Blithfield Blast 2020 at Blithfield Sailing Club
by Michelle Keeling 3 Mar 07:54 GMT
1 March 2020
Blithfield Blast 2020 © Pete Slack
Sunday 1st March saw Blithfield host the 'Blast', an extra event in the calender to make up for the loss of the final round of the legendary Blithfield Barrel winter event.
All eyes were again on the weather forecast, as yet again high winds were being predicted. Even so on the morning a hardy bunch of sailors undeterred by the 20mph base wind & sustained gusts in the mid 30s rigged and prepared to do battle!
The event was billed to be a fun pre season friendly and as such did not disappoint. Race officer Alan Skitt set a simple two-beat-two-reach course for maximum grin factor and we were off.
Race 1 was won by Andy Couch crewed by Martin Couch & Andy Frayer in the VX1. Second place was taken by Joe Scurrah sailing a Laser Radial and third by Sam Knight & Chris Bownes in a RS400. Towards the end of race 1 the anemometer was happily hitting the 40mph mark, the reaches becoming somewhat hairy!
Race 2 started in similar conditions to race 1 but was this time won by Sam Knight & Chris Bownes in the RS400, second was the GP14 of Richard Instone & Adam Froggatt and third place was taken by Joe Scurrah in his Laser Radial.
The final race was set to be a showdown between the RS400 and VX1 both with a win, with the latter retiring in race 2 with string issues (don't let the helm tie knots). Unfortunately in race 3, at the end of another flat out reach the RS400s rudder decided enough was enough and snapped in two. Leaving the mighty VX1 to Blast home to victory. The GP14 of Richard Instone & Adam Froggatt took second and the Radial of Joe Scurrah again third.
Back on shore the big grins were masking the aching muscles. A proper Blast was had by all who ventured out! Thanks to everyone who attended and to our sponsors Harken, Hartleys, Birmingham Dinghy Services, Freedom Brewery and Creation Covers.
Blithfield Blast Results:
1st VX1 Andy Couch, Martin Couch & Andy Frayer (Blithfield)
2nd RS400 Sam Knight & Chris Bownes (Bartley)
3rd GP14 Richard Instone & Adam Froggatt (Chase)
Full results at www.blithfield.org.uk