CVRDA & Classic Finn Meeting at Roadford Lake Sailing Club
by Alan Williams 20 Jun 2012 14:37 BST
16-17 June 2012
All racing was cancelled on the 16th as the Lake was closed due to
Gale force winds. This was unfortunate as competitors had travelled
from as far away as Cambridge and Yeovil with the other entries spread
across the SW. A lot of admiring boats/ preparation of boats took
place and later in the day a limited amount of the lake was open ( but
not enough to set a course). This allowed some of the younger and less
fragile boats to have a blast.
Competitors were greeted on Sunday by a sunny morning with a variable
N-NE force 2-3 wind which later in the day started to die away as
heavy rain moved into the area.
The course used was favourably commented on by the competitors being a
“Daisy Course”: Start line to first mark, return to a central mark, then proceed to the
next mark, back to central mark, adding as many marks as you wish, with
the finish line being reached from the last daisy mark. This course
seems to suit most types of boats and is becoming the main type of
course used on the lake.
These conditions and the course seemed to suit the Finn 284 sailed by
local sailor David Harker extremely well with him winning 3 out of the
4 races and discarding a second. Close behind was the 1938 Uffa King
National Twelve sailed by the Wylie brothers which was well suited to
the light conditions towards the end of the day.
Third place was a draw between visiting Hornet 140 David Cooper and
local Finn sailor Ronnie Ball.
The meeting attracted some very interesting and historic boats. Jack
Holt’s hard chine International Canoe from which the Hornet was
developed and Hornet 140 Dandy Jack Holt’s own Hornet. There were two
International Moths a Guesting Magnum 9.9 and a very nice 1960’s Moth
of unknown design.
It was becoming a bit of a reunion of previously
owned Holt boats as also attending was the first Holt glued Merlin
Rocket which had also been owned by him. Another rarity was a
Wineglass. The Classic Finns also had a famous boat as Ronnie Ball’s
boat is an ex Chris Law Olympic boat.
May I thank everyone who attended and made this a great event and also
all those people that helped to make it happen.
Combined Meeting Positions
1st - Finn 284, David Harker
2nd - N12 33, Wylie Brothers
3rd - Hornet 140, David Cooper and Crew
Divisions
Vintage N12 - 33, Wylie Brothers
Classic Hornet - 140, David Cooper & crew
Finn - Ronnie Ball
Old Finn - 284, David Harker
Finn Classic Meeting
1st David Harker
2nd Ronnie Ball