Gloucestershire Schools Regatta at Severn Sailing Club
by Dave Harris 23 Oct 2007 14:57 BST
21 October 2007
The weather was beautiful but with no wind this event looked like it might not happen. After a 30 minute postponement the first race was started in a drifter but all were able to stem the stronger than normal current. Local lad Tristan Cooper from Tewkesbury school in a Comet made the best of the slower current along the banks to beat the Laser of Richard Burton (Cirencester school) to the first mark and was still leading at the leeward mark having had to do a 720. All was in vain, however as the wind died completely and the whole fleet rafted up and race officer Dave Harris abandoned the race in favour of an early lunch.
As always some breeze kicked in during lunch so racing was resumed with a light breeze from the South meaning all were now able to beat with the current helping. This time it was Matthew Holbourn (Severn) in a Laser who led on the water but was beaten on handicap by James Parker-Mowbray (Sir Thomas Riches School) sailing a Topper with Tristan Cooper 3rd.
The next race was sailed back to back in a dying breeze with Matthew Holbourn getting away cleanly from the start and coming out a clear winner Tristan and James finished only 8 seconds apart on corrected time with James taking the honours.
Several retirements and no third race meant that staying the course paid off, with both races to count. Only pupils from Gloucestershire schools can qualify for the trophy which has been contested since 1968, Matthew Holbourn won the day overall but doesn’t go to a Gloucestershire school, so the results are as follows.
Results
1st James Parker-Mowbray ‘Topper’ (Sir Thomas Riches school) 3 points
2nd Tristan Cooper ‘Comet’ (Tewkesbury school) 6 points
3rd Stuart Bailey ‘Topper’ (Tewkesbury school) 10 points