Flying Fifteens at the Datchet Winter-Warm-Up - Day 3
by Helen Hepworth 18 Feb 2014 07:10 GMT
16 February 2014
Having had to cancel Day 2 of the winter warm-up due to the force of the wind, Day 3 looked under threat as the flood waters rose and the gales just kept coming. However, the Weather Gods smiled upon Datchet and we were greeted with sun and blue skies, no floods (probably due to Princes William and Harry's sterling efforts with sandbags), a steady (ish) Force 3 gusting 4 and another good sized course. The Race Officer signalled his intention to run 3 races back to back to get the series back on track.
Teams out for the day were Patrick Keates and David Culpan in 3821, Mervyn Wright and Howard Shawyer in 3536, and Michael Clapp and Ian Klyne in 3562 alongside new teams in the form of Brett Dingwall and Steve in 3875, Stephen Hopson and Nigel King in 3703 and John Hanson and Helen Hepworth in 3954 sporting a brand new set of Hyde Sails.
The first race got underway with 3536 having a flyer of a start and all boats jostling for position up the first beat. Unfortunately 3536 couldn't hang onto their lead and after some close racing 3954 took the honours on the line, followed by 3703 and then 3821.
The second race was turned around quite quickly by the RO and the slightly lighter winds made picking the shifts (and avoiding holes) very important. 3703 took the honours this time, despite the best efforts of 3954 to try and reel them in on the last reach – close, but not close enough. 3536 took third.
The third and last race of the day turned into a battle for second. 3954 made a really good start and picked the right shifts all the way up the first beat to be in a commanding lead by the windward mark which was held until the finish – it appears the new sails were really working well. 3536 held second for much of the race, hard pressed by 3875 all the way but they were eventually overhauled by the windward mark on the 3rd leg and ended up in 3rd. Another battle for 4th and 5th developed between 3703 and 3821 with 3821 coming out on top.
Results after Day 3: (five races, 1 discard)
| Pos | Sail No | Helm | Crew | Club | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | Pts |
|---|
| 1st | 3821 | Patrick Keates | David Culpan | Parkstone | 1 | 2 | 3 | ‑5 | 4 | 10 |
| 2nd | 3954 | John Hanson | | DWSC | (DNC) | DNC | 1 | 2 | 1 | 14 |
| 3rd | 3536 | Mervyn Wright | Various | DWSC | 4 | 4 | ‑5 | 3 | 3 | 14 |
| 4th | 3703 | Stephen Hopson | Nigel King | DWSC | (DNC) | DNC | 2 | 1 | 5 | 18 |
| 5th | 3875 | Brett Dingwall | Steve | Alderham | (DNC) | DNC | 4 | 4 | 2 | 20 |
| 6th | 3562 | Michael Clapp | Ian Klyne | DWSC | 6 | 5 | (DNC) | 6 | 6 | 23 |
| 7th | 4020 | Graham Scroogle | Ben Scroogle | Parkstone | 3 | 1 | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | 24 |
| 8th | 3957 | Charles Apthorp | Allan Green | DWSC | 2 | 3 | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | 25 |
| 9th | 3559 | Dominick Hume | David Hume | DWSC | 5 | (DNF) | DNC | DNC | DNC | 35 |