3000 Travellers Trophy Event 1 at Carsington Sailing Club

The 3000s enjoy the breeze at Carsington © Mike Shaw / www.fotoboat.com

We all woke on Saturday morning to find it was blowing an absolute gale. Once we were briefed and rigged the brave sailors began to go afloat. The start was at the other end of the lake from the club house, so with the almighty gusts (some reaching F8 on the clubhouse windometer) and tricky shifts most boats retired before they had even got to the line. Jonathan Nainby-Luxmoore and his crew Robert Johnson (3522) were the only pair to start and finish this race.

After lunch the shifts had calmed slightly and the wind had dropped slightly. Race 2 was about who could capsize the least. On one lap everyone capsized at the leward mark together with a race to see who could right their boat fastest. By the end of this race some crews had got tired and cold enough and headed in. Race three was very close with only four boats braving the wind that had increased again. The down-wind legs were amazing. Boats who put their spinnakers up were flying. However the boats that opted to go straight down wind a leave the kite were still plaining. Then the problem of the jibe came next. Some boats opted to put their kite down and tack, some just put their kite down and some went for it.

When we arrived at the club Sunday morning no one could believe the difference in conditions. There was almost no wind at all. At first the racing was delayed, but when they realised that it wasn't going to improve they sent us out there. With all 10 boats out and some challenging conditions it was guaranteed to be a close and difficult race. Once we got to the race course the wind wasn't too bad and everybody was practicing going round this very small course. Then just before our 5 minute warning the wind died to almost nothing. Only one or two boats made it over the line at the exact time and most were left drifting towards it. With the wind so shifty in places a few boats maged to make a break and get onto their spinnaker run, whilst some where stuck in a fleet of 2000's. Rob Leigh and Paul Smith (3302) managed to somehow do a 180 and face into the 2000's and were stuck in the middle of their fleet. Up the front it was a battle between Tony Hunt (3603) and Ben Blake (3085)with Ed Whitton (3132) close behind. It was really down to catching the right shift through the race.

By the time it had come to race 5 the wind had almost disappeared completely. At one point i'm sure everyone must have been stationary. This race was really about where you were on the start and who could do the biggest roll tack. Also as Nick and Pat Arran (3604) found out it's not a good tactic to leave the bung out for weight reduction! We were all hoping for a one lap race, but the shortened course flag wasn't put up so we carried on racing. Finally the race officer realised that if we had to do another lap it would take all day, so he took the comitee boat up to the windward mark and finished us there. Ed Whitton and Mike Steer (3132) led the last leg and kept increasing their lead all the way up the leg to win. Once finished most boats were towed back to the clubhouse so we were in before dark. After lunch , thankfully, the RO decided to abandon the last race. After the boats were packed away we had prize giving. Jonathan Nainby-Luxmoore and Robert Johnson (3522), and Ben and Graham Blake (3085) were on the same points, but as Johathan and Rob had the lowest dicard they picked up 1st. Both boats took home a pair of rather flashy wine glass trophies and a bottle of wine courtesy of Carsington SC.

Thank you very much to Carsington SC, Kevin Bloor (RO) and his team for some great and challenging sailing, and for his photos. Also thank you to Mike Shaw from Fotoboat for the great pictures.

Overall Results: