Challenger open meeting at Scaling Dam Sailing and Watersports Club

Challenger open meeting at Scaling Dam © Carl Wood

Unfortunately for various reasons, it was a much depleted Challenger fleet that congregated at Scaling Dam Sailing and Watersports Club during the weekend 21-22 June for their Challenger Open Meeting. There were only three visiting sailors and two youth club members taking part. However, the lack of sailors was more than made up for in the very warm welcome and hospitality received from the club members.

After an evening in the "Jack and Jill" sampling their food, it was a reasonably early night for all. The wind was building and the local wildlife was active. The campers didn't have the most restful of nights.

Everyone was ready in earnest for Saturday's racing to start. The club's weather station had a base wind of 20kts from the south which gave gusty and shifty conditions. It would be champagne sailing for those who could hack it.

A triangular course was set for the first two races of the day. Val Millward (312) had "a dream start" for the first race with Duncan Greenhalgh (280) chasing. Caz Jerromes (313, sailing a boat kindly loaded by the club) and Cody Braithwaite (5) trailed behind in their own battle. After six dizzying laps, Val prevailed over Duncan, and Caz over Cody. Fifth was Dan Westbrook (51) who, at only 13, was struggling in the conditions and wisely decided to return to shore.

In race 2 it was business as usual at the front of the fleet with another one-two for Val and Duncan. Cody was gifted third when Caz's rudder came off and she was forced to retire. She was very grateful that the rescue crew retrieved her before she hit the dam wall but was disappointed knowing she had used her discard.

The sailors returned to shore and lunch. Duncan said he had recorded over 12kts on the reaches. He wasn't sure of the maximum as he either couldn't see because his eyes were full of water or he was concentrating on keeping the boat in the water!

Challenger open meeting at Scaling Dam - photo © Carl Wood

After lunch the course changed to a figure of eight. This did nothing to help Duncan as Val made sure he was behind her at both finishes. Cody and Caz continued to battle it out for third place with Cody taking it in race three and Caz in race four. Dan rejoined the fleet for the last race, wisely bringing John Tate with him as a buddy (which immediately gave him the win in the bronze fleet!).

So at the end of day one, Val was on four points and Duncan on eight. It was theoretically possible for Val not to win but with only two races scheduled for Sunday it was unlikely. Cody and Caz were on equal points, with Caz leading by virtue of her third in race four, so all to sail for on Sunday.

The fleet adjourned again to the "Jack and Jill" for their evening meal where Cody demonstrated his eyes were bigger than his stomach!

Challenger open meeting at Scaling Dam - photo © Carl Wood

On Sunday it was touch and go as to whether sailing would go ahead. The wind had swung south westerly. Initially the strength was similar to Saturday but it was building. The race officer had a long, unfulfilled, wish to set an inverted P course but was happy to cancel if the sailors wished (of course they didn't wish!).

So with the inverted P course set, race five got under way. Duncan chased Val hard but to no avail. A disastrous start saw Caz stuck on the start line watching helplessly as the others neared the windward mark before she got herself moving. Fortunately for her, at the end of the first lap, Cody found himself stuck in exactly the same manner and could only watch on as Caz not only caught up but overtook him by an unassailable margin - unless she got stuck again. She didn't so continued to take third.

Dan and John raced with a reefed sail ("out of class" the purists will cry!) and did well to complete the race.

By that point the safety boat had recorded a gust of over 40 knts and the committee boat was being tossed around like a cork on steroids. The sailors were given the option of race six but to the relief of the race management team they declined and six wet and weary sailors returned to shore.

So it was an emphatic win for Val and Duncan had to settle for second. Caz (just) got the better of Cody to take first in the silver fleet. Dan was awarded first in bronze.

All the sailors thoroughly enjoyed themselves and were very grateful that the event went ahead so a big thank you to all the volunteers at Scaling Dam, particularly the race officer, Ian Holden. Thanks also to Annie Molyneaux, visiting shore crew, who organised the willing volunteers on the beach and helped with running repairs.

Val Millward wins the Challenger open meeting at Scaling Dam - photo © Carl Wood

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