Chew Valley Lake Sailing Club RYA Sail for Gold Torch Race
by Alex Timms 24 May 2012 15:58 BST
23 May 2012
RYA Sail for Gold Torch Race at Chew Valley Lake © Marisa Edwards
Chew Valley Lake Sailing Club held its first Olympic style event last night, Wednesday 23rd May to celebrate the passing of the Olympic Torch through the Somerset region as part of their RYA 'Sail for Gold' campaign.
A total of 66 boats raced in three fleets and the weather at the start of the evening was glorious - brilliant sunshine and a fairly constant 8 knots of wind from the south west.
Experienced Race Officer Keith Harris set an Olympic style course and each of the fleets started perfectly on time.
However, contrary to the forecasts, the wind was already beginning to fade and became increasingly fickle as the races progressed with wind indicators going round in circles, runs becoming beats, beats becoming runs - and frequently both on the same leg of the course.
The order of the day was to look outside the boat and at the bigger picture of the patches of wind dotting themselves haphazardly around the lake.
The winners of the evening were those who were able to spot, anticipate and sail into these areas of pressure and then try to maintain their momentum through the numerous holes.
The special prize for the evening, the RYA Olympic Torch went to Freya Cumpsty who won Gold in the 13 years and under category sailing a Topper whilst her elder sister Ellie won Gold in the 18 years and under category sailing a Laser.
Peter Rose sailing with Fiona Wisloff won a very convincing Gold in the A Handicap Fleet sailing his Scorpion, followed by Dave Sweet and Jackie Ireland in an RS 200 and Paul and Liza Clements in a Buzz.
In the B Handicap Fleet it was Graham Cranford-Smith who mastered the conditions best to win Gold by 40 seconds in front of Errol Edwards closely followed by George Simpkins both sailing Solos.
The very impressive fleet of 26 lasers was won by grand master Peter Sherwin, with Damian Boreham taking Silver and Duncan Whitrow, Bronze.
The Olympic themed prizes for the evening were kindly donated by the RYA as part of their Sail for Gold campaign to inspire more people to become more active in sailing on the back of London 2012.
The Olympic 'Torch Race' at Chew Valley Lake Sailing Club formed part of their Wednesday Evening Series of races which runs from April to September every year sometimes attracting up to 100 boats.
The next Olympic themed events to take place at Chew will be the Family Regatta / RYA 'Push The Boat Out Day' on Saturday 21st July which will include as a special guest the infamous Cap'n Denny, and a commerative Olympic Race Day on Sunday 22nd July with more Olympic style courses and Gold medals to be won.