
Captain Dinghies: Andy Biggs thanks all those in support of the fleet on the day
Committee: Andy, […]