Comet Open at Shearwater Sailing Club
by Shearwater SC 20 Apr 2004 11:06 BST
17 April 2004
A bright Spring morning for the Comet & Topper open at Shearwater Sailing Club © Pat Jones
A wonderful, bright Spring morning – with a fresh westerly force 3 to 4 wind – greeted sailors from as far as Taplow, Methyr, Huntingdon and Frensham to join Shearwater helms in competition during the club’s 10th annual Comet and Topper single handed class meeting.
Officer of the Day Nic Cross set a figure of eight course with two gybe marks for the first Comet class race. Brian Welham from Taplow Lake SC led the fleet from start to finish of the six lap race, followed by Rupert Whelan of Whitefriers SC in second place, with Henry Jaggers from Beer third. Shearwater SC sailor Richard Smallwood relaxed his concentration a little too much as he crossed the finish line by promptly capsizing !.
The wind increased for the second race so the course was altered to include three gybe marks and their consequent three fast reaching legs each lap. Last years overall winner John Coppenhall from Hunts SC made the best start only to be caught and passed on lap four by first race winner Welham. Welham controlled the chasing Coppenhall and Whelan for what seemed a routine second win until he was dramatically capsized twice which dropped him to the back of the fleet - thus allowing Whelan to cross the line first with Coppenhall second and Peter Hayes coming through for third.
The course was altered again for the final race to give an extended down wind run on every lap, followed by a single reach across the lake. Coppenhall, Whelan and Welham were all able to win the overall “Event” with a good sail and result and with the westerly wind still giving the odd strong gust tension was running high. Whelan got the best start and although always being pressed hard by a closely following fleet held on for the six laps. Whelham chased him to the line taking second, with a two lap tussle between Hayes and Smallwood resulting in Hayes finishing the race third.
Overall Results:
1st Rupert Whelan (Whitefriars SC)
2nd Brian Welham (Taplow Lake SC)
3rd John Coppenhall (Hunts SC)