Challenger open meeting at Oxford Sailing Club

Race 1's windward mark in the Challenger open meeting at Oxford © Marion Edwards

Challenger sailors arrived at Oxford Sailing Club on Friday morning to find the weather forecast was correct and only a light and intermittent breeze flitting across the reservoir. However, boats were rigged, a course laid and sailors briefed before the fleet (three local and seven visiting sailors) was launched in a (very) light northerly breeze. Only two boats reached the committee boat (newcomer Tom Macintosh (125) and old hand Graham Hall (270)) before the wind died completely. Having determined that lunch could be served early, the race officer hoisted N over H and the fleet returned to shore as best they could.

During a leisurely lunch it was established that the ripples on the water were due to coots diving in search of food rather than the wind. The flags would lift occasionally and the anemometer on the clubhouse roof turned slowly reporting gusts of 2 knots. By general consensus racing was abandoned for the day; surprisingly a breeze did not spring up. As ever there was boat bimbling and polishing to be done (is it possible to over-polish a boat?), but some of the more energetic shore crew escaped to walk around the reservoir. Friday ended with an excellent regatta dinner in the clubhouse and an agreement to start early on Saturday with the aim of sailing four races.

Much to everyone's relief, Saturday morning saw the arrival of the forecast breeze, though the visibility was, at best, indifferent and remained so until mid-afternoon. Fortunately the bright orange racing marks shone through the gloom and they were soon joined by another flash of colour in the form of Red Jester (257) and the rest of the (rather monochrome) fleet.

Dean Abra on his way to victory in the silver fleet in the Challenger open meeting at Oxford - photo © Marion Edwards

The morning's races were on a trapezoidal course in a mainly northerly breeze which shifted wildly particularly around the windward mark. The first race belonged to the fleet's young gun Alex Hovden (188) who held his initial starboard tack for longer than the rest of the fleet to reach the windward mark first, followed by Diana Faulks (288) and Jack Alderdice (281). As the race went on Val Millward (257) and Graham overhauled Jack and Diana and then proceeded to vie with each other allowing Alex to extend to take the win.

It looked like Alex was heading for another victory in Race 2 as he led for two of the three laps. However, he decided to cover second place Graham which allowed Val through to take the win. He then lost out to Graham to end third. Unusually there was a dead heat for fourth between Jack and Diana.

In the silver fleet battle had commenced between Dean Abra (218) and Jane Houchin (285) with Jane holding the upper hand at lunchtime. Tom, in his first ever regatta and second season sailing, was going well and keeping in touch with the rest of the fleet. He was often in the company of the sole bronze fleet boat (Neil Bartlett and Murray Palmer (232)).

Neil Bartlett and Murray Palmer (still on buddy seat!) chasing Tom Macintosh in the Challenger open meeting at Oxford - photo © Marion Edwards

The afternoon's races used the race officer's favourite inverted P course and were held in a slighter stronger, but still northerly, breeze. In Race 3 Val had got into her stride, led at the windward mark and held it to the finish though Graham was close behind. Following some advice over lunch Dean turned the tables on Jane. Neil and Murray had their best race coming seventh, quite how Murray and the buddy seat then ended up in the water is unclear. Fortunately the safety boat retrieved Murray but the buddy seat now resides in the depths of Farmoor. In a rather more controlled way, Tom decided three races were enough and also retired.

Race 4 saw another clean start with Val and Graham extending away from the pack. On the last beat Val protected her position by closely covering Graham (too closely for his liking!) but they were not threatened as Jack and Alex were locked in a battle for third which Jack eventually won.

So it was Val's turn to take the trophy home with Graham having to settle for second, and Alex third. Dean was delighted to win the Silver fleet (on countback) from Jane (who was first Oxford Sailability boat) with Tom Macintosh third (and winner of the endeavour prize). Neil and Murray (inevitably) won the bronze fleet (but may yet be penalised by Oxford Sailability for the loss of the buddy seat!).

Thanks are due to Oxford Sailing Club and Oxford Sailability for hosting the event and to race officer, Richard Johnson, and his team on the committee boat.

Overall Results:

Alex Hovden leading the fleet down the first reach in the Challenger open meeting at Oxford - photo © Marion Edwards