Wineglass Open at Fishers Green Sailing Club

A Clean Sweep for ‘the Bishop’

It was a feisty easterly wind that greeted the Wineglass Fleet at Fishers Green S.C. in Waltham Abbey,Essex on Sunday 12th October. Three races were to be sailed with two counting toward the result. Such were the conditions that a degree in math’s was needed to determine the final results.

The first race started on time with a well-laid line, just giving the edge to a starboard start. Alan Bishop and Mike Jackson in 502 ‘Veuve’ led to the windward mark swapping tacks with Roger Castle and Dave Kirton in 421 ‘Rioja’ and Dave and Laura Carter in 507 ‘Vino’ rounding third. Brian Conroy and Eric Woodcraft in 508 ‘Moon Indigo’ rounded fourth having taken a penalty on touching a mark. That remained the order until Conroy capsized on a jibe leaving Dave Preou and Harry Chilcott in 415 ‘Blanc’ in fourth. Only five boats finished this first race in the freshening wind, Bishop and Jackson showing a distant transom to the rest of the field.

Race two after lunch started a little short of boats and in an ever stiffer and sheering breeze. Gear failure, a broken main halyard and a split centreboard were the cause of two non-starters, but there was no excuse for Conroy’s capsize as the gun went. In an attempt to gain the windward side of Bishop by diving behind his transom, Conroy dumped his crew to leeward dragging the boat down. Bishop went on and was not headed during the race keeping Lee and David Eynon in 501 ‘Harvest Moon’ in second place. Conroy, having recovered, got back to finish third.

With the winner already determined the third race, again in some hefty winds, set off to determine the lower places. Again Bishop had a fine start and despite being headed briefly by Conroy, went on to make the clean sweep, with the Eynons a worthy third. Conroy jibed in again and has promised to read that Yachts and Yachting article on jibing.

It was a hard fought meeting in testing breezes, a fitting end to the Summer season.

As well as being the Southern Area Champions, Alan Bishop and Mike Jackson were awarded the Skipper Bowl for the first Fishers Green Crew.

Overall Results: