Maylandsea Bay Sailing Club Open Winter Series - Day 3
by Alan Jackson 2 Dec 2008 06:41 GMT
30 November 2008

A grey, cold day for the Open Winter Series at Maylandsea © Philip Spillane
Another grey, cold day with mountainous clouds over Mundon Spit awaited the fleet. A grey, damp coldness wafted across the dinghy park in a Northerly 10 knot breeze.
The fleet was joined for the fist time in this winter series by Mr. Martin Scarth with Tony King in the crewing position sailing a Fireball (a very welcomed visitor from the Blackwater S.C.) As it turned out it was to be Martin and Tony’s day as they push up the pace.
The start was a “game affair” with the fleet pushing its luck more and more through each start of the series. At the top of the windward leg Martin and Tony were already stamping their authority on the fleet with some very smart spinnaker work on the short tight reaching legs and Tony’s ability to understand and navigate the new Maylandsea Bay course card.
With the second start of the day being as calculated as the first and the wind rising to a tasty 14-to16 knots the pairing were unbeatable and deservedly took the two bullets of the day. Keith in his Finn, masterful as ever having made good starts and sailing well, leading Jacko and Roger around most of the second race, and as the wind built sailed faster and faster finishing with a 3rd and a 2nd.
Jacko and stand-in crew Roger Mander quickly found themselves in some new and interesting sailing moves, Roger, a well accomplish fireball helm, worked the front end well but did not quite have the awesome authority (rule of terror) that Lorna appears to control Jacko with. Also finishing with a 2nd and a 3rd.
Another welcome returnee was Mick Wright sailing a Laser. Mick’s Laser skills gave him a comfortable lead on the next Laser sailor, Martin who again had a comfortable lead on Clive. Mick finished with a 4th and a 5th.
So once again we find the winter series going to a cliffhanger finish with one point being the margin with all to sail for. Jacko and Lorna have it all to lose with Keith having it all to gain.
Results after Day 3:
1st Merlin Rocket, Jacko and Lorna, 6pts
2nd Finn, Keith Fedi, 7pts
3rd Fireball, Malcolm and Tony, 16pts
4th Laser, Martin Tarling, 20pts
5th Laser, Clive Tarling, 24pts
6th GP14, Dave and Kat, 35pts
Next race day December 14th at 11:30. More info at www.maylandseabay-sc.org.uk