ILCA Thames Valley Series Open at Fishers Green Sailing Club

Fishers Green SC held their annual Laser/ILCA open meeting on 3rd May which is part of the ILCA Thames Valley Series.

With weather forecasts advised a "predominantly steady northerly breeze veering north-east" during the afternoon but nothing prepared the race officer for the flat calm encountered an hour before the start. A delay allowed the wind to reveal itself, but it came from the west with occasional huge shifts from south-west to north-west. The oscillations caused some start-line chaos as everyone hoped the line would be true to the wind if only during the starting sequence!

ILCA Thames Valley Series Open at Fishers Green - photo © Kevin O'Brien

Race one got away rather messily in the fickle gusts, with local helm Peter Bettles getting away and keeping to the middle of the course as the breeze shifted left and sometimes dramatically right in total contradiction of the forecast. Richard held on for the win from Mike Atkinson and Simon Williams.

The same pattern continued for heat two with Richard again narrowly leading Matteo Mancini and Peter Dean from the home club before the fleet returned ashore for jacket spuds and cold lunches.

ILCA Thames Valley Series Open at Fishers Green - photo © Kevin O'Brien

For race 3 the wind had gone north/northwest big-time and increased, requiring a total change of course. This time a P-course was possible, giving two planning reaches and a run to the leeward mark. Again, the puffy wind caused a general recall as judging the start proved tricky, but this time Richard was able to tack across the fleet on port and was never to be caught despite a late charge from Mike Atkinson.

ILCA Thames Valley Series Open at Fishers Green - photo © Kevin O'Brien

Richard had three wins and decided to call it a day, after a hard workout in race 3, leaving Simon Williams to mop up the 4th race win, by just two boat lengths from an ever-consistent Mike Atkinson. Worst luck of the day came to Matteo Mancini who had water on five boats at the leeward mark but a pile-up from the outside boats saw him pushed wide and on the next upwind he was dramatically flattened by a slam gust. With all positions now clearly decided everyone headed home for the usual afternoon tea.

Overall Results: