Contender TT open meeting at Oxford Sailing Club

Contender TT at Oxford 2016 © Julie Howe

Contender TT at Oxford 2016 © Julie Howe

Contender TT at Oxford 2016 © Julie Howe

There was a good turnout of 18 boats to this year's open. Under the auspices of a very professional race committee there was some very tight racing in light airs. The usual suspects attended the open meeting: Stuart Jones, the Nob-Tag team and the Weston boys.

The first race started off in shifty and very variable winds. As the weekend progressed condition did not improve. The Green Floaty thing powered by the formidable brain of Mr Bean, known as Stuart Jones, showed us how to play snakes and ladders on the beats whilst avoiding the serpent.

Rumour had been circulated that the Weston Sailing Club Boys were in top form. Mike Murley did not disappoint and locked horns with Jones throughout the whole six races. Jones finally won the series and Mike came second in his new very fast Italian boat.

Third and fourth positions was an internal contest of the highly dysfunctional Nob Tag team. Embracing the principle, like a Laurel and Hardy sketch, they entangled their rigging on the first start.

However such a highly professional team cannot be kept down. Nick Noble (Nob) showed he was the alpha male and out of the start banged hard the corners several times. God shined upon him, results followed.

However unlike Mike's new boat Nick's Italian machine has magnetic properties, and through no fault of his own, people hit him! Obviously this has a negative impact on positioning.

Whilst Nick was taking his punishment his team mate was having a very consistent series. At the end of the series they both had equal point with Nick winning 3rd place on count back.

Team Oxford; the outcast Carl Tagoe, Chris Howe and Tony Brooks obtain 4th 5th and 6th place respectively. Chris Howe's performance on the last race was jaw dropping. We thought that the pressure of being in second place had got to him and consequently he had gone on a solitary walk about on the left hand side of the beat.

Due to the earth curvature that's the last we saw of him. Rumour has it he got first place!

With thanks to Martin Hough and the race team for putting together a great set of six races over the weekend.

Contender TT at Oxford 2016 - photo © Julie Howe

Overall Results: