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Dinghy Racing: May 24th

Dinghy Racing: May 24th

ByJeff

Spring Weekend Series Sunday 24th May 10:30am : Pursuit W, Wind WSW-W3-4

Youth Sailor Rebekah Hosking Wins All

Beks Hosking made the right choice in Sunday mornings freshening westerly with her 4.7 rigged Laser, setting of 3 minutes ahead of Phil Samuel’s Solo and Beccy Kestin’s Radial on the long run out to the mouth of the Helford river. Beks stayed at the head of the fleet the entire race despite a superb effort by both Beccy & Phil to close the gap – Beccy within inches – for a one two three finish. 

Phil Philpott – bosun to the Philpott family fleet – had his work cut out. Alison, his daughter visiting from Oxford, was out for the first time in a renovated vintage ’78 Laser; his father Dave out for the first time racing in two years in a refurbished ‘85 International OK; all required his attention whilst trying to rig his Blaze. Without apparent fluster all three made it in time to the club pursuit start line.

Assuming the mantle of Grandfather of the Fleet from Phil Samuel, Dave Philpott was next of, sailing confidently a conservative first race in the powerful 1956 designed Knud Olsen OK, a smaller version of the Olympic Finn class. Without putting the pedal all the way to the metal on the 2000m run to Toll, Dave was met for the gybe by Andrew Hosking’s Laser 2 and Stephen Brooks’ Laser, both continuing their tussle for middle orders until race end.

Tendered good fatherly advice, Allison Philpott took the opposite tack suggested at the start, and got her first capsize drill out of the way before sailing in the right direction for the remainder.   A saintly Phil Philpott tenderly stood by before Andy & Karen Biggs in the safety boat arrived. Ensuring Allison was fully settled on the run to Toll, Phil had delayed his own charge for victory; nevertheless catching Books on the first reach to Voose, but could not quite make it past the Solo for a podium finish.

Results 1st R Hosking 2nd R Kestin 3rd P Samuel

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

 

Dinghy Regatta: July 11th

ByJeff

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 […]

Dinghy Racing: June 18th

ByJeff

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