Brass Monkey at Torpoint Mosquito Sailing Club
by Brigitte Mann 6 Jan 2015 11:08 GMT
1 January 2015
Torpoint Mosquito SC's Brass Monkey race 2015 © Keith Watts
With grey skies and extremely gusty conditions, six boats bravely took the chance to get back on the water in the middle of the winter break on New Year's Day for Torpoint Mosquito's annual Brass Monkey race.
In view of the conditions the race team set a short course down river to First Yellow and St John's Lake 2 and then back in front of the club to Ferry. Unfortunately Matt Theobald (Stealth) capsized before the start and decided to return to shore but the rest of the fleet had a cracking race without taxing the safety boat crews.
Missing his sailing and so with itchy feet, Ronnie Carter (Laser) got away well and had a strong lead almost from the start, with Chris Rowsell & Kathryn Drury (Enterprise), Jack Mann & Ron Goggin (Wanderer), Rob Loader (Laser Radial) and Geoff Hall (Gull) following behind.
As they came back up river towards Ferry on the first lap, Carter was well ahead with Loader next in the pack followed by the Enterprise and then the reefed Wanderer. Carter capsized at Ferry but recovered without problem and the fleet stayed in these positions until towards the end of the second lap.
As the gusts got even stronger and the boats were being stalled by the headwind as they headed back down river to First Yellow, the race team took the decision to shorten the course to two laps. Ronnie Carter finished first on the water with Rob Loader second.
At Ferry mark for the second rounding, the Wanderer got past the Enterprise and finished third on the water but was promoted to second on corrected times.
Thanks to the race team - Jenny Roberts, Brigitte Mann & Gill Scott - and the jolly safety boat crew - Tom Crane, Scott Butcher & Eleanor Pond.
Racing resumes for the Spring Series on Sunday 1 February – first signal at 10.55 am.
Results:
1. Ronnie Carter (Laser)
2. Jack Mann & Ron Goggin (Wanderer)
3. Rob Loader (Laser Radial)
4. Chris Rowsell & Kathryn Drury (Enterprise)
5. Geoff Hall (Gull)