International Canoe Final Fling at Oxford Sailing Club
by Gareth Caldwell 28 Oct 2012 18:54 GMT
27 October 2012
Under the cunning disguise of an Open Meeting, over half of the pub was booked on Saturday night (for post sailing analysis and rehydration – of course!) as sailors descended on Farmoor, Oxford to partake in the customary Final Fling. Tradition dictates that it has to be cold, it has to be windy, and it has to be extremely well run. This year did not disappoint on any account.
Whilst this didn't adversely affect proceedings in The Talbot Inn due to double glazing and a massive log fire, it did cause a few problems during the pre meal sailing.
A trapezoidal course was set, with the ACs sailing windward/ leeward between marks 1 and 4. ailors representing the corners of Britain (Middlesborough, Plymouth and Darkest Wirral) were part of the 25 rigging the boats. With an increasingly strong breeze it was a slightly reduced fleet that made it to the start area...
Four races were scheduled, but the fact that only two were sailed, and the second race lasting just over 20 minutes, is a reflection of the trying conditions. Whilst most of the fleet acknowledge the importance of checking fairness of hull shape, sitting on their upturned hull whilst listening to the one minute preparation signal is probably taking this to extremes. It is a reflection of the friendship of the fleet that there must have been an unwritten agreement to check for daggerboard projection and tightness of stern bungs all at the same time.
Boats did eventually cross the start line and some even made it round the course. With frequent gusts of over 30 knots gybing upwind was not uncommon, as were eskimo rolls when recovering from aborted tacks. Special mention must go to Dave Timpson who, having run out of travel on his Cunningham, decided to further depower by putting his head through his mainsail and continued to race on – at times still with his head embedded in his main. Dave explained in The Talbot that using his head gave a more symmetrical and aerodynamic apature than when using the usual two footed technique, and it seemed to work well. For future reference, the principal of letting the jib flog itself to disintegration doesn't produce the same effect – as Robin Wood found out on the first beat.
Congratulations to those who survived both the sailing and the pub, and to the race committee who were excellent as always.
Arrangements have been made for 2013, and the pub has been booked (pending an enquiry about undue noise in the early hours from the vicinity of a Mr Michael).
Overall Results:
AC fleet
1st 310, Steve Bowen
2nd 303, Dave Timpson
3rd 296, Phil Allen
IC fleet
1st 308, Chris Hampe
2nd 318, John Ellis