Comet Open at Baltic Wharf Sailing Club
by Chris Queree and Paul Linford 13 Sep 2012 22:11 BST
9 September 2012
Comets at Baltic Wharf © Katharine Cashman
9 boats, including 8 visitors, attended the Comet Open at Baltic Wharf Sailing Club in Bristol.
Race 1
Head of the harbour, sailing through the city centre past The Matthew and the SS Great Britain.
The day started with little wind. The fleet enjoyed a close race through Bristol's historic floating harbour to the Arnolfini and Lloyds Amphitheatre in the city centre. A few boats fell into the trap of cutting the corner at the SS Great Britain only to get caught in the wind shadow. Just as the fleet got to the top the wind filled in and changed direction, so it ended up being a beat back as well. By the time the fleet made it back the positions were set with Eddie Pope (804) in first followed home by Chris Robinson (867) and John Coppenhall in 532.
Lunch was served at the Cottage Inn.
Race 2
The wind had now built to a steady force 3 and was blowing straight down the harbour. The OODs set a tight course which led to some close racing with several boats frequently changing position. The extra obstacle of the Matthew barrelling through the course on the first lap made it a typical busy water day for Bristol. On the end of lap 2 after a close battle down the run, Henry Jaggers
(800) and Brian Welham (711) gybed and simultaneously capsized. This then created the situation where the leading three boats crossed the start finish line almost simultaneously with Bob Dodds (869) a bow ahead. By the end of the lap Chris Robinson (867) had gained the lead, only to be overtaken by Bob who maintained the position until the end of the race followed home by Eddie Pope (804) in second who had overtaken Chris Robinson (867) on the penultimate lap. Chris Robinson finished 3rd.
Race 3
The third and final race was an incredibly fast race with the top places frequently changing throughout the fleet. Towards the end of the race Denise Whetherly (843),in the only Xtra, caught her husband Brian in (654). At the end of the race Bob Dodds (869) took the gun to finish first followed 20 seconds later by Henry Jaggers (800), who had washed the Harbour mud off his sail following his earlier capsize,with Chris Robinson (867) a further 10 seconds back.
Bristol had proved again to be a testing venue but one which was enjoyed by the sailors. The complexity of the busy harbour brings new challenges to visitors but the change was appreciated by the visitors. Baltic Wharf Sailing Club now hosts several Open Meetings, and Access/ Sailability is next on 15th September.
Overall Results:
| Pos | Helm | Sail No | Pts |
|---|
| 1 | Bob Dodds | 869 | 2 |
| 2 | Eddie Pope | 804 | 3 |
| 3 | Chris Robinson | 867 | 5 |
| 4 | Brain Welham | 711 | 6 |
| 5 | Henry Jaggers | 800 | 9 |
| 6 | Ben Palmer | 597 | 9 |
| 7 | John Coppenhall | 532 | 9 |
| 8 | Brian Whetherly | 654 | 15 |
| 9 | Denise Whetherly | 843 | 16 |