K1 open meeting at Papercourt Sailing Club
by Paul Handley 24 Oct 2014 20:46 BST
19 October 2014
K1 open meeting at Papercourt in October 2014 © Zoe Handley
Sailing conditions at Papercourt were at there autumnal best for the K1 end of season open on Sunday 19th October with sunshine and a brisk but warm South-Westerly blowing straight down the lake.
Two races were planned for the morning with a course consisting of a beat up the full length of the lake followed by a zigzag of reaches and runs back down around the buoys. This course was ideal for the K1s which enjoyed close racing upwind and plenty of off-wind planing on the reaches.
Local K1 sailor Mike Ball and Paul Handley visiting from Chipstead SC traded places at the front in the first race followed closely by David Hume from Broxbourne SC and Tony Canning from Papercourt. Mike held the lead after two laps but at the end of the third and final lap Paul got through to take the gun. Two laps were enough for the second race with Mike, Paul and David close together again and Paul just ahead at the finish.
Lunch was a welcome break after this two-race workout and competitors took on plenty of baked potato and chili ballast as the wind strengthened outside.
As competitors set off on the first beat of the next race the full force of the wind became apparent with very heavy gusts and large shifts to add to the challenge. It took a while to get used to and the K1 sailors were very grateful for the keel as they enjoyed blasting down the reaches and surviving the many gybes which looked less popular with the Enterprises sharing the course. The race was a four lap epic and Paul managed to hold out at the front followed by Mike and David not far behind.
The wind stayed up for the final race for which two laps was quite enough before competitors returned to shore for the famous Papercourt tea and cakes – all in for a very reasonable entry fee. Overall Paul was the meeting winner, Mike second and David third. The sailing was very enjoyable and our thanks go to Papercourt SC for hosting the event.
This was the last K1 open for 2014, ending an open meeting series that had proved very popular with a total of 48 K1 owners participating over the season. Plans are already underway to provide more of the same for next year.