Woo Led Hat Overall at Harlow (Blackwater) Sailing Club

With a solid 18-22 knots from the East the concluding 2 races were set to be a cliff-hanger, with Jacko still looking for the missing boot sailing with the master crewman Alan Wigg, who is taking time out from fishing, coming together to take on the challenge of two wins to take 1st overall in the series on what was a Fireball day. Unfortunately the club F men where nowhere to be seen, not even in the Club bar which left the task to Keith Fedi sailing the Finn to do the business of spoiling Jacko’s day and seeming how Keith had seen off Jacko in there last windy encounter the race was on.

Jacko and Al wining the fist start but slow to bring their Rocket up to the pace needed, sailed well enough and pulled out the required time on Keith. Keith sailed a tactical race keeping out of the tide on the south side and was looking comfortable until a whoopsy at the jibe ended with time with the fishes.

Ron and Laura had a good day with the minimum of stress having found the art of de-powering the rig and nearly starting with the others, showed some up wind breeze boat speed and facing out Jacko and Al half way up the windward leg of the second race. But with spring about to start could not resist a spot of gardening and the planting of foils in the mud, but nevertheless showed a building of control in a beefcake sailing day.

Shane Deppe second time of coming to the start line, with replacement crew Andy, again showed a gamely spirit pushing an older Merlin that’s showing a good turn of speed but sadly not cutting the custard and getting an entry into the Diving Duck competition on losing control trying a leeward overlap to push Jacko and Al “would you believe” over the line at the start.

The wining team on the day was Mark Marshall and a welcomed returning visitor from Fishers Green who teamed up with Mark Batt who, sailing a Fireball and quickly, overhauled the fleet to sail off the horizon and take the two wins of the day which deprived Jacko and Al, but left Martin Tarling sailing a Laser, who was away skiing, the overall worthy winner of the series.

The Woo Led Hat 2006 Series has been a corker of an event sailed in the sheltered salty waters of Lawling Creek in winds 12-26 knots South to North, a tad cold but in a warm spirit from a well run Race Box with a host of sailors giving up time to enjoy the sailing misfortunes of the competitors and on their behalf I would like to thank all for their support in the patrol boats and galley and Race Box.

Overall Results:

1st Martin Tarlin 9pts
2nd Jacko and Lorna and Al 10pts
3rd Keith Fedi 17pts