Comet Trio Inland Championship at Cotswold Sailing Club

Comet Trio Inlands at Cotswold © Glyn Rawson

Comet Trio Inlands at Cotswold © Glyn Rawson

Sunny weather and high pressure greeted the competitors for the Comet Trio Inland Championship held on the May Bank holiday weekend at Cotswold Sailing Club.

Eleven Trios signed up whilst Race Officer Pete Workman created a course suitable for the light winds. All the excitement of the nice weather led to a General Recall on the first start. The second attempt was much better behaved and the fleet got away cleanly. 410 Purple Haze went left whilst most of the fleet stayed right. 4 boats rounded the windward mark together and by the next mark Purple Haze was in front! The end of the first lap had Purple Haze in the lead followed by 433 Mango Groove, 474 spook and 385 Sunrise. Purple Haze held the lead until just before the finish when Mango Groove moved into the lead. 398 helmed by Stuart Bush came through for third with 474 Dave & Steve Whittle in 4th. A late arrival increased the numbers for the weekend to twelve.

Race 2 began in light airs again and Purple Haze went left again - it didn't work this time... A select group of 3 boats consisting of Mango Groove, Red Baron and Contagious got a gap and stayed out front most off the race. Purple Haze and 398 chased hard and swapped places all the way round with two marks to go the chasing pair got a puff and closed on the 3 lead boats. At the final mark Red Baron, Mango Groove and Contagious got involved in some 'tactics'. Red Baron and Contagious went off to do turns and Purple Haze slipped through for 2nd behind Mango Groove, Contagious came 3rd and Red Baron 4th. At the end of day one Adrian & Tracie Padro sat solid at the top of the leader board with two firsts and Brian & Denise Weatherley in 2nd with two seconds.

Comet Trio Inlands at Cotswold - photo © Stroud Aerial / www.stroudaerialfilming.co.uk

The hard working galley crew provided an excellent meal and Bob & Anne provided a great quiz.

Day 2 dawned with the wind coming the other way down the lake. No problems with the start and 398 disappeared up the lake never to be caught. Red Baron and Contagious followed him around, Mango Groove snuck up to third for a while but was caught again before the finish.

Race 4 started straight after and Contagious got a good lead followed again by Mango Groove and 398. Purple Haze was 4th but was quickly caught by Red Baron. Mango Groove passed Contagious on the last lap for their third win of the series. Contagious was second followed by 398 and Red Baron. Ariel 365 came 5th for the second race in a row.

Everyone retired to the clubhouse for chilli and to work out the numbers needed in the last race.

No problems with the start and battle commenced. Mango Groove showed their dominance of the event and led all the way round. 398 and Red Baron tussled all the way round and Red Baron came 2nd and 398 3rd. Contagious came 4th and Ariel 5th for the 3rd race in a row.

Tea and cakes followed with the prize giving.

Adrian & Tracie Padro (Mango Groove) won the event with 4 wins in 5 races followed by Stuart & Rory Bush (398) in second. Richard Sallis and Carole Williams (Red Baron) finished third beating Bob & Anne Presley by count back. Brian & Denise Weatherley (Purple Haze) finished 5th after the short lived glories of day 1.

The winners thanked Cotswold SC, the race teams and galley crews for an excellent weekend of close racing.

Overall Results: