British Moth Open at Fowey Gallants Sailing Club
by Roger Witts 3 Jul 2008 10:20 BST
28-29 June 2008
Fowey Gallants hosted a two day event for the “Cornish Championships” and Golant Pasty Challenge in fine conditions.
The increasing Force 3 and glorious Cornish sunshine, plus the tricky wind shifts gave spectators a good chance to view the rare addition to Fowey's usual turnout of the fantastic Troy Boats.
Furthermore Race Officer and “Honorary Mothist” John Burford elected to use courses close to the Town Quay with max spectator appeal.
Saturday's racing saw Laura Honey (Frampton-on-Severn) revel in the conditions on short courses set in the Harbour with a 2,1,3,1 tally.
Race 1 winner Mark Wiltshire (Frampton) and Race 3 victor Andrew Parker-Mowbray (Frampton) could not match Honey's speed who sailed consistently well, always picking the right course in the tricky and at times gusty conditions. Using the all carbon Superspar/Rowsell Rig Wiltshire always threatened Honey's supremacy as did Parker-Mowbray resulting in close finishes in Races 2 and 3.
Race 4 was the decider and Laura Honey made no mistakes and held off a strong challenge from Parker-Mowbray in the freshest wind of the series. Roger Witts was meanwhile struggling and finished 3rd, and Bill Gribble held off Wiltshire to grab 4th place.
1st Laura Honey (Frampton-on-Severn S.C.) 700 “Tabitha Twitchit”
2nd Andrew Parker-Mowbray (Frampton-on- Severn S.C.) 818 “Thing One”
3rd Mark Wiltshire (Frampton-on-Severn S.C.) 817 “Painted Lady”
Sunday's racing saw the Moths move up-river to Golant for the Pasty Challenge. A beautiful setting in ideal Moth conditions (lightish wind and shifty) but this time with a strongish tide flow to contend with.
Taking spectators with him, R.O. John Burford continued to set interesting courses. Again it was the newly crowned “Cornish Champion” Laura Honey who hit the front in the first race to build up a huge lead only to get becalmed at the final mark allowing Parker-Mowbray to close. A battle to the line ensued with Honey narrowly taking the gun. As the conditions became trickier Honey faded as Parker-Mowbray excelled gaining 3 wins in the 5 races held with two 2nd places.
Wiltshire again was sailing well with the trial carbon rig, getting used to the tide, was never out of the top 3 and ended with a race win, but it was ever popular “Wild Bill” Gribble who got the biggest cheer with his first ever race win.
1st Andrew Parker-Mowbray (F.O.S.S.C.) 818
2nd Mark Wiltshire (F.O.S.S.C.) 817
3rd Roger Witts (F.O.S.S.C.) 779 “ONONO”
The Moths “Salty Weekend” at Fowey Gallants will hopefully become a permanent fixture in the British Moth Calendar. An excellent venue and superb hospitality… thanks to Commodore Allen Toms and R.O. John Burford.