Frampton Fling at Frampton on Severn Sailing Club
by Laura Honey 18 Oct 2010 21:11 BST
16 October 2010
Truly champagne conditions at Tropical Frampton ended the British Moth Open Circuit Season and concluded the Somerville Trophy on the 16th of October as 18 boats competed. Overnight campers were greeted by a stunning sunrise breaking through the Gloucestershire mist to give “wall-to-wall” sunshine all day. A light breeze filled in for the first race which then increased mid-race and lasted for the rest of the day with a Force 3-4 wind.
With 3 Champions attending there was bound to be stiff competition at the front of the fleet but for this final event guest helms joined in the fun.
The first race saw one of the guest helms lead at the windward mark... Phil Kirk [870 on loan from Graham Pope] from Frampton who is usually seen in an Enterprise or a Cherub was having in his first outing in a Moth and was revelling in the manoeuvrability and sensitive nature of the boat. Kirk held off recent National Champions Rob Wilder [880-Roger Witts’s boat] and Tim Davison [846] on the long reach before Wilder nipped inside him at the mark to take the lead. Mid-race the wind dramatically and instantly increased from what was a Force 1 breeze to a full Force 3 wind... ideal conditions. Wilder, back in a Moth, showed he has lost none of his Moth technique and looked comfortable as the wind increased and controlled the race and kept Davison behind to take the win. Kirk held onto 3rd place ahead of Roger Witts [872-on loan from Mark Wiltshire] who passed Graham Pope[881]in the closing stages. Guest Helm Joe Burford [790] Fowey Gallant S.C. held on to 6th place until the wind increased but then diminutive Joe struggled and slipped back to finish 10th.
Race 2 was held “back-to-back” with Race 1... this time Davison gained revenge and took the win after the lead was swopped with Wilder several times. However at the start it was quick starting Jeremy Higson [861] who was first at the windward mark. Higson remained in contention but was passed by Davison, Wilder and James Parker-Mowbray [833] to finish 4th. Pope was 5th,Kirk 6th,Haywood 7TH with Witts 8th minus one bailer!
After a short break the third race saw the Moths refreshed and back in action in a personally handicapped race... based on results in the first 2 races 3 groups were started at 2 minute intervals slowest group off first. Due to gear failure a poor second race saw Witts start with a 2 minute advantage over Wilder, Davison, Kirk, Higson and Pope. Capitalising on the advantage Witts soon picked through the earlier starting group to head the Fleet and widen the gap over the chasing group. Richard Keefe [817] finished second with Abby Freeley 3rd. National Junior Champion Tim Lupton [818] was 4th with Wilder 5th and Davison was 8th in this popular race format.
The final race was run “back-to back” with race 3 and the event was wide open to take. Parker-Mowbray made a text book start and headed Wilder at the windward buoy. They pulled out a gap that was maintained for the rest of the race as Witts tried to close it and fend off Davison and Kirk behind. Parker-Mowbray and Wilder swopped positions many times but Wilder managed to get the inside berth at the leeward buoy and hold Parker-Mowbray off to take his second win of the day and the overall victory. Witts was 3rd with Kirk passing Davison in the closing stages.
An excellent day's racing superbly organised by Tony Williams and Frampton’s Topper Fleet ably supported by Guest OOD and Sponsor, John Burford from Fowey Gallants S.C. and Upper Deck Marine of Fowey. Thanks also go to sponsors Stroud Brewery.
In Frampton Moth style the Partying went on way into the evening with Bill Gribble’s Band “Freefall” playing the Moth season out.
Overall Results
1st 880 Rob Wilder (Tamesis Club)
2nd 872 Roger Witts (Frampton-on-Severn S.C.)
3RD 846 Tim Davison (Medley S.C.)
4TH 870 Phil Kirk (Frampton-on-Severn S.C.)
5TH 833/790 James Parker-Mowbray (Frampton-on-Severn S.C.)
First Lady & 12th, 783 Abby Freeley (S.E.S.C.A.)