Buzz Open at Langstone Sailing Club

10 Buzzes compete at Langstone © Jane Noble

On the weekend of 23 and 24 September, 10 Buzzes gathered at Langstone Sailing Club for their annual Asymmetric open meeting.

On the Saturday the fleet were greeted by a South Easterly force 3-4 and unusually warm autumn sunshine. The race officer set a short windward – leeward course and in the first race Simon Cory and Penny Jordan set the scene for the weekend with the first of five wins. Second were Stuart Bailey and Zoe Noble with Jonathon King and Richard Ayling showing excellent downwind speed in third.

Simon and Penny continued their dominance by taking the second and third races in great style with Stuart and Zoe also finishing second in both. Further down the fleet the racing was extremely close with five crews battling for that all important third place, Jane Noble and Mark Wilsone succeeding in the second race.

After three short races the fleet headed for the clubhouse where an excellent afternoon tea was served.

On Sunday, the fleet were again treated to another fine and warm day but with lighter easterly winds which dropped further as the day progressed. The race officer varied the course from the previous day by setting a trapezoidal configuration which came as a welcome change from the more normal windward – leeward type.

Race 4 followed a similar pattern to the day before with Simon and Penny first, Stuart and Zoe second and Neil & Cath Mant showing a liking for the lighter conditions with a third. With the wind dropping some new faces emerged at the front of the fleet. Stuart & Zoe finally grabbed their first win with Roger and Penny Eyre in second and Bob Joce with replacement crew in third.

In the final race, which was shortened due to the dying breeze, Simon and Penny and Neil & Cath got away from the chasing pack to take first and second respectively with Roger and Penny finishing third.

After another enjoyable days racing the fleet returned to shore for tea and prize giving where the Commodore explained that the club were celebrating their diamond jubilee. A special prize was awarded to Mike & Josh Preater for completing every race.

Whereas the overall results for the first three places was never in much doubt, the closeness of the racing in mid fleet was evident as positions four to seven were only separated by one point.

Overall Results: