Graduate Open Meeting at Papercourt Sailing Club

A rare dry moment in the Graduate open meeting at Papercourt © Frank Brown

Sunday 20th October opened with a bang, with thunder and heavy rain at 6:30am. Perhaps this put off a few sailors? There was just the one visitor from Chipstead.

By the 1st start, the wind was a gentle breeze, with Bob and Maggie Murrell (Chipstead) and Fraser Hayden and Jane Argenti (PSC) battling it out before Bob found top gear, with the comedy duo of Charlie Beck and Chris Granger (PSC) coaxing the back-markers.

For the second race, Fraser got the better start and lead to the finish.

After the excellent lunch, Bob was sufficiently fuelled up to take the third race and in the better position to win overall with 1,1,2.

The heavens then opened in the most spectacular way with torrential rain impairing vision and the will to carry on, but with all to sail for, Bob and Fraser went for it in the final race whilst Charlie headed for the showers (the warm ones).

Bob had the slightly better start and looked set to carry away the silver plate with a 50m lead, but Fraser had other plans in the final lap and managed to slide past Bob in the final 100m, with just 3 seconds between them at the finish.

So, with both boats counting 1,1,2,2 it was down to the best placed boat in the final race.

Thanks to Race Officer Martin Smith, the sodden Rescue boat crews, the Ladies that Lunched for us, the friendly Enterprises who shared with us, and the Class Captains for bringing it together. Oh, and the traditional Papercourt tea of course.

Overall Results: