Manor Park Sailing Club Spring Series - Day 3
by Lee Bratley 28 Mar 2011 14:36 BST
27 March 2011
Well, it was hardly champagne sailing in Staffordshire this week as grey cloud, low temperatures and a zephyr of a breeze drifted around the dinghy park but, nonetheless, thirteen helms rigged up and went out to test their light-wind skills as the latest round of MPSCs Spring series got underway.
This year's series has been attracting something of an 'exotic' field actually, with young German Crispin Brast visiting last week - doing a remarkable job crewing on Ian Shaws Merlin Rocket - this week we were graced with the presence of 1998 Topper World Champion Rob Carver, borrowing a Lightning368 from regular LN sailor Lee Bratley.
After a double victory last week, RS400 super-helm Simon Beard was keen to build on this with another good showing this weekend.
All boats ghosted through 'the gap' safely to begin the start sequence for race one and, after pressure from Alex/Lewis Shaw in their Lark, the Lightning368 of Lee Bratley went over very early, incurring a round-the-ends penalty from the off. However, the breeze was so light that he still managed to rejoin the fleet in the midpoint!
Most went out to the left, but Carver (Lightning368) obviously had different plans and went for clear air on the right - Westley (Enterprise) and Bratley (Lightning368) went with him and, as Beard (RS400) made the windward mark first, followed by Shaw/Shaw (Merlin-Rocket), the field concertinaed at the mark to head around the course.
The breeze was proving hugely tricky for most as the boats begaon to string out around the lake - Beard absolutely untouchable as he glided to an unchallenged victory - by a very long way.
Chris Gasson (Topaz) took full advantage of his boats handicap and his own lightweight to take an admirable second, with the Shaw brothers adding to their impressive series results with third spot.
The only other excitement came on the final beat to the line as the two Lightnings came from behind Westley, single-handing his Enterprise, to nab him at the line - Bratley just squeezing Carver by 25 seconds - and Westley ,unfortunate to tack just as the breeze vanished, dropping over a minute on the drift to the line.
After lunch, a second race began in conditions that were, possibly, even lighter than the first - with many helms deciding that their knees could take no more after race one.
Opportunity, then, to score well, if you were prepared to sit out the drifts and frustration! In the event, several weren't - judging by the number of retirements/DNFs! Ash Burton perhaps being the most optimistic of all as he bought out the RS600 from its winter hibernation!
Roger Teale made his 2011 racing debut with his newly acquired Laser Vago XD, but only 5 of the 8 starters having the patience to complete the race.
For the second time, it was Simon Beard who came out on top, almost ten minutes clear of Alex/Lewis Shaw, with Chris Vyse third in his Enterprise. Gordon Buncle (Solo) and Bryan Westley (Enterprise) rounding off the days sailing.
With several different winners so far, though, the Manor Park series is becoming tight at the top, with John Solomanson, Alex Shaw and Simon Beard all fighting for prime spot this year.
With the hope of a little more breeze next weekend, two more races are scheduled. First race at 1045am (Approx) with a second post-lunch.
Visitors are welcome, so take a look at the MPSC website for further details.