Chew Valley Lake Sailing Club Wednesday Evening Series
by Ralph Singleton 20 Aug 2010 09:30 BST
18 August 2010
The end of summer
If there is one series that the Members at Chew look forward to most it is the Wednesday Evening Series consisting of 18 races between mid-April and mid-August. The last race held this week for many signals the end of summer. This year many records were broken including one Wednesday with an amazing 102 boats. Across the three fleets, Fast Handicap , Lasers and Slow handicap there were 207 entrants who completed at least one race and 77 boats which managed to meet the 9 race qualification criteria.
Over the series there were a mix of conditions which was very much reflected in the results of the Fast Handicap fleet which saw 4 boats (all different classes) finish within 1½ points of each other. In the end Derian Scott and Marisa Foster (Fireball) sneaked in to beat Peter & Thomas Rose (Scorpion) and the Singleton Family (RS 800).
Paul and Liza Clements (Buzz) won the last race (4th overall) and could have won overall but for a luffing match with a Flying Fifteen in the last race!
In the Laser fleet Duncan Whitrow sailed very consistently, particularly in the lighter winds to win comfortably from up and coming star Richard Cumpsty and veteran Peter Sherwin. The Slow Handicap fleet was dominated by the Solos with El Presidente John Smalley keeping everyone on the edge of their seats until the last race just pipping club stalwarts George Simpkins and Dave Macklin. Tim and Jack Johnson in the RS Feva were fourth despite missing races for the Nationals and Europeans.
Overall a great series but a shame about the 34 week wait until the 2011 series. A big thank you must go to all the club members who give up their time to help run the races and make it such a success.
Full results on the Chew Valley Lake Sailing Club website.