Hamble River Sailing Club Wednesday Night Series B - Day 4
by Lis Robinson 31 Jul 2015 09:02 BST
29 July 2015
Although being nearly half way through, the B series kicked off with firstly too much wind and, then too little so it seems as if it has barely started. This week the rain went through late afternoon whilst competitors were on their way out to their boats and, although various ominous black clouds skirted Southampton Water, the fleet endured little more than a light shower on the beat home.
The wind failed to materialise at 300 degrees as forecast, coming in at some 340 right up to and after the start with the tide beginning to flood. Cowes Week is nearly upon us so Race Officer Lis Robinson gave the fleets a lengthy run with plenty of gybes down to their first leeward marks, with a windward leeward cascade back. One competitor even was heard to check the leeward mark with the committee boat, clearly under the opinion that the Fastnet Rock would have been closer!
The XOD fleet got away cleanly but Class 3 turned into an involuntary gate start when a training cruiser came the other way through the line at the start forcing Mike James, Forethought of Gosport, to take evasive action. This proved to be a costly seconds lost when the results came out. Class 2, whilst jousting hard with each other, appeared a little line shy. Light, in Class 1, finally got to make a line crossing on the start gun, whilst Midnight Cowboy (Steph Merry) passed up a good chance to close out Wee Bear (Chudziak, Horner & Malas)who were distracted hoisting their kite.
In the XOD fleet Sri (Ben McGrane) took the bullet followed by Lark and Kathleen (MOS Fitzgerald). Satu (Andy Hamlett), having made a good start, clipped the backstay of a fellow competitor and did turns which dropped her out of contention with the leaders for the evening. In Class 3 Fritha (Bob Allen) romped home under Club handicap and NHC with Cockleshell (Jonty Sherwill) followed by Forethought of Gosport only one second apart under Club handicap but with positions reversed under NHC.
In Class 2 Impala National Champions Two Frank (Sam Flint & Olly Love) took third under Club handicap and first under NHC but second place in the Impala one design results to Polly (Meakins & Cudmore) with Voodoo (Peter Rouse) in third place. In Club handicap Paramour (John Budgen) took second with Needlework (Patrick Pymm & Peter Smith) first, whilst under NHC Needlework slipped to third with Voodoo (Peter Rouse) in second. Midnight Cowboy triumphed in Club handicap with an impressive lead on Wee Bear and La Nef (John Noe), whilst in NHC La Nef moved up to first followed by Wee Bear and Light (Rob Denning).
The clubhouse was heaving after racing with both Wednesday night racers and various instructors from the Park Sport initiative around. Particularly gratifying in view of the club aim to provide affordable sailing to the community, was the attendance of several instructors who started sailing through our links with Hamble Community Sports College. Having completed the RYA dinghy programme with the club, they had been Assistant Instructors all day for the next generation of sailors.
Wednesday night racing continues next week and is free for all members of Hamble River Sailing Club with annual membership costing less than many other series entry fees. Details of the full activities, training courses and events of the Club are on the Hamble River SC website: www.hambleriversc.org.uk