GP14 Southern Travellers and Midland Bell at South Cerney Sailing Club

Race four start during the South Cerney GP14 Open © Vernon Perkins

South Cerney SC is part of the Cotswold water park in Cirencester and its central location proved popular with GP14 crews from both the Southern Travellers and Midland Bell circuits.

Thirteen Travellers joined one local boat coming from as far as Llandegfedd in South Wales, Windermere, Staunton Harold, Brixham YC and Welsh Harp SC in London. With a refreshing rain shower to assist in rigging and very light early morning winds race officer Vernon Perkins took an early decision to raise the AP flag while the thunderstorms passed by. When a breeze settled the first race started with a beat into the narrowest part of the lake with crews working hard on keeping the boats moving. Maurice Cleal/ Romek Kowalewski (Wembley/Welsh Harp), Gavin Tullett/Jonny Stevenson (Royal Windermere YC/South Cerney) and Tony Perkins/David Hill (Frensham) showed strongly up to the first mark with Steve Cooper/Lucy Street (Welsh Harp) and Darryl Sleep/Charles Saunders (Staunton Harold) chasing hard. With the light breeze getting even lighter the RO wisely shortened the race with Maurice and Romek winning from Gavin and Jonny.

Close racing at the South Cerney GP14 Open - photo © Vernon Perkins

After an excellent lunch and with the wind strengthening the RO offered three shorter races which was agreed by all. With a triangle/sausage course set in the main part of the lake Steve and Lucy led Maurice/Romek, Maciej Matyjaszczuk/Chris Lomax (Welsh Harp) and David Innes/ John McGuinness (Frensham) up the beat with David /John coming through to third following completion of the first lap. Maurice and David then had a brain freeze heading for the wrong mark allowing a slightly concerned Steve and Lucy to take the win from a very happy Magic/Chris taking second with Tomasz Szakola /Charlie Cotter (Welsh Harp) in third.

With the wind shifting to the south the RO set a heavily port biased line which spread the fleet out for the third start. Despite the bias the CB end of the line appeared to have the better breeze and this was exploited by David/John and Tony/David with some Frensham on Frensham action up the first beat before Darryl and Charles took the lead benefitting from some local gusts on the left had side of the beat. Perhaps Darryl and Charles were congratulating themselves too much as they infringed a beating boat losing a subsequent protest after winning the race on the water. David /John took second with Tony/Derek third. So all to play for in the final race with three different race winners and 5 or 6 boats still in play for the prizes.

With the port-biased line the CB end again was favoured with Gavin and local boy Jonny nailing the start and getting away to the lead chased by Darryl and Charles, David/ John and Sharon and Paul Freeland (Llandegfedd Lake SC). With the wind beginning to soften and the windward mark in a narrow part of the lake, this made for some challenging short tacking around the top mark with Magic/Chris and Lesley Freeman/Sue Webb (Trimpley SC) getting involved at the front. Gavin and Jonny sailed serenely on to take the win with Darryl and Charles second and David/John taking third.

The protest from Race 3 caused some confusion after the race associated with the rounding up of an Exoneration Penalty. With five teams closely packed at the top of the scoreboard Gavin Tullett and Jonny Stevenson (Royal Windermere YC/South Cerney) were first from Darryl Sleep/Charles Saunders (Staunton Harold) in second and Steve Cooper/Lucy Street (Welsh Harp) in third. Darryl Sleep thanked the RO and everyone concerned at South Cerney for an excellent event.

South Cerney GP14 Open winners Gavin Tullett and Jonny Stevenson - photo © Vernon Perkins

Overall Results: