3000's at Medway Dinghy Regatta at Medway Yacht Club
by Tony Hunt 16 Jul 2012 08:30 BST
7-8 July 2012
Contrary to a light-wind forecast, Day 1 saw a gusty F3-4 wind. The 3000's were starting with the Vortex fleet. The course in the morning took us several miles down river with a total course length of 11.5 miles, with strong winds we were soon planing and the course provided many reaches, and few beats and downwind legs.
The three V's stayed fairly close all the way down river, with Martin and Max in 3608 vying with Peter and Amy on 3602 for the lead all the way. After a capsize at the furthest gybe buoy, Peter and Amy lost their lead. Martin and Max managed to maintain their lead. It was on the beat back to the finish line that Peter took another dip, and Dave and Alison in 3605 took second place. Jayne and Cathy lost the spinnaker tack on the last leg.
The afternoon race was a 12.6 mile course, with the winds still strong and gusty. V's again vying for first position, with 3602 and 3608 in very close competition, Martin and Max took first position after a tactical win sailing on the Darnett Fort side of the river to take the downwind leg to 16 and kept the lead again.
On the Gillingham Reach leg back up river, 3605 moved into second place but couldn't get close enough to challenge Martin and Max. Peter and Amy took third again. Jayne and Cathy made it back in 4th position to find that they hadn't taken their sign on bands and therefore were disqualified! A long sail for no result at all!
Day 2 was a lighter wind F2-3 affair, and less gusty. Jayne and Cathy made the most of the change in conditions, second round the first buoy on the first race of the day. Peter and Amy soon took the lead though and this time without any spills they held on. Dave and Alison made it another second place, followed by Martin and Max, then Jayne and Cathy.
The last race was all to play for, with either Peter, Martin or Dave being able to take the trophy, dependent on the outcome of everyone's position. Looping from 29 back down river to 27 saw the V's again sailing in close positions, and crossing across to buoy 27 Peter and Amy took the lead followed closely by Dave and Alison, then Martin and Max. Peter and Amy held the lead as Dave had a minor maintenance hiccup with the mainsheet bridle, allowing Martin and Max to take full advantage. They couldn't quite match Peter and Amy to the finish, but easily took second position in front of Dave and Alison, followed by Jayne and Cathy.
Final positions meant that Martin and Max took winners trophy, and Peter and Amy took second place overall.
It made for an exciting and fun weekend of highly competitive sailing. Many congratulations to the winning team, Martin and Max.
Overall Results:
| Pos | Sail No | Helm | Crew | Club | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | Pts |
|---|
| 1st | 3608 | Martin Brown | Max Caston | Wilsonian SC | 1 | 1 | -3 | 2 | 4 |
| 2nd | 3602 | Peter Heyes | Amy Adams | Wilsonian SC | -3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 5 |
| 3rd | 3605 | David Fenech | Alison Williams | Wilsonian SC | 2 | 2 | 2 | -3 | 6 |
| 4th | 3504 | Jayne Lambert | Cathy Evans | Wilsonian SC | 4 | (DNS) | 4 | 4 | 12 |