Fifth 'Get Racing' session at Draycote Water Sailing Club
by Tim Fillmore 12 Sep 2014 17:09 BST
7 September 2014
Competitors for the fifth 'Get Racing' session at Draycote © Malcolm Lewin /
www.malcolmlewinphotography.zenfolio.com/sail
Near perfect conditions welcomed the 18 sailors who arrived at Draycote Water sailing Club for the fifth Get Racing session on Sunday 7 September with blue skies and 8 knots of wind.
This contrasted with August's wild and windy weather and attracted a record turnout in a range of boats from an Optimist to an RS400. The boats competed in normal club racing with a separate start at the end of the sequence and had a coach boat accompanying them around the course.
The north-westerly wind was however challenging in direction and strength for the first race. The start was closely contested but as the race progressed the faster boats pulled clear with 4 boats completing 2 laps the rest finishing after one lap.
The results corrected for yardsticks were worked out on an average lap basis with Warren Yates and Lorraine Leahy take honours in their Wayfarer, 20 seconds ahead of Mark Curry and Mollie Griffin in a Xenon. It was a long race for Mary Stewart in her Oppy who did very well in her first race, as did brother Rory in his Tera.
After lunch and a debrief, the wind was fading and a new shorter course was set for the four boats who were keen to have another race. Despite a slow start Aaron Davis and father Nigel pulled through well on the first beat to lead round the windward mark and went on to win the race on handicap in a 2000, followed by Steve Jeffs in a Laser Radial and Lucien and Nathaniel Withers in a Feva.
The next session for both new sailors and returnees is scheduled for Sunday 5 October.
Race 1 results:
1st Wayfarer, Warren Yates & Lorraine Leahy
2nd Xenon, Mark Currie & Mollie Griffin
3rd Laser, James Chapman
Race 2 results:
1st 2000, Arron Davis & Nigel Davis
2nd Laser Radial, Steve Jeffs
3rd RS Feva, Lucien Willers & Nathaniel Willers