Hyde's Moth sails at the Hayling open

Mike Lennon sailing his foiling moth with the new 2Dm Hyde sail © Hyde Sails

The story from Round 1 of the 2013-14 International Moth Grand Prix...

With a strong showing at the Europeans and GBR nationals earlier this year and with many new 2Dm Hyde Moth sails having been delivered recently, hopes were high for a strong Hyde showing at the Hayling open - Round 1 in the 2013-14 Grand Prix series.

Hayling is the venue for the 2014 Moth World championship, so both the club and visitors were keen to test out the possibilities of the venue. However, the weather did not play along with the script and after several weeks of variable strength sea breezes, proper British weather returned just in time for the open. A light start

With no wind forecast, a lower than expected turnout was inevitable and just under 30 boats rigged with little hope of getting a race in. The sun was out despite every forecast available predicting more rain the Noah prepared for. As the predicted blackness appeared on the horizon a light 8-12 knot southerly appeared and the fleet rushed out to get a race in before the wind shut down and went North as forecast.

But as most of the fleet hit the open sea the wind spiked up to 30 knots laying waste to all in the building ocean! Race Officer Tim Hancock sent the fleet home for shelter and later tried to lay a course in the harbour in the dying wind. By the end of the day no races had been started.

Breezy day two

Sunday was windy and marginal on sea state, and after much discussion the fleet voted to wait for Harbour racing, despite two Queen Mary-based boats making it round West pole beacon and then a mile down wind to the start area.

Three races were held at the top of the tide in 15 to 20 knot winds and despite the racing being inside the harbour, there was still a large rolling sea on the left of the course and for the windward mark bear off!

Chris Rashley dominated proceedings taking three first. Hyde's Mike Lennon and Rob Greenhalgh slugged it out for second and going into the last race they both had a two and three. Despite Lennon taking second in the last race, he was OCS gifting the result to Rob. With all three to count Lennon was left outside the top group overall. Gareth Davies took third.

Rashley will also be getting grips with his 2Dm over the next few weeks before shipping out to Hawaii for the World Championship.

Next up is Round 2 at Brixham – the last big event before the Worlds!

For more information and to request a Moth price sheet or to place an order contact:

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