Blaze open meeting at Burghfield Sailing Club

Winner Ben Pickering, 17, receives his prizes from Blaze Class Chairman Paul Taylor, 71 © Simon Beddows

There were 3 great race events this weekend. The Grand National, The Boat Race and the 2 day Blaze Class Open at Burghfield. There was a few fallers in the gusty conditions and the odd contact and some big margins between the front of the fleet and the tail enders. Unlike the Boat Race there were no protests and only one person over the line (twice) and he still finished second overall!

Saturday started with the traditional per season training. This year a shore based discussion lead by current National champion Rob Jones and Miles Mence on how to get the best out of a carbon mast and general sail set up.

3 short races were run on Saturday around a trapezoid course. The wind from the south is not a good direction at Burghfield. So lots of wind shifts and holes plus the odd gust which could send you speeding away from the rest of the fleet or see half the fleet sail past you.

The first 2 races followed the same pattern with local sailor Simon Beddows reaching the windward mark first and leading for that lap only to be overtaken up the beat on the second lap by Ben Pickering. Apart from the first race due to an eager start they were followed by Rob Jones who got through to second place in the second race. Also in contention were Miles Mence, Andrew MacGaw and Ian Clark.

Back to the bar to share a beer and stories of large wind shifts and gusts that missed you. A hunting party set out to Theale to sample the local curry house and drink yet more beer. Then to the pub at the head of the lake for beer and a Blues band. Andy the Dancing Farmer had decided to give the event a miss after some spurious comments on various forums about his dancing frightening the newcomers.

Sunday started grey and damp as the few visiting campers emerged from their tents looking for water, food and a hangover cure. The wind had shifted to a southwesterly and gone up by several notches. Just as gusty and still on the shifty side. The race officer set a course around the club marks and off we went again. The same protagonist fought it out at the front of the fleet with Ben Pickering again getting all of the wind shifts right. This time Mark Asbury also got into the mix. Ben having got 5 straights firsts then retired to pack his boat up leaving the field wide open for the last race.

The ghost of Nick Miller helped local sailor and event organiser Mike Bell sailing Nicks old boat roar away from the start and round the windward mark a country mile ahead of all the other boats He maintained this lead for much of the race until Rob Jones caught and passed him.

Well done to Ben Pickering who never missed a shift and at 17 has many years ahead of him if he is to emulate our Association chairman Paul Taylor who at 71 is still competing. Thanks to our race officer Ian a Bullock for an extremely professional job as race officer and also to Burghfield for allowing us to slot in between club racing on the Sunday.

Our next event is at Felpham on April 26/27. There will also be a large turnout for POSH at Paignton on May 10/11.

Overall Results: