All photos © Jayne Whigham

Mid Warwickshire Yacht Club welcomed ten entrants and families for its inaugural British Moth Open Meeting on Saturday 10 April 2010, which included 2 members from the home club. Competitors were greeted with warm sunshine and light winds on the small reservoir at Leamington Spa that is ideally suited to the British Moth.

In Race 1 Roger Witts from Frampton built up an early lead with Elaine Laverty from the home Club in pursuit. Unfortunately the leaders sailed a wrong course and by the time they had realised their mistake and corrected themselves the fleet had caught them up. Despite this setback Roger went on to build up an impressive lead and took line honours. Colin Hall worked his way through the fleet to take 2nd place with Andrew Perrot taking 3rd place.

The course was changed for Race 2 and Colin Hall and Roger Witts quickly managed to break away from the pack but once again a wrong course was sailed towards the end of the first lap. Roger managed to get into the lead and Ian Hayward took advantage of the mistake and moved into 2nd place. The fleet was much more closely matched now but unbelievably there was another major losing of the way halfway through the 2nd lap causing much confusion within the fleet. Ian Hayward managed to make the best of the situation and built up an unassailable lead to take the race. Colin Hall took 2nd place and Graham Pope was 3rd.

After a well earned lunch during which, it has to be said, wine was being sold by the box and possibly not conducive to improved navigation, there was a plea to the Race Officer for a simpler course which was acceded to. Roger Witts got off to a good start and was leading until he rounded a mark the wrong way which put him way down the fleet. Colin Hall found himself in the lead at the end of the first lap and then it all went wrong when the fleet got themselves badly confused yet again!

Ian Hayward took advantage of the situation and led for laps 2 and 3. During lap 3 Colin Hall found the perfect gust which got him on the plane and put him back in contention with the leaders. On the final lap Roger Witts managed to break away and crossed the line first. Colin Hall finished 2nd and Ian Hayward was 3rd.

After the race Roger Witts discovered that he hadn’t unwound himself correctly when he had rounded a mark the wrong way, which given the events of the day was not unsurprising and retired graciously, declaring that regardless of the outcome he had had a darn good sail!

Despite much confusion throughout the day the visitors did seem to enjoy themselves and asked the home club if they would be prepared to host them again next year. Clearly the mix of a friendly fleet and a friendly Club works well. The members of MWYC certainly had an enjoyable time hosting this event.

Given that Moth sailors are perhaps more used to simple upstream downstream courses on rivers MWYC will consider using a safety boat as pathfinder and providing course cards for future events!

Overall Results:

1st Hall C, 856 (Hunts) 2 2 1
2nd Hayward I, 871 (Frampton) 6 1 3
3rd Perrott A, 834 (Chippenham) 3 9 2
4th Witts R, 880 (Frampton) 1 5 RET
5th Pope G, 881 (Frampton) 4 3 4
6th Wiltshire M, 87 (Frampton) 5 4 RET
7th Laverty E, 850 (Mid Warks) 7 6 5
8th Lee P, 870 (Mid Warks) 8 7 6
9th Boyes R, 821 (BMBA) 9 8 DNS
10th Blankley L, 701 (Roundhill) RET DNS DNS