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Hyde Sails 2024 - One Design

Mirror Open at Whitefriars Sailing Club

by Nick Charles 2 Jul 07:54 BST 21-22 June 2025
Whitefriars Mirror Open Prize Giving © Ron Vass

15 Mirrors arrived at Whitefriars Sailing Club, in the Cotswolds Water Park, to be greeted by tropical temperatures, but less wind than forecast.

After the briefing, the fleet launched into a drifter. Race 1 was held in about 3 knots, Nick and Edie Charles took an early lead but, after an embarrassing roll tacking capsize, were swiftly back in the pack. The single-handed sailors took full advantage with Bob Presley winning, with Jewels Vass in 2nd and Hannah Blore with 3-year-old daughter Hester in 3rd.

For race 2 the wind had filled in closer to the forecast, and was now a solid 8-10 knots. James and Merris Date took full advantage of a massive right shift up the 1st beat and were never challenged. Nick and Edie came through to a comfortable 2nd followed by the other half of the Charles family Juliet and Seb.

After sailing everyone enjoyed the heat and sunshine, especially those camping. The club ran its traditional model boat (on a string) race, and many enjoyed this alongside a fish and chip dinner.

Sunday dawned with yet more heat and more wind. In race 3, Nick and Edie rounded 1st, but James and Merris slipped past. Hannah and Hester again sailed fantastically in breezy conditions to take 3rd.

For race 4 an attempted a port flyer caused a little chaos. Juliet and Seb and Scott and Eryn Bonner took full advantage, before James & Merris and Nick & Edie managed to get past - finishing in this order.

James and Merris therefore won with a race to spare and decided to sit out the last race as did the Blores / Bonners. This left the Charles' to take 1st and 2nd (in a surprisingly light wind race), followed by Chris Hargreaves leading the pack of single-handed mirrors.

All in all Whitefriars where fantastic hosts and everyone had a great weekend - thank you! I'm sure many will be back next year...

Overall Results:

PosSail NoHelmCrewR1R2R3R4R5Pts
170967James DateMerris Date5111163
270961Nick CharlesEdie Charles422215
370810Juliet CharlesSeb Charles836328
470537Bob Presley 18716412
569746Hannah BloreHester Bonner36371612
669929Alan Bennett 7455514
771026Chris Hargreaves 151586317
870648Scott BonnerEryn Bonner119441617
970972 Ron Vass 61099722
1070606Jewels Vass 2516161623
1159254Derek Butterworth 1314108624
1270126David Benjamin 9716161632
1339305Suzanne Ems 101516101636
1469000Mark Holden 121116161639
1571040David Palmer 141215161641

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