Comet Open at Taplow Lake Sailing Club

Almost flat calm from the Taplow Lake Comet open © Brian Welham

On a warm day in early May with a wind forecast to vary from 6mph down to 1mph, 5 home boats and 9 visitors started the first race in a 5 mph easterly which changed to a southerly after the first beat and finally went westerly after 60 minutes just before the finish.

Alec Reeve (TLSC) rounded the first mark with about 50 yds. lead over Brian Welham also of TLSC. However just before the end of the first lap Brian was able to pass him and pressed ahead. However, during the next 2 laps the whole fleet spread out and compressed as the wind came and went. At the end it looked as if John Windibank (Chipstead) and Nick Warren (Littleton) would catch and overtake both Alec and Brian. In the end Brian won with Alec second and John third.

The second race began with a 1pmh westerly. Alec crept into the lead and was never challenged. However, Brian Welham having been in second place for half of the one lap race was passed by John Windibank and put into 3rd place.

Thus in very light conditions it was agreed to run a third race as there were 3 people who could win the meeting by winning this race. A simple figure of eight course was set and in very difficult conditions including a total recall, Alec and Brian vied for the lead for half of the race with the eventual winner of this race and the whole event being Alec Reeve. Brian Welham was a very close second and Robin Ballam (Crawley Mariners) came in third after making a very good first beat. He was followed in by John Coppenhall (Hunts). John Windibank could only manage 6th place but this still secured himself 3rd place overall from his earlier results.

Overall Results: