Brass Monkey Marblehead Open at Guildford Model Yacht Club

2013 Brass Monkey Marblehead Open at Guildford © Roger Stollery

2013 Brass Monkey Marblehead Open at Guildford © Roger Stollery

Guildford Model Yacht Club's traditional Christmas open meeting for Marbleheads was a great success. It provided a great deal of competitive fun for 13 competitors from 7 clubs, including 2 from Germany. Eleven races were sailed in a really good southerly breeze. This is one of the best wind directions for the club's sailing water at Abbey Meads Lake, Chertsey, blowing parallel to the control area and gives 180 metre long windward/leeward legs.

On arrival at the lake at dawn there was a beautiful sunrise over the water and a light northerly breeze, 180 degrees from the forecast! However before the race started the sky had clouded over and the breeze gradually picked up from the south during the morning to become a maximum of 15- 20 mph and allow plenty of fast planing off wind, with rudders in the air in the stronger gusts.

Several competitors had entered into the spirit of this event with both boats and skippers decorated with tinsel, Santa hats and other appropriate garb. This percolated into the spirit of the racing; there were few incidents and any penalties were carried out without question or protest.

Racing started in 'A' rig and GMYC commodore, Hugh McAdoo, sailing a PRIME NUMBER was first to cross the finishing line in front of Nigel Winkley from Bremen sailing a SKALPEL and Roger Stollery sailing his CRAZY TUBE FREE. Not satisfied with that result, Roger won Race 2 in front of Henning Fass from Frankfurt sailing a Brad Gibson ANARCHY and John Shorrock sailing a QUARK. He was not satisfied with third either and went on to win Race 3 from Nigel and Martin Crysell sailing a PRIME NUMBER.

Hugh came back to form to win Race 4, beating Henning and Nigel into 2nd and 3rd. In Race 5 it was Nigel who came to the front, beating his German team mate into 2nd with Martin 3rd. By this time the weather had become really unpleasant with constant drizzle and sometimes heavier rain.

Competitors huddled under the gazebo and enjoyed mulled wine, mince pies and chocolate cake with their lunch. The order was then Nigel 14, Hugh 16 and Henning 19.

The wind was blowing harder and many changed into their 'B' rigs to start Race 6, which was won by John ahead of Martin and Roger. The next race number 7 was a whitewash for the Guildford trio of Roger, Martin and Hugh. Then the German pair came to the front in Race 8 with a win for Nigel followed by Henning and John. Terry Rensch, who had been having some technical difficulty with his brand-new QUARK got a good start and sailed away from the rest of the fleet to win Race 9 with Henning again 2nd and John 3rd. 'Sail Terry' has come good at last!

Roger won the next Race 10 in front of the German pair. Not satisfied with 2nd Nigel dominated the last Race 11 to win from Hugh and Martin who had both been back in their 'A' rig for the last 3 races. Competitors waited patiently in the rain whilst the scores were worked out and there was a three-way tie for first place as can be seen from the results.

Following GMYC tradition for this event there was no financial entry fee. Instead, the 'fee' was a wrapped present, so everyone went away from the prize giving with a smile, not just because they had a prize, but because the event was both friendly, competitive and the high-speed racing was thoroughly enjoyed by all.

Competitors thanked the Guildford club for organising the event and Terry Rensch, who acted as race officer when his boat was not able to race.

Overall Results:

1st Nigel Winkley, Bremen, SKALPEL, 27pts
2nd Roger Stollery, Guildford, CRAZY TUBE FREE, 27pts
3rd Henning Fass, Frankfurt, ANARCHY, 27pts
4th Hugh McAdoo, Guildford, PRIME NUMBER, 30pts
5th Martin Crysell, Guildford, PRIME NUMBER, 34pts
6th John Shorrock, Reading, QUARK, 35pts
7th John Male, 3 Rivers, STARKERS, 50pts
8th Dick Grainge, 3 Rivers, STARKERS, 59pts
9th Ian Garner, Royal Southampton, STARKERS, 66pts
10th John Townsend, Guildford, ROK, 85pts
11th Keith Parrott, Frensham Pond, ROAR EDGE, 95pts
12th Peter Dunne, Guildford, CRAZY TUBE TOO, 97pts
13th Terry Rensch, Guildford, QUARK, 107pts