Maylandsea Bay Sailing Club Open Winter Series - Day 4
by Alan Jackson 18 Dec 2008 16:09 GMT
14 December 2008
Races 7 & 8
Fleet resilience and durability was put to the test on the final day of the Maylandsea Bay winter series. A stabbing cold greyness penetrated, carried on the lightest of a northerly breeze.
The overall winners place was still up of grabs with Keith Fedi (Finn) needing two wins to take the series, with Alan Jackson (Jacko) and crew Lorna Laval needing to control the start line and maybe keep Keith out of the number one spot. Martin Scarth and Tony King, winners of races 5 and 6, looked to be under pressure with the winds being a tad light. However, Keith Fedi failed to sail pulling a sick note and taking no further part, leaving Jacko and Lorna the overall winners. There was genuine disappointment as Keith has won the winter series for the last couple of years.
As the seconds counted down to the start the breeze began to fill in; the fleet split in to the starboard tack boats, sailing parallel to the line but not able to cross the line, joyfully calling starboard on the port tack boats fetching at speed, ducking and weaving onto the line, but overall well behaved. As the starting flag fell it was Mick Wright sailing a Laser that won the start with Malcolm and Tony (Fireball), Jacko and Lorna (Merlin) in close pursuit.
Following the start the fleet, ran in to a huge hole in the wind approaching the north saltings point going to race mark 4. This, against the strongest of tidal flow so far in the series, ended the hopes of many competitors. The damp bitter cold ate in to the fleet and with a deathly silence saw the leading boats slip away.
Nicholas (Phantom) quickly sailed past the Fireballs and Merlins and to take the lead, not to be seen again, taking line honours and 1st place. Jacko and Lorna 2nd, Laurence (Finn) 3rd; two hours passing before all competitors finished which is a credit to the dogged determination and commitment that the Maylandsea fleet shows to sailboat racing.
The second race of the day was a crash and burn affair, sailed on a fast ebbing tide in a 3-knot North breeze. The Maylandsea race box set the short distance course with two rounds to ensure the fleet did not sample the Essex mud.
Jacko and Lorna won the start and set the pace and taking the bullet followed by Nicholas in the Phantom and Martin and Tony in the Fireball on corrected time.
The prizegiving was supported with a freebee buffet and drinks at the bar for all competitors, support boat crew and the race box team.
A short number of words were spoken; particular thanks were given to Evelyn, Brian, Doreen on a splendid spread, and Geoffrey (club treasurer) for the pennies. It was felt that something for all the fleet to enjoy would be better than more 'bottleage' for the winners, which appeared to go down well (there was nothing left on the table).
Next race day is December 28th at 11:30 - The Blackwater Icicle.
The next club race day is the post-Christmas series, running until Easter, starting on 11 January.
More info at www.maylandseabay-sc.org.uk
Overall Results:
1st Merlin Rocket, Alan Jackson & Lorna Laval, 7pts
2nd Finn, Keith Fedi, 10pts
3rd Fireball, Malcolm Cross & Tony Everitt, 19pts
4th Laser, Martin Tarling, 26pts
5th Finn, Laurence Maudsley, 27pts
6th Laser, Clive Tarling, 30pts
7th GP14, Dave & Kate Williams, 34pts
1st Lady Helm (14th), Laser Radial, Ann Dyson, 69pts