British Moth Open at Chippenham Sailing & Canoe Club
by Andrew Perrott 22 Jun 2011 07:03 BST
11 June 2011
Chippenham Sailing and Canoeing Club welcomed 6 visitors from as far afield as Maidenhead and East Anglia to their annual open meeting on Saturday 11 June. Despite initial fears over the weather, the wind filled in nicely for the start of racing with the sun shining brightly.
The first race was split into two flights due to the the small size of the river. Current national champion Roger Witts started well in the first flight, virtually leading from start to finish. Gary Tompkins sailed well in the second flight (catching the tail end of the first) to take second place overall.
The second race was sailed as a pursuit race, with the positions in the first race being used to rank the sailors at one minute intervals. Starting with a full 5 minute handicap Roger Witts again sailed well, working his way through the fleet to be in the lead when the final bell sounded. This gave him victory overall with a race to spare.
The final race of the day was a long distance up-river experience. This gave the visiting sailors a taste of river sailing in conditions that are ideally suited to the tall rig and nimble hull of the class. To start the race the fleet had a short upwind leg, followed by a route into parts of the river that are only just wide enough for one boat. Home knowledge proved invaluable with local Sailor Michael Roberts taking the win, giving him second place overall. This gave him the Geoff Ritchens Enterprise trophy for the best of the home club members.
Thanks go to Shirley Ritchens and and Peter Roberts for running the racing, and the visitors for making the event such a success.
Overall Results:
1st Roger Witts (Frampton-on-Severn Sailing Club)
2nd Michael Roberts (Chippenham Sailing & Canoeing Club)
3rd= Richard Keefe & Abby Freeley (Both St Edmondsbury Sailing & Canoeing Association)