PRATT Racing Series at Eastbourne Sovereign Sailing Club - Race 1

by Gary Smith 19 Apr 2013 12:44 BST 17 April 2013

A new series and some new faces top the leaderboard after race one of the Pratt racing series at Eastbourne Sovereign Sailing Club.

The early pace in the 16 boat fleet was set by 3 old fellas; Mick Whitmore, Mark Fryer and Peter Gray who tacked out to take advantage of the tide and were first to the new breeze. Although they pulled away from the fleet it was not to be enough as the chasing pack almost all had several minutes in hand on Pratt handicap. Mark dropped back when his tiller parted company from the rudder, swearing seemed to help though.

Charlie Kiernan turned up for the race a good 4 inches taller than we remember him from last year (pesky kids) and with his novice rating from last year sailed nothing like a novice to land his first race win.

Second place and 12 points went to ex-Speedway Ace Bobby Eldridge, new to sailing only taking the club training course last summer. Nobody must lend him a decent boat or he will clean up!

Harrison Bassett, who was third overall last year, was third again.

There were rumours in the bar that last year's winner James Powell Cullingford was deliberately sandbagging in the hope of lowering his handicap for next week. It worked.

A gentle start to the Pratt year, light winds followed by more than a few light ales.

The evening meal was lasagne, served with the usual charm from Hinge and Bracket in the galley... just as the wind got up.

The PRATT Racing Series at Eastbourne Sovereign Sailing Club is the first event to receive #GetOutAndSail support. The series organisers are working out how best to use the money and may be getting rash vests or race bibs with their ratings on them. You can nominate your event for support here.