Record numbers for the Maidenhead Sailing Club Summer Series 2020

Record numbers for the Maidenhead Summer Series 2020 © MSC

The conclusion of the Maidenhead pursuit summer series took place last Sunday. The format for the Sunday morning series was to have a single series with two 30 minute pursuit races.

Social distancing rules applying, changing in the car park or driving to the club in your wetsuit, tables of no more than six, new online race registration, all meant a safe series was to be had.

We had record numbers at Maidenhead this summer with 75 sailors taking part and 37 qualifying which included 21 Laser standard rigs, 12 Laser radials, 13 Solos, six Albacores two Aeros sailors as well as menagerie of others.

Our youth sailors which annoyingly seem to have come of age this year and probably due to the fact they have been sailing most days during the summer at Maidenhead dominated the series with Laser radials filling the top three spots. Entering into the final two races we had Tom Knight and Ben Osbourne tied on 17 points. 12-15 Mph winds from the SW ensured that it was going to be a fair fight.

Record numbers for the Maidenhead Summer Series 2020 - photo © MSC

With a second and a first Tom took the honours and the series. Ben held onto second with a consistent series never outside the top ten, well done to Sam Walton who has only just transitioned from the Topper third, fourth was Stuart Macadam and Sarah Mayhew, this was a particularly impressive result due to the fact the Albacores start last and to get to the front have to pass up to 40 boats.

First Solo was wily Brian Jones who has a knack of sniffing out breeze all of his own.

We have now moved back to the old format on a Sunday with a pursuit starting at 10.30 followed by class racing. This year the Radials will have their own class start due to the explosion in numbers and on the first Sunday of the month we have three handicap races for a separate series.

If you like competitive racing with a friendly atmosphere please come and join us for the winter: www.maidenheadsc.org.uk

Overall Results: