Speed Sails Enterprise Open Meeting at Rugby Sailing Club

14th October 2001

The penultimate Speed Sails sponsored Double Chine open meeting took place at Rugby Sailing Club on Sunday after a long delay, caused by the foot and mouth epidemic. The wind appeared to be aware of this and barely mustered more than a force 1 breeze for the three races. Despite a foggy start the first race produced the best breeze of the day, albeit a rather fickle one. The thirteen boats made a clean start and were led around the first mark by Mike Cossey of Tamworth followed by Mike Cranmore of Redditch. Cossey immediately incurred a penalty allowing Cranmore into the lead but his advantage was short-lived when local helm Ian Friswell undertook him sailing through the lee of the spinney, however he too led only briefly as he sailed too high on the next leg, defending his weather and another Rugby helm, Martin Davies, sailing well down to leeward overtook all the windward group to round the final mark of the first lap in the lead. This he held to the finish followed by Cranmore with Ant Clay of Draycote in third.

By the time that the second race began the wind had eased somewhat and changed direction. The O.D. changed the course and the fleet got under way again but the previous race leaders, Cranmore and Davies both fluffed their start and never figured in the race as a consequence. Friswell, Cossey and Clay began a race long game of musical boats as the fickle wind frayed the nerves of each of them in turn. It was Cossey who crossed the line first, followed by Friswell and then Clay.

The mixed fortunes of the competitors in the first two races meant that at least five helms were in with a chance of overall victory however the dropping wind was about to influence the outcome once more but not until Davies had conceded a penalty on the start line that put paid to his chances. Cranmore hardly started better but it was Barry Moss of Shustoke who led for the first half lap until he became becalmed in the spinney allowing Friswell to sail through to leeward into the lead. Clay and Cossey were just behind Moss but Clay managed to overtake him leaving Cossey behind. Friswell went on to win from Clay, Moss and Cossey in that order.

Overall Results:

More Information:

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