Castle Cove Winter Series mid-way report
by Rob Smith 5 Dec 2014 14:21 GMT
With only 3 races to go in the CCSC Winter Series – as the saying goes – 'it's tight at the top'!
Mike Street is keeping a firm grip on one handle of the John Player Winter Series cup, and with a string of top 3 places is currently leading in his Osprey, but only by 2 points after 5 races. Keeping him and his various crews honest are a pairing that have just a 'few years' of experience in a boat together – Paul Robbins and Jeremy Beling, who are counting 2 firsts in their scoreline. However they still only have a 4 point cushion from Keith and Kim Ellis – really enjoying the novelty of a) results, b) some element of feeling in control – after moving from an 800 to a 400.
With three races still scheduled, if we continue to get lucky with the Weymouth winter weather on the remaining Sundays, then a number of other players may come into the picture who are currently counting DNC's. The most dangerous would look to be Sam Pascoe and micro-crew Sam (from WSC), who were victorious over last weekends beautifully sunny light wind trapezoid, have one other score (another 1st) and therefore need to sail all 3 to challenge (5 to count from 8). Similarly the 2nd place boat on Sunday; Jock and Andrea's Scorpion, will jump up the order when they ditch their 46/DNC, and likely put them right in the podium mix. Although a bit more work req'd,a significant jump awaits the other Scorp – Popsy, where one more decent result will properly elevate Sandra Smith and her regular series helm – (junior) niece Lucy Jones.
The ever present Musto Skiff fleet are also lurking further down the list but maybe ready to pounce, with the regular top gun Sam Barker counting a couple of top 5 places, Mike Robbins scoring a 5th (just passed by Barker on last lap) last weekend, and fleet newcomer Mike Dencher lying 6th and improving all the time as he finds the different groove/tricks from a 700.
There are individual high spots right down the list from the likes of fast junior Alex Freer getting a bullet in his Radial in race 4, Hugh De-Iongh piloting his beautiful Canoe to 2nd in race 2, and Jon Emmett making a couple of low scoring visits during November with a 2nd & 3rd. Some consistent regulars are also currently in challenging positions – particularly Pete Barnstable's Osprey, Nick Griffin in his RS100 and Chris Forrest & Alison Stephens' 2000.
However it looks like the title is going to be a 5 way race with an Osprey, Fireball, RS400, Scorpion and Merlin all in the fight.