Wanderer Inlands at Bewl Valley Sailing Club
by Gavin Barr 6 Oct 2009 22:25 BST
3-4 October 2009
In horrendous conditions on Saturday 3rd October, the Wanderer Inlands at Bewl Valley SC went ahead as planned. There were 13 entries.
Race 1 was sailed in WSW winds of force 5 gusting up to force 7. Maximum wind speed recorded, 34 kts. Only 4 boats made it to the start line, one (Mark Fagg and Ali Nicolson in W989) after having capsized twice on the way. Race Officer Adam Page was forced to use his engines to keep the committee boat on station. Bob Grainger and Nick Millard in W1041 led off, closely followed by Gavin Barr and Mark Skipper, W1282. Bob and Nick held the lead until the second gybe mark on the “Inverted P” course, when an ill-advised gybe was their undoing. Mark and Gavin now took the lead, and despite a knock-down on the second beat held on to win, sailing the last hectic reach in survival mode, almost invisible in a cloud of spray. The only other boat to finish was Donna Hender with David Lowes in W1351, who struggled home valiantly in 2nd place after a torrid sail.
For race 2 conditions had eased slightly, although still very heavy in the gusts. Mark and Ali led off after a great start and held the lead right to the last leg when Gavin and Mark, picking up a violent gust, reached past at high speed to win by half a boat length. Bob and Nick again sailed well to take 3rd and another local boat, Mike and Tiff Nairn in W1243 were 4th.
Sunday brought much lighter conditions and the full fleet took to the water. With 2 wins already in the bag, Gavin and Mark set off determined to continue the trend and with excellent boatspeed held the lead throughout. A serious battle developed behind them, but local sailor Mike Nairn with daughter Tiff came through in 2nd, just ahead of Bob Grainger and Nick Millard.
Race 4 produced a similar result, but this time Will Lowes and Ian Hender in W1195 took 3rd. Time for lunch! Gavin and Mark now had the series won, but went for the full house. They managed this, just, despite the efforts of Mike Hamilton and David Oats, W992, Mike Nairn, and Bob Grainger. Mark Fagg and Ali Nicolson, and Will and Ian, were also well in the mix, although the latter were disqualified due to an OCS.
Overall Results:
1st, W1282, Gavin Barr and Mark Skipper (Whitstable YC)
2nd (and first BVSC boat) W1041, Bob Grainger and Nick Millard
3rd, W992, Mike Hamilton and David Oats (Civil Service SA)
4th W1243, Mike and Tiff Nairn (BVSC)
5th W989 Mark Fagg and Ali Nicolson (Whitstable YC)