Mirror Coaching & Open at Chipstead Sailing Club
by Chris Swinchatt 13 Oct 2006 09:00 BST
7-8 October 2006
Fourteen boats turned out for the Chipstead Mirror open and coaching weekend © Sophie Poston
Guy and Joe Wilkins win at Chipstead
Fourteen boats turned out for the Chipstead SC Mirror Open and Open Coaching Weekend on Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 October. This event was a South East Area Zone Squad event for juniors which saw seven junior teams taking part.
On Saturday eight crews enjoyed a good coaching session in brilliant sunshine and gusty winds under the excellent supervision of RYA race coach Ned McNulty. The main topics for the day were starting and boat speed off the start line. The fresh westerly breeze of 12-15 knot winds gave enjoyable sailing as the crews spent most of the day on the water.
Sunday dawned with bright sunshine but no wind. However, by the time the first race was due to start a southerly breeze of 6-10 knots had filled in with gusts of 12-15 knots. This remained the picture for the day.
The first race was won by Jamie Clementson from Chipstead, helming at his first open meeting with father John crewing, after Guy and Joe Wilkins, also from CSC, had lead for most of the race. Chris and Christopher Swinchatt finished third after a close battle with Ceilidh and Mairi Higgs from Herne Bay and local boat Rob and Michael Ellis. Ceilidh and Rob could not be separated on the line so were given 4th equal.
The second race again saw Guy and Joe lead from the start to win with Jamie Clementson chasing them all the way and finishing second after a close tacking dual to the line. Chris and Christopher Swinchatt were third and John Peterson from Whitstable fourth.
In the third race Ceilidh Higgs from Herne Bay was first to the windward mark closely followed by the rest of the fleet. By the end of the run Guy Wilkins was back in the lead, a position he kept to the finish. Jamie and John were second followed by juniors Alex Lloyd and Patrick Minister in third.
Overall Results:
1st Guy & Joe Wilkins (CSC)
2nd Jamie & John Clementson (CSC)
3rd Chris & Christopher Swinchatt (CSC)
4th & 1st Junior helm & crew, Alex Lloyd & Patrick Minister (RYA)
5th John Peterson and & Hannah (Whitstable SC)
6th Ceilidh and Mairi Higgs (Herne Bay SC)