Blithfield Barrel Series - Day 1
by Chris Martin 12 Nov 2013 07:29 GMT
10 November 2013
The first instalment of the Barrel series was held at on Sunday. The forecast early in the week was for strong winds, but things moderated as the week went on to look positively light by Friday - 52 competitors came to play on a pleasant, sunny - if cold - day kindly sponsored by HD Sails.
PRO Bill Watson was keen to get away on time at 12:00. The fleet however had other ideas, a general recall and a restart under black flag was required. The pin end of the line was strongly favoured, but it turned out to be the right hand side of the course that paid. The RS400 of Mark Reddington and Colin Staite rounded the mark in first with a pack of Merlins and an Osprey in hot pursuit. The race was won on handicap by the Merlin of Matt Biggs and John Hackett, with another Merlin sailed by Andy Davies and Tom second and Mark and Colin in the RS400 in third.
Lunch ensued, prepared by Jayne Tatton and the ladies (And Steve) in the galley. The race team were well aware that the wind was forecast to die off, but a slight increase towards the end of the first race showed no sign of dropping and conditions were being observed closely from the clubhouse. Bill called the fleet back to arms with the start on time at 14:00.
The race was started under black flag to try to keep the fleet in order. The fleet got away cleanly, but an apparent right sided bias was turned inside out by a large left about 40 seconds after the start. The International Canoe sailed by Gareth Caldwell was a leg in front by the time the second boat rounded the first mark! The breeze played ball all race, not dropping off at all until very late in the race. The racing was very close, and while the breeze was quite shifty every inch gained on an opponent was hard work. The race was won by Chris Gould and Nick Broomhall in the Osprey, with Gareth in the Canoe coming in second and Matt and John in third in the Merlin.
Thanks to Bill Watson and his team in the committee boat, the guys in the RIB and the Ladies (And Steve) in the galley and Chris on the bar. All who were there enjoyed the excellent racing and we are looking forward to the next round which is the 8th December. See you there!
Provisional results can be found on the www.blithfield.org.uk website.