Please select your home edition
Edition
Sailingfast 2018 728x90

Comet Open at Burghfield Sailing Club

by Chris Robinson 22 Apr 19:44 BST 20 April 2024

Thirteen competitors entered the Comet Open at Burghfield Sailing Club on Saturday 20th April. There was a strong breeze with squalls followed by calm patches which were very shifty. Consequently, there were a few capsizes throughout the fleet during the day.

For race one, which was held in the strongest wind, the line was biased with the pin end favoured. Ben Palmer was right on the pin and went into the lead. Eddie Pope and Alistair Stagg also started at this end and were behind Ben at the windward mark. Jacky Stagg, Chris Robinson and Peter Mountford followed. A squall resulted in a fast plane down to the leeward mark and Alistair was caught by the boats behind. The top positions looked settled by the end of the first lap. However, at the first mark of lap two the wind became very fickle. Ben, leading got around in wind and sailed off into the back of the Solo fleet never to be seen again. Eddie kept in second place, but places three to five changed at the mark and then downwind. On the beat and final run Chris caught and overtook Eddie.

In race two the line had been adjusted and was square. Those that went up the right-hand side of the course were first to the mark: Jacky followed by Chris and Eddie. Sailing up to the second windward mark the fleet bunched and Alistair, Peter, Ben and Michael Ettershank joined the lead group and there were many changes of position. Coming onto the final run Alistair was leading, but Michael was right behind him. However, Alistair was able to hold off Michael until the leeward mark at which point the shorten course flag went up and Alistair held the lead for the short beat to the finish.

In race three the left-hand side of the course was favoured on the first beat despite the Solo fleet running down from the windward mark through this part of the course. Eddie and Chris took this sideand were first around the mark. Chris dropped down the fleet, eventually being caught by Peter who took second, Michael who took third and Alistair who was fourth.

In the final race there was no clear leader all the way up the first beat. Eddie was first around the first mark followed by Peter. On the run the lead group elected to take the two islands to windward despite everyone taking them to leeward the previous three races. This proved to be slower and the lead group were caught, but not overtaken by the chasing pack of boats. However, the fastest route turned out to be between the two islands and this route was only taken by Jacky and it allowed her to take the lead. During the course of the second beat and run the leading group were caught and by the start of the second lap the order was Eddie, Alistair and Chris. The fleet spread out and no further changes in position looked likely. However, approaching the finish the wind dropped and became fickle allowing Chris to get behind Alistair who was trying to break cover with Eddie to get the top position. Eddie finished first, and a tacking duel ensued between Alistair and Chris, with Alistair just holding on to second place.

Overall Results:

PosSail NoHelmClubR1R2R3R4Pts
1377Eddie PopeOgston SC33115
2579Alistair StaggBowmoor SC61427
3323Michael EttershankUp River YC42389
463Chris RobinsonBurghfield SC275310
5864Peter MountfordStaunton Harold SC562411
6597Ben PalmerBaltic Wharf SC156612
7894Jacky StaggBowmoor SC7411516
8694Alun BevanMerthyr Tydfil SC997723
9765Roger HarrisonRedditch SC8891025
10849Tim HiggsBurghfield SC10108927
11174Meg WarrenChipstead SCRTD11101132
12868Helen EvansSilver Wing SC1112121235
13800Henry JaggersBeer SCDNCDNCDNCDNC54

Related Articles

Comet Southern Aphelion at Littleton
15 entrants from 11 different clubs Littleton SC played their joker for a great sailing day for Comets after a year away from the venue. There were 15 entrants, 4 from the host club and 11 from 10 other clubs. Posted on 21 Sep
Comets at Crawley Mariners
After a windless start, much to the RO's relief a moderate westerly wind settled in Seven visitors travelled some considerable distances to Hedgecourt Lake for the Crawley Mariners YC Comet open meeting on Saturday 14th September. They were joined by four home boats for the racing. Posted on 17 Sep
2024 Comet Nationals at Merthyr Tydfil
An excellent turnout of 29 competitors An excellent turnout of 29 competitors plus supporters arrived at the stunning rural location of Merthyr Tydfil Sailing Club, for the 2024 Comet National Championship. Posted on 8 Sep
The Comet Dinghy: A Best-Kept Secret?
A small, light, single-handed dinghy that offers exciting and rewarding sailing The Comet is a small, light, single-handed dinghy that offers exciting and rewarding sailing. Whether you're close racing with other Comets or simply sailing for fun, the Comet appeals to an amazing range of people - juniors, ladies and gents. Posted on 3 Aug
Cransley Comet Open
An unusually warm northerly welcomes the fleet What a miserable year so far in terms of weather! Well, for one day at least, the gods looked down on our wonderful reservoir in Northamptonshire and welcomed 10 visitors as well as the 7 from the home club to a unusually warm northerly. Posted on 17 Jun
Comets at Carsington
They won't forget this day in a hurry! Seven intrepid souls decided to tackle the strong wind forecast at the Carsington Comet Open on 9th June 2024. It was a day where rig choices came into play. Andy Dale, Ben Palmer and Chris Robinson opted for the full Standard. Posted on 16 Jun
Winsford Flash Comet Open
Fantastic conditions for the 20-strong fleet WFSC hosted the Comet Open on Sunday 18th May 2024 in fantastic weather, the sun was out 20d heat and wind was blowing from the North 6.3kts at the start of the day later switching to North East wind 5.8kts with 13kts gusts throughout the event. Posted on 30 May
Comets at Shustoke
Some sailors arrived before the club even opened and rigged outside the compound! Shustoke Sailing club hosted its second Comet Open on Sunday 19th May in glorious sunshine and a pleasant north-easterly breeze blowing diagonally across the 100+ acre reservoir. It was going to be a good sailing day! Posted on 24 May
Comet Association Championships at Silver Wing
18 boats entered from as far away as Beer, Merthyr Tydfil, Ogston and Winsford Flash Silver Wing Sailing club hosted the Comet Association Championships over the weekend of 11/12th May. We had 18 boats entered from as far away as Beer, Merthyr Tydfil, Ogston and Winsford Flash. Posted on 17 May
Comets at Fishers Green SC
Sparkling conditions, although could have done with a bit more wind Fishers Green SC held their annual Comet open meeting on 4th May, as part of their travellers' series. Comets from 8 different clubs enjoyed sparkling conditions although we could have done with a bit more wind! Posted on 9 May