Contender Open at Mount's Bay Sailing Club

by Rob Smith 8 May 06:26 BST 3-4 May 2025

Despite a 'take your pick' forecast and a few unlucky regulars whose boats were still in delayed container from US Worlds, 12 Contender sailors were all smiles arriving at their 2026 Nationals venue - the stunning Mount's Bay SC, to join the Ospreys.

Bill was busy raiding his toolkit to make the local club loaner sailable (obviously Tom was sailing Bill's race ready spare!), and Ed was equally busy shortening the lines on his sparkly brand new Hartley, while the rest of us were trying to work out if the view past the Mount looked stunning or foreboding!

Two mins after launch and most knew it was nearer the latter with a full power downwind NE to start area. Race 1 got away in 18 with big shifting 23+ gusts, and most blasted away following the Ospreys to the left shore. Ed led round the windward mark and reach 1, however his gybe swim was mimicked by close chasers Rob, James and at least one other casualty. Ed recovered quicker than the others and in a rising breeze with some very big dark gusts retained just enough composure to hold off Tom with Dan battling in for a good third. Left wasn't the only way to go, and the rest of the fleet either spread across course, swam more, and/or decided enough was enough.

This proved a good call for some, as Race 2 started with gusts beginning with a 3, and a few others used the first beat as part of their trip back to work out where to come ashore. Ed again showed that a very different brand new rig was quick in a gale, and despite a very late swim to give chasing Tom hope, just held on for bullet No 2. Dan again used sea skills from Hythe to hold 3rd with Dick being the final finisher in 4th. To no-ones surprise, race 3 never started, but hats off to all the less experienced Contenderers who battled for some or all of the day.

Armed with a good selection of high wind stories from the day, the great club team helped the evening along with a hearty large lasagne and well stocked bar, before eventually returning to very nearby campsite.

Sunday still had us wearing plenty for a chilly Easterly, but despite a really decent breeze for race 4, it was a well below Saturday numbers. Rob was looking good before a fully reversing last tack allowed the close gang of Tom, Adrian and Ed to round first at the top. Gary made good gains throughout as did James who was close to podium until a big swerve, dunk, & foot tie up moment at end of penultimate reach. This left Adrian following up Gaz who was chasing down Tom, however - Ed again out front taking his third straight win.

Race 5 started with raised trapeze height for some as conditions were on the change. Gary, Tom & Adrian led round in close formation for a big chunk, but as Rob tacked out of his brothers dirt after rounding at bottom of run, the big luck card dropped. Heading off left as the 3 ahead had done varying amounts of right, the wind increased and backed by 80 deg in a couple of mins, leaving Rob close reaching into top mark in space. A weird one-tack beat to the wing with side swell followed, by a rolly run to finish seeing Rob win with Adrian just keeping his nose infront of Gary.

The final race stayed mid teens at most and after a big course move around got away with some not making the pin. A tricky shifty one to finish saw Dick enjoy being first round windward mark and hold for half the reach. Rob took over and the next beat saw James back in the groove in close company with Gary. Later Gary got a bit of shift recompense for Race4 by lifting round inside Rob & others to take a lead and hold it to finish from Rob then James.

In the final reckoning - Ed had secured a good victory overall with his 3 wins in a Hartley straight 'out of the box'. The points were super close for who might be report writer, that is now evident, but Gary pipped Tom by 1 point for 2nd place.

Big thanks to all involved at Mount's Bay SC for being great hosts at their spectacular venue, we are looking forward to being back for Nationals next year. Next on the Contender Travellers calendar is Yorkshire Dales SC this weekend followed by Poole at the end of the month.

Overall Results:

Pos	Helm	Sail No	R1	R2	R4	R5	R6	Pts
1	Ed Presley	2826	1	1	1	5	Rtd	8
2	Gary Langdown	2484	4	7	3	3	1	11
3	Tom Hooton	678	2	2	2	6	6	12
4	Rob Smith	2449	6	7	5	1	2	14
5	Adrian Smith	2730	5	7	4	2	4	15
6	Dan Hollands	2477	3	3	7	4	7	17
7	Richard Buttner	2751	Rtd	4	8	7	5	24
8	Stuart Backhouse	2448	7	7	9	8	9	31
9	Rupert Rhodes	695	8	7	10	11	8	33
10	James Spikesley	705	Rtd	7	6	9	3	34
11	Graham Cooper	672	11	7	11	Rtd	10	39
12	Bill Hooton	666	12	7	Dns	10	Dns	54