Blithfield Barrel Series - Day 3
by Chris Martin 17 Jan 2014 06:58 GMT
12 January 2014
The gales that were forecast and had blown all week were a little slow in turning up for the Barrel at Blithfield on Sunday. Undeterred by the stiff forecast, 50 boats turned out to rig in what looked to be a force 2 blowing from the east over the dam wall.
As the fleet arrived at the start line, positioned right at the bottom end of the lake, the breeze started to increase and looked to be following the predicted pattern. PRO Alan Skitt kept the fleet under control with the black flag from the word go and we got away cleanly first time. The steady wind at the bottom of the lake gradually got shiftier as you approached the first mark and choosing the right path in the last quarter was very important. A gaggle of Merlins and an Osprey led the fleet around, and rather than increasing as predicted the wind actually died away as the race progressed. The race finished as a Merlin Rocket 1-2-3 with Matt Biggs and John Hackett taking the win, Andy Davis and Tom Pygall second and Simon Potts and Tom Gillard in third. The Osprey of Chris Gould and Nick Broomhall took fourth.
Lunch ensued, thanks to the Ladies in galley headed up by Jayne Tatton.
The second race proved to be quite a differant sail to the first. The wind had increased slightly to around force 4 though still blowing very much from the east. The start again got away cleanly first time, but this time it payed to stay left which it hadn't at all in the first race. Andy Davies and Tom Pygall led around the first mark and stayed there to tie the bullet. Matt and John had to settle for second, and Chris and Nick taking third in the Osprey.
The last round takes place on the 16th February. It's very, very tight at the top and anyone from 7th up can still win the Barrel though some will need more help than others! See you there.
Provisional results can be found on the www.blithfield.org.uk website.