Shoreham Sailing Club 2012 Cooler Series

Shoreham SC ran their annual cooler series as an open event over 5 late autumn Sundays, with two races scheduled each day. Although two days were lost to poor weather, the series was hotly contested with several well-known visitors joining the local stalwarts, and over 30 boats competing at least once. Thanks are due to the race team, in particular to Steve Popple, who served as race officer for the entire series.

The first pair of races (October 28th) was held in a good South-Westerly breeze. The 505 sailed by Peter Bennett and Tyler Harmsworth pulled clear in both races, but they were unable to get far enough ahead of the Fireball of Lucy Boreham and Richard Anderton, who won both races with an excellent display of wind and wave technique. After the 505, third place was taken in both races by Jon Turner and Richard Parslow (Merlin), in the first race having an unusual dead heat on handicap with Nick Hurst and John Shelton (Fireball). Next best were Tim Rush and Phil Popple in another Fireball.

With the intervening weekend taken out by gales, the fleet reassembled on November 11th, this time in lighter conditions. The 505 again pulled clear in both races, with Bennett this time crewed by Mike Holt (giving a "master class" on how to make his previous boat go fast). In the first race, the RS400 of Mark Oakley and Daisy Wylam sailed very impressively, and kept close enough to take the race on handicap. Third and fourth places went to the Merlins of Turner / Parslow and Alex Jackson. In the second race, in slightly more wind, handicap honours went to the Merlins of Olly Turner / A Warren, followed by Alan Warren / Will Carroll. With the Fireballs not liking these conditions, third place gave the 505 the overall points lead.

The following Sunday saw something of a drifting match, with some competitors failing to muster the necessary enthusiasm. Both races were dominated by Merlins, with many changes in places as the wind played tricks. The first race was taken by Olly Turner / A Warren, followed by Alex Jackson and then Will Rainey and C Croft. The second produced the finishing order of Jon Turner / Parsons, Rainey / Croft and then William Warren and Sophie Mackley. For the 505, with Bennett crewed this time by Ollie Hobson, a 5th place in the first race was enough to preserve a narrow overall points lead.

With everything in theory left to play for, the final Sunday (November 25th) was an anti-climax as further high winds – with the threat of gales to come – prevented further racing. Consistency across most conditions thus left the 505 with overall victory, with the next three places taken by the Merlins of Jon Turner / Richard Parslow, Olly Turner / A Warren and Alan Warren / Will Carroll.

Results on the Shoreham Sailing Club website.