Comet open meeting at Staunton Harold Sailing Club

Comets at Staunton Harold © Nigel Fern

Comets at Staunton Harold © Nigel Fern

Eleven visitors joined five local sailors for the penultimate Open Meeting of the 2014 season held on the 18th October at Staunton Harold. The Force 4 – 5 wind held a steady SSW direction throughout the day with an occasional stronger gust. The downwind legs produced some spectacular planes, but most competitors also experienced multiple capsizes which kept the rescue boats busy throughout the day. Six sailors elected to hoist their Xtra sail, one used a Mino sail, and the remainder used their Standard sail.

After the start of the first race, Nigel Austin led round the first windward mark, followed by Chris Robinson, Jonathan Latham, Michael Ettershank and Peter Mountford. On the final lap, Nigel capsized near a gybe mark, and Chris finished in first place, Nigel held onto second place, Michael was third, and Peter squeezed past Eddie Pope at the windward mark of the last short beat to finish fourth and fifth respectively.

For the second and third races held back-to-back, there was only one beat per lap, but compared to the first race, the beat was extended to a mark further upwind. In the second race, Jonathan Latham rounded the windward mark in front, followed by Michael Ettershank, Paul Hinde, Chris Robinson and Alan Bennett.

Unfortunately, Alan capsized near the first downwind mark, and Jonathan broached the wrong side of the next mark, letting Peter Mountford through to fourth followed by Nigel Austin and Bob Dodds. Chris got past Paul about half-way through the race, and Nigel had overtaken Peter by the end of the last beat. Michael and Chris held on to take first and second place respectively, Paul was third, Nigel finished fourth and Peter fifth.

In the third race, Alan Bennett was first round the windward mark, followed by Paul Hinde, Chris Robinson, Michael Ettershank and Nigel Austin. Nigel pulled through to the front with Paul in second place. Chris was still in third place when he capsized at a gybe mark letting through Michael and Eddie Pope.

However, he recovered to get past Eddie and Paul, and so by the start of the last lap, the order was Nigel, Michael and Chris. Each of these three competitors needed to win this final race to be the overall winner of the event. The wind eased in strength during this last lap, and Michael had taken over the lead by the end of the last beat and held on to take first place, with Nigel second, Chris third, Paul fourth and Eddie fifth.

Overall Results:

Comets at Staunton Harold - photo © Nigel Fern