Wineglass Nationals at Fishers Green Sailing Club

What a blow out! The Championship on Sunday the 9th July will be remembered for two reasons, it was the largest fleet of boats for a Wineglass National event this century and it was one of the windiest.

The event was to consist of a morning race and two further races during the afternoon. The WSW wind in the morning seemed fairly docile, if a little random in its direction. It did not remain that way as the contestants set off across what had become a somewhat biased line, no fault of the Race Officer, just the wind.

As the race started the wind began to increase such that sheets had to be eased to stay upright and some rapid steering corrections were needed to keep on course. There was a crush of boats at the windward end of the line such that boats that eased sheets a little and steered below the desirable course, were able to foot away and come up to wind further up the course. Brian Conroy and Ron Elston 508 Mood Indigo from the home club, along with Dave Gascoyne and Joyce Fontana 504 Dernier Cru Swarkestone S.C. and Roger Castle and Dick Reynolds 421 Chablis FGSC, benefited from starting toward the centre of the line and found themselves clear of the fleet as they gybed at the windward mark.

It proved a rough ride of a race with several capsizes and one virtual sinking of a boat when an access hatch burst as it capsized. The boat was beached and recovered with the crew unhurt. It proved to be survival sailing with several capsizes. Conroy was wearing round at the gybe marks (there were three) and was first across the line followed by Gascoyne and Alan and Steven Bishop 200 FGSC and Malcolm Reeve and Sue Haywood 453 Dee Jay Swarkestone S C chasing fourth.

Lunch saw the wind abate somewhat and the fleet set off again, however as the race progressed with Conroy leading from Gascoyne, Reeve and Bishop, the weather worsened such that it became a survival exercise. Several gear breakages occurred, causing the race to be shortened. Conroy having led for the whole race, decided to gybe the last mark and capsized some 40 metres from the finish. The mast was in the mud and could not be righted quick enough to beat Gascoyne who crossed first with David Eynon and Matthew Squirrel 501 Harvest Moon FGSC third. Fourth place went to Colin Gillings and Dave Pitcock 234 FGSC. Only half of the fleet survived!

It was agreed that as the wind had not abated the third race was not held in the interest of safety.

Overall Results:

Senior trophy, Dave Gascoyne
Best capsize, Alan and Steven Bishop - broken kicker