Snipe Open at Blue Circle Sailing Club
by Richard Lambert 22 May 2007 08:13 BST
19-20 May 2007
The Sniipes start their open season at Blue Circle SC © Richard Lambert
Eleven Snipe crews gathered at Blue Circle Sailing Club for the first open meeting in the UK calendar over the weekend of 19-20 May.
On Saturday, westerly winds were gusting up to 22 knots but Maldon Yacht Club’s Iain and Richard Marshall revelled in the strong winds and took the first three races, with defending champions Alan Williams and Liz Crouch gaining three second place finishes. Local team Sue and Steve Roberts took a well earned third to keep them in overall contention.
On Sunday the wind went round due east and fell away to an average 8 knots. Race officer Derrick Crouch set a simple windward leeward course but with a constantly shifting wind and lots of variation in wind speed, there was some excellent close, tactical racing throughout the fleet.
The fourth race was won by Mark Antonelli and Susan Robertson with Marshall and Williams following. The fifth race was led from gun to gun by Brian and Anne Gregory who held off Antonelli throughout a close battle. Ian Gregory and Cecile Munoz took third to post another consistently good score.
Marshall took early command of the final race to head off the challenge of Williams in second with Antonelli rounding out the top three.
The Snipe's broad appeal was demonstrated by 75 year old John Love's narrow victory over 14 year old Luke Harvey in mid fleet.
Overall Results:
| Pos | Sail No | Helm | Crew | Club | Pts |
|---|
| 1st | GBR29501 | I Marshall | R Marshall | Maldon YC | 6 |
| 2nd | GBR30316 | A Williams | E Crouch | Budworth SC | 10 |
| 3rd | GBR29834 | M Antonelli | S Robertson | Budworth SC | 12.75 |
| 4th | GBR30315 | B Gregory | A Gregory | Blue Circle SC | 23.75 |
| 5th | GBR28451 | I Gregory | C Munoz | Blue Circle SC | 25 |