Shadow TT at Gurnard Sailing Club

Shadow TT at Gurnard © GSC

The Gurnard Sailing Club Shadow TT took place over the weekend of the 8th and 9th May 2010. The event was preceded by a training day run by Olly Harris with the help of Robin Leather and Carl Blenkinsop. All trainees appeared to benefit, and their increased speed and boat handling was noticeable in the following days’ races.

For race one, Race Officer Steve Cole set an overlapping sausage course in Gurnard Bay. After an inshore tacking duel Leather made his way to the front and gradually extended his lead to win by 2 minutes from Harris and Blenkinsop.

The second course was altered to include a reach to a mid Solent buoy and back. Again Leather found himself leading, and he held his position to the line, but this time more closely followed by Harris and Blenkinsop. The fight for fourth place was fascinating with positions changing throughout the race. The battle was won by Dave Downer after his textbook leeward mark rounding. It was all extremely close with only 15 seconds separating Dave in 4th and Paul Tanner in 7th.

For the final race of the day the Race Officer selected a similar course as for race one, but due to the impending tidal change, reversed the directions of mark roundings. In a freshening wind, the fleet all hit the line with speed but again it was not long before Leather was in the lead. He stayed there, with Harris again in second but this time it Laurie Gustar who won the close battle for 3rd.

Sunday started with a light winds and the added complexity of Gurnard Club racing to negotiate. The boats were again kept in the bay with a windward leeward course. Leather was first to the windward mark but Harris showed faster downwind speed to overhaul him. Gustar was next to finish to claim his second 3rd place.

Like the day before the last race of the day saw an increasing wind, and with first and second places secured, the battle for third was on. After an excellent start, it was James Martin on his father’s boat who was the early pace setter. Leather knew that the event was won and seemed content to Yacht around keeping out of trouble. Harris crossed the line in first and Gustar did just enough to hold off the quickly advancing Blenkinsop to finish 2nd and to secure 3rd overall.

Paul Tanner and his wife Julie produced an excellent meal for Saturday night festivities and the Leather family produced an entertaining raffle which raised £55 for the RNLI.

Overall Results:

1st Robin Leather, 1,1,1,2,(5), 5pts
2nd Ollie Harris, (2),2,2,1,1, 6pts
3rd Laurie Gustar, 4,(6),3,3,2, 12pts
4th Carl Blenkinsop, 3,3,(6),4,3, 13pts
5th James Martin, (6),5,5,5,4, 19pts
6th Paul Tanner, 5,(7),4,6,6, 21pts
7th Dave Downer, 7,4,7,(8),8, 26pts
8th Tony Wyeth, 8,(9),8,7,7, 30pts
9th Chas Bedford, (9),8,9,9,9, 35pts
10th Bruce Vigar, 10,10,(11),11,11, 42pts

The next TT is at Instow June 19-20.