The Bartley Beast at Bartley Sailing Club - Round 1
by Howard Eeles 11 Nov 2021 10:19 GMT
6 November 2021
Bartley Beast Open Meeting © Debbie Degge
The Beast certainly awoke for Bartley Sailing Club's first ever winter series, and one might even think he had a wry grin on his face; the competitors arrived to see a fresh breeze from a solid southwest direction straight down the lake with the occasional white caps to waves.
The course was set between the O.O.D. for the single Handed Fleet and Double Handed Fleets: Howard Eeles and Mike Gibson. After a quick briefing the double handed fleet launched ready for the prompt start at 11am.
Race 1 : Double-Handed Fleet
11 boats lined up for the start of the first race under the Z flag, which meant that everyone was a little line shy. Sam & John Knight got away cleanly at one end and Matt Biggs in his Albacore was in a good position at the windward end.
It looked for a while that Chris Martin was leading up the first leg. The fleet split with Tom and Sean in RS200 going out to the right.... more wind up the left! Downwind the two RS400s opened a lead. Unfortunately, Caroline and Tony ended up swimming. They weren't the only ones to suffer the same fate.
It was also looking good for Nigel & Freya in the first Merlin. The race finished with Sam Knight taking the win in a time of 41.35.
Once the handicap was considered it meant that positions were:
1st Matt Biggs & Mark Fowler - Albacore
2nd Sam & John Knight - RS400
3rd Chris Martin & Michelle Evans - GP14
Race 1 : Single-Handed Fleet
After watching the thrills and spills of the double-handed fleet from the security and warmth of the clubhouse 23 brave souls made it to the start line for the first single handed race.
After getting away cleanly thanks to Zulu flag, Ritchie Adams RS300, Charlie Chandler Phantom, and Rob Kennaugh RS300, along with Sam Knight Supernova all made their way to the front and rounded the windward mark. The long run back made the 300s gybe back which kept them in touch with the Phantoms and the rest of the fleet.
Following another long beat and two broadish reaches for the end of lap 1 it pretty much remained the same with a few retiring. At the end of lap 2 the Phantom of Charlie Chandler took the line but was quickly followed up by the 300 of Ritchie Adams followed by the Phantom of Olly Hopkins.
After corrected time:
1st Sam Knight - Supernova
2nd Charlie Chandler - Phantom
3rd Johnathon Woodward - Solo
Race 2 : Double-Handed Fleet
Only seven boats ventured out for the second of the double hander races.
The race followed a similar pattern to the first. The two Albacores made good starts along with Chris in the GP14.
Sam Knight started to leeward and looked for a while that he would be behind.
Once round the windward mark the RS400 took off. On leg from 2 to 5 there was very little of the boat in the water as they flew down the far side of the lake.
One or two other teams had far too much water in their boats as they suffered a few capsizes.
After a few more capsizes one or two called it a day.
Sean & Tom in the RS200 were going well until their main halyard failed.
In the end the first boat on the water to finish was Sam & John in RS400.
Once again after handicaps:
1st Chris & Michelle - GP14
2nd Matt & Mark - Albacore
3rd Sam & John - RS400
Race 2 : Single-Handed Fleet
The fleet set off again though the ever-consistent Sam Knight along with young Josh Oates in his 4.7 fell victim to Zulu and couldn't get back to the start so both decided to retire.
The fleet had asked for tighter reaches: only problem is more gybing is inevitably required and after a lap one gybe mark provided plenty of entertainment for the double-handed fleet now enjoying refreshments at the bar.
Ritchie Adams RS300 took the honours quickly followed by Charlie Chandler Phantom then John Lyng Laser and after correction:
1st John Lyng - Laser
2nd Charlie Chandler - Phantom
3rd Johnathon Woodward - Solo
Round 2 is the 4th December and Bartley welcome entries still for the Double-Handed Fleet by contacting the club.
Single Handed Results Overall
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Double Handed Results Overall