GAMES 2 Marblehead Open at Three Rivers Radio Yachting Club

Despite the wind blowing across the lake at 90 degrees to the control area, the Three Rivers Race Team gave competitors eleven races, which were both frustrating and exciting at the same time. Half the lake nearest the control area was a mirror finish with the wind only showing on the other half of the lake.

RO John Male set a zigzag course in order to introduce some beating and running with a long close reach to the first mark. With the wind blowing through the trees both its direction and strength was very variable with very little wind nearest to the competitors.

Luck played its part and allowed all but one of the competitors to win a race. Trevor Judd started the scoring by winning Race 1, followed by wins by David Cole, Tom Rodger, Austin Guerrier, Tim Townsend and Tony Guerrier in Race 6.

This was the last race before lunch and was welcomed to break the tension of searching out every slightest bit of wind that there was.

GAMES 2 Marblehead Open at Three Rivers - A keen start with the top 3 boats nearest - photo © John Male

The lunchtime leaderboard had Roger Stollery at the top, although he had not won a race, but finished second in every race that counted, scoring 10 points, followed by Austin Guerrier and Tim Townsend with an equal score of 17.

Austin was the unluckiest skipper sailing and in one race he was 1st to arrive at the final windward mark, but in no wind and frustratingly he started drifting backwards, whilst several boats following, with more way on, sailed past him.

Luckier in the afternoon was Roger whose technique was to bear away into the stronger wind for the long reach and overtake boats closer to the bank in less wind. He counted two firsts and a second place in the final races.

GAMES 2 Marblehead Open at Three Rivers - Tim Townsend (R) receiving his prize from Commodore Graham Sadler - photo © John Male

This was an event more to do with sailing skill than boatspeed. Wayfarer sailor Tim Townsend, soon due to sail in the World Championships in Florida, who borrowed his brother's 20 year old conventionally rigged ROK and sailed it really well to finish third overall, beating all but two swing rigged boats. Likewise Roger's DIY UP proved that there are lots of designs that can compete with the best.

At the prize-giving Roger thanked the Race Team organising another successful interclub event in the GAMES series.

Results:
1st Roger Stollery - Guildford - UP - 15 points
2nd Tony Guerrier - 3 Rivers - GRUNGE - 24 points
3rd Tim Townsend - Medway YC - ROK - 29 points
4th Austin Guerrier - Datchet - GRUNGE - 31 points
5th Tom Rodger - 3 Rivers - PRIME NUMBER - 41 points
6th David Cole - 3 Rivers - GRUNGE - 50 points
7th Trevor Judd - 3 Rivers - STARKERS 3 - 50 points
8th John Carter - 3 Rivers - ROK - 57 points
9th Dick Grainge - 3 Rivers - STARKERS 2 - 62 points

GAMES 2 Marblehead Open at Three Rivers - Austin 68 and Roger 117 having a good race at the final windward mark - photo © John Male