Comet Open at Attenborough Sailing Club

Comets at Attenborough © Roger Day

Six visitors joined seven home club boats at Attenborough Sailing Club on Saturday 22nd June for the second Comet Open meeting to be held by the club.

Three races were held in winds of force 4 to 5 with gusts up to force 7 which kept the safety crew busy throughout the day.

Race 1 got away cleanly and soon Peter Mountford, Eddie Pope and Bob Dodds had broken away and looked as if they would never be caught. The gusty winds had other ideas and after 5 laps of the small lake Bob Dodds had been overtaken by a local club member, Mike Pritchard and with Peter and Eddie staying out in front that is how the first three finished.

Race two started in slightly less wind but it soon filled back in. In this race the front runners were joined by Jon Adams from Attenborough SC, who had not sailed a Comet until today. As in Race 1 there were many capsizes throughout the fleet but familiar faces still managed to come through. The first three places were taken by Bob Dodds, Jon Adams and Peter Mountford respectively.

The winds did not relent and a number of the entrants decided that they would stay ashore. There were also a number of retirements and consequently just six boats finished the race. The first three places were taken by Peter Mountford, Mike Pritchard and Bob Dodds.

Taking the best two races from the three gave the overall honours to Peter Mountford, his first Open Meeting win in 54 years sailing. Second place went to Bob Dodds and third to local man Mike Pritchard in a loaned boat.

Overall Results: