Please select your home edition
Edition
Allen Sailing

Vane 36R Leech Cup at Fleetwood Model Yacht Club

by Tony Wilson 4 Jun 2019 11:16 BST 1 June 2019

With a favourable weather forecast looking to be dry, although light winds again we had the chance to test our vane fitness. For some it may seem wise to train a little with a couple of gentle short jogs, for when the boat just heads off on its own course and you suddenly find you're chasing the runaway.

Although at least two of our favourites for winning were away, we had a couple of new entries to the game. David Foster had been wisely testing out his latest vessel somewhere up near Barrow and Mike and Sue Parkington had also joined us for the day.

Four club boats put on their largest rig for a slight breeze, that was just gently fizzling in from the road side. So the idea was to go fixed vane and crab along on a reach near the footpath if possible.

David just a little nervous on the start block was asking Tony, "now what do we do?" as he had never raced his against another boat. No fear as it just went fine and maybe Tony should have been asking Dave as he steamed up the lake to the other end.

Mike was sailing against John and he also secured a few points in either direction. It looked like the new boys were showing us what to do, but that's fine. Eric A was helping David and doing most of the running and Bob and Darren were also manning the far bank for Tony and John.

Mike and Sue were then to race Tony and Bob. It was on the return leg that Mike's boat decided to do a 180 degree turn and head back to the start. Then Tony's boat did something similar, while Mike's turned around again and headed up to the finish, Tony remained stranded and it was only after 20 minutes of threatening recovery with a fishing rod, that it decided to drift in to the side.

It wasn't looking too good for Tony as he hadn't made the score card yet and still had to race against John just before lunch. John wasn't doing much better, but he beat Tony.

After lunch the wind had got up just a touch and it looked like we could chance broken vane as the wind was coming from the far left of the lake. It fluctuated to the right corner now and then, so kept us guessing all the while.

Three of the boats were sailing with the well respected Walter Jones vane gear. Eric A was now really getting into knowing how vanes work and able to tweak these works of art as his Skipper had been driving his boat 'Naima' to that far bank. Usually the Skipper wants to take control but Eric A was doing a brilliant job. Eric Watkinson our Race officer was telling us that the boat was a Vic Smeed Krispie design, originally planked with strips of Kellogs Rice Krispie carton, but as it wasn't April fools day, we have to believe him.

By the end of the day and after all sailing a second round it was David that won the cup, hardly dropping a leg and with team Parkington in second place. They had gained lots of points and we hope they return for more of the fun in three weeks time.

When chatting with Eric A about how it all works, he said that it's probably better that they don't know, as they had done just fine.

Thanks goes to all on the day, for those that helped with poling and to our Vane captain with the score cards Eric Watkinson.

Results:

1 Dave Foster 26 pts
2 Mike Parkington 17 pts
3 John Plant 14 pts

Related Articles

DF95 Summer Series at Barton's Point week 6
Penultimate event runs in a warm breeze with big waves 10 Boats raced in the penultimate East Kent DF95 summer series event in a stiff but warm 17-18knot breeze and big waves using a mix of B and C rigs. Posted today at 5:31 pm
Emsworth Sailing Club Radio Sailing Regatta 2025
Ten DF-95 yachts raced in near perfect conditions Monday 8th September saw the first ever Regatta for Radio Controlled Yachts, on Emsworth Millpond. Ten DF-95 yachts raced in near perfect conditions, sunny and a good breeze, with the occasional big gusts which knocked some down like skittles. Posted on 15 Sep
MYA Scottish District IOM Championship
The conditions vindicated the decision to postpone the event from two weeks previously Eleven skippers from six clubs thoroughly enjoyed the sunshine and SSE/SE wind that gradually built from mid-A rig in the morning to top end B rig by the end of the event. The conditions vindicated the decision to postpone the event. Posted on 3 Sep
2025 BOTTLE boat championship at Waldringfield
Juniors outnumber the more experienced sailors This event went extremely well with 15 races sailed in front of the clubhouse and with juniors outnumbering the more experienced sailors. Posted on 23 Aug
DF95 Summer Series at Barton's Point week 5
Dave Adams returned with a vengeance Dave Adams returned with a vengeance for the 5th event of East Kent RSC's DF95 summer series at Barton's Point Coastal Park, reclaiming top spot. Posted on 23 Aug
MYA IOM Northern District Championship
Rain is needed now, not sun, at Weecher RSC 23 entries for the revived IOM Northern District Championship held at Weecher Reservoir on Sunday 17th August was a decent turnout and we look forward to building the numbers as this event becomes a major fixture in the racing calendar. Posted on 21 Aug
DF95 Summer Series at Barton's Point week 4
Usual front-runners missing, and holiday paddleboards appear instead A balmy 7-11 knot south westerly and 9 members turned out for 13 races, missing normal front end runners Dave Adams, Mike Brand and Rob Owens. Ralph Wilkinson officiated and Alan Hounsell set the courses. Posted on 16 Aug
DF95 Summer Series at Barton's Point week 3
Radio sailors at the Isle of Sheppey were hoping for the forecast sunshine As storms hit much of the country a consistent 12 knot south westerly with sunshine was forecast for Kent. The reality differed, with 30 degree swings and shifts, and all strengths from flat patches to B rig conditions. Posted on 9 Aug
I.O.M Summer Series round 8 at Lincoln
Even at peak holiday time there were 13 skippers bringing One Metres The Lincoln Radio Sailing summer series is white hot competition, even at peak holiday time we had 13 skippers turn out for round 8, boosted with the welcome visitors of Ben and Hayden Wallace from Huntingdon. Posted on 4 Aug
DF95 Summer Series at Barton's Point week 2
Gradient wind fought with a sea breeze causing the wind to box the compass A light southerly gradient wind joisted with a weak northerly sea breeze causing the wind to box the compass for the second East Kent Summer Series event. 12 members turned out, with Ralph Wilkinson race officering. Posted on 21 Jul