Wayfarer & Handicap Open at Roadford Lake Sailing Club

HUSBANDS AND WIVES TRIUMPH AT ROADFORD OPEN MEETING

Two married couples took the honours at a joint Wayfarer Open and Mixed Handicap Fleet Event over the Bank Holiday Weekend at Roadford Lake, Devon.

Travellers arrived on Friday evening to glorious Devon countryside in sunshine, the Dartmoor hills reflecting in the mirror like waters of the reservoir and a forecast which promised mixed blessings.

Saturday came with 20-25 knot South Westerlies creating challenging gusty conditions for the 20+ boats joining together for a fun pursuit race to kick the event off. Alan Watson in his International Moth demonstrated a master class in fast reaching as he roared past the entire fleet over 3 laps and kept his non foiling craft upright.

Further down the fleet there were many capsizes, Ken Owen and Colin Miel showing that the high sided roto-moulded hull of their RS Vision needs a bit of fitness (in their case) as they had to scale the slippery slopes no less than four times! Meanwhile, Liam and Sue McGrath in their Wayfarer 7658 ‘Septimus Fry’ experienced a boom snap in half when reaching through a particularly strong gust.

Serious racing started on Sunday in very little wind. A serene group of Wayfarers started first, heading for shimmers of wind and showing the Handicap fleet where to go. The scene was splendid with the handicap fleet so diverse three International Canoes, a Wineglass and Flying Fifteens competing against Buzz, Scorpion and Byte C2 to name a few.

Confused... we all were, as local Wayfarer, Keith Beckett, sailed off in a completely different direction from the rest only to get to the windward mark first as he showed how hugging the shore can occasionally pay off.

The pattern for the five races to take place over the Sunday and Monday was soon set. In the Wayfarers, Liam and Sue sailed consistently well with four bullets followed by Mike Jefferies and Phil Lowndes W 7557, previous winners of the event. Keith Beckett in W 8181 used his local knowledge to excellent effect to stay in touch for a creditable third overall as he changed crew between son and daughter after each race.

In the handicap fleet husband and wife team Alan and Hilary Ross-Watson took the honours. Alan using the speed of his International Moth to good effect in stronger winds whilst Hilary showed just how fast her ‘Byte’ can be with its new C2 rig, especially in light airs. In Race one she ghosted to an 11 minute lead over the rest of the fleet on corrected time. One Byte taking a sizeable chunk out of the Moth on this occasion!!!

Alistair Wallace trundled cleverly from one shift to another in his Bosun to take third overall whilst the two Buzz of Andrew Haill and another married couple, Roger and Penny Eyre, had a splendid and hard fought tussle which Andrew won by taking the line first in the last race.

Just to underline the family connection for this event, newly wed organisers Ron and Michele Barrett turned the Saturday evening Hog Roast with Live Band into a belated marriage celebration which they shared with all the sailors ……including a cake. A wonderful venue and an excellent event, come and join us next year. You don’t have to be a married couple, just be tempted by sailing in the midst of Devon countryside.

Overall Results:

Wayfarers:
1st Liam and Sue McGrath. W7658 (Starcross YC and RLSC)
2nd W7557 Mike Jefferies and Phil Lowndes (Oxford SC)
3rd W8181 Keith and Naomi Beckett (RLSC)

Handicap Fleet:
1st International Moth 9311 Alan Ross-Watson (Weston SC)
2nd Byte C2 Hilary Ross-Watson (Weston SC)
3rd Bosun 645 Alistair Wallace (RLSC)