Merlin Rocket Felucca Open at Hollingworth Lake Sailing Club
by Graham Knox 11 Oct 2011 19:24 BST
8-9 October 2011
The weather forecast was not kind to this event. The known low water level of the Lake may have put off some sailors the chance to sail with some of the best in the MR Class. The event has been won so often before by Richard Whitworth that it may seem like a foregone conclusion. Matt Biggs and Ben Hollis would need all the Stealth of their new boat to unseat Tricky Dicky. Perhaps with 15 entries it was not so surprising that there were no general recalls or need for the Black Flag!
Saturday began with a light wind, some drizzle and low cloud. These are the ideal conditions for 'snakes and ladders' racing. Stephen Crook and Sally Townend took the early lead. Matt Biggs was always ready to pounce and, at the leeward mark, tacked early to get back into better wind. Others,
including Steve and Gill Leney came up, while Steve Crook dropped to sixth place. Richard Whitworth, crewed by Nicola Brook, was in the catching pack too, but Biggs held the lead to the finish. The Leneys ought to have finished second in the shortened race but let Whitworth in for that spot.
For the second race, a little more wind allowed some to sit on the deck, as Whitworth quickly established a convincing lead, followed by Crook with the Leneys showing good speed for third place. Biggs did not get going in this race and suffered a lowly 9th place.
The third race of the day proved that it can all go wrong unexpectedly, as this was almost Whitworth's bad luck race. There was clear indecision on the start line about the best way to tackle the first beat. Nick Heginbotham, and Becca Jones, starting at the port end held on starboard as long as possible to take the early lead. Whitworth's good judgement gave him the
chance to overtake on a long run. However the decision to run on port or starboard gybe allowed Heginbotham to retake the lead with the Leneys following. The Leneys now got through to the lead, while Whitworth caught up. In the second lap, Whitworth gained an inside overlap at a gybe mark,
but the next windward leg proved tricky with much cover tacking. Whitworth, bearing away to pass behind the Leneys on starboard misjudged the distance and had to take a 720' turn. This gave a clear lead to the Leneys to the finish, while Heginbotham had second for a while, until Whitworth gained inside place at the leeward mark to finish second after all!
Saturday finished in the usual convivial style with an excellent meal at the Club and reminder of an early start next day. The forecast was now for heavy rain and strong winds which fortunately did not materialise to that extent.
Race four soon saw home club boats in full control in a good sailing breeze. Whitworth was overtaken by Crook early, but regained the lead which he steadily built to hold to the finish. Crook had a secure second place until a spinnaker that refused to drop at the leeward mark cost him the place and led to a retirement. David Winder and Pippa Taylor looked to be set for third place but some gear failure also led to a retirement on the penultimate windward leg. Biggs and Heginbotham were ideally placed to take advantage for second and third places, while the Leneys came in fourth.
For the final race, sailed back-to-back, there was to be a new challenge up
front. Jon Gorringe and Nicola Bass read the shifts well on the first beat,
although Biggs had looked to be in control at half-way. Gorringe looked to
get clear away until Whitworth caught up on the second beat and put Gorringe
about at the windward mark. These two sailed high on the run while Biggs
behind was able to sail lower and gain the lead at the leeward mark.
Whitworth's local knowledge and experience of the shifts got the better of
Biggs and he sped away in to a clear lead. David Winder, sailing a wooden
boat built by his father Guy, was going fast and overtook Gorringe for third
place.
So, once again, Richard Whitworth won the Felucca Trophy. Now sailing at
Parkstone, Whitworth thanked his old Club for a successful event with good
race management, good food and a great weekend.
Overall Results:
Pos | Boat Name | Sail No | Helm | Crew | Club | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | Pts |
1st | Faithless | 3703 | Richard Whitworth | Nicola Brook | HLSC | -2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 |
2nd | Stealth | 3722 | Matt Biggs | Ben Hollis | Blithfield SC | 1 | -9 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 9 |
3rd | Carbon Footprint | 3716 | Steve Leney | Gill Leney | Blithfield SC | 3 | 3 | 1 | 4 | -6 | 11 |
4th | Daddy's Boat | 3679 | Nick Heginbotham | Becca Jones | HLSC | 5 | 6 | 3 | 3 | -9 | 17 |
5th | Nora | 3678 | Stephen Crook | Sally Townend | HLSC | 6 | 2 | 5 | (DNF) | 5 | 18 |
6th | | 3662 | David Winder | Pippa Taylor | HLSC | 4 | 7 | 10 | (DNF) | 3 | 24 |
7th | Back to the Future | 3583 | Chris Martin | Dan Morgan | Blithfield SC | 7 | 5 | 9 | 8 | (DNF) | 29 |
8th | Zeno | 3659 | Julian Parry | Nichola Middleton-Stewart | HLSC | 8 | -14 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 30 |
9th | Freebird | 3596 | Martin Watts | Rene Watts/James Davis | HLSC | 10 | 10 | 7 | 5 | -11 | 32 |
10th | Oakey Dokey | 3712 | Jon Gorringe | Nicola Bass | Parkstone YC | 11 | (OCS) | 6 | RAF | 4 | 37 |
11th | Laid Back | 3603 | Les Bithell | Laura Ashworth | HLSC | 13 | 4 | 12 | 10 | (DNF) | 39 |
12th | Bronte | 3663 | Christopher Haworth | Jonathan Bullen | Blackpool & Fleetwood YC | -14 | 11 | 13 | 9 | 8 | 41 |
13th | Out of the Blue | 3557 | Guy Winder | Thomas Daniel | HLSC | (DNF) | 12 | 14 | 6 | 10 | 42 |
14th | Hot Totty | 3676 | Patrick Blake | Jen Taylor | Cookham Reach SC | 9 | 8 | 11 | (DNC) | DNC | 44 |
15th | Carpe Diem | 3630 | Bruce Mager | Ryan Richards | HLSC | 12 | 13 | -15 | 11 | 12 | 48 |