Buzz Open at Isle of Sheppey Sailing Club
by Josh Preater 28 Apr 2008 18:42 BST
26-27 April 2008
Four Buzzes turned out for the first open of the year which was held at the Isle of Sheppey Sailing Club.
The competitors launched into a moderate breeze and got stuck into the first of three races for the day, first at the windward mark was 1089 (Simon Cory and Claire Hansel) with 763 (Stuart Bailey and Zoe Noble) only a fraction behind, third and fourth at the mark was 1027 (Jane Noble and Mark Wilson) and 585 (Mike and Josh Preater). First and second place remained the same for the remainder of the race but a capsize by 1027 allowed 585 to overtake and take third.
The second race saw the order at the windward mark the same as the first. First and second at the finish again remained the same but the battle for third and fourth took place between 585 and 1027 with 1027 just taking third in a drag race to the finish.
The last race of the day saw the wind lighten slightly and 763 managed to take line honours with 1089 just behind them, third and fourth was again closely contested with 1027 taking third.
In the evening the club put on a superb curry after which the battle of the pool table took place, Stuart and Zoe showed they are just as good at pool as they are at sailing as they were undefeated all evening.
The next day and the fleet launched into a much lighter breeze than the previous day and the first race started in an offshore wind, the order at the windward mark was 1089, 763, 585 and 1027. As the fleet began its second downwind leg, the wind shifted round to the right turning the windward leeward course into a double reach giving little chance to overtake and the finishing order went 1089, 763, 1027 and 585.
The fifth race started in the same breeze as the first and 1089 was first round the windward mark followed by 1027 with 763 and 585 not far behind, 763 managed to overtake 1027 by the leeward mark. The finishing order was 1089, 763, 1027 and 585.
The last race of the event was started in a very light wind that only got lighter turning into no wind at all which gave the race committee no choice but to abandon the race.
The Buzz fleet would like to thank all of the helpers and the race team from the Isle of Sheppey Sailing club for putting on a great event.
Overall Results:
| Pos | Helm | Crew | Sail No | Club | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | Pts |
|---|
| 1st | Simon Cory | Clare Hansel | 1089 | Downs SC | 1 | 1 | -2 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| 2nd | Stuart Bailey | Zoe Noble | 763 | Medway YC | -2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 7 |
| 3rd | Jane Noble | Mark Wilson | 1027 | Langstone | (5 DNF) | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 12 |
| 4th | Mike Preater | Josh Preater | 585 | CVLSC | 3 | -4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 15 |