Comet open meeting at Shustoke Sailing Club

Comet open meeting at Shustoke © Lorna Foley

Shustoke Sailing Club hosted its Comet Open on Sunday 13th July under blazing skies and soaring temperatures as the summer heatwave showed no signs of abating. Sunscreen was applied liberally, hydration levels were questioned, and boats were rigged in a haze of optimism and mild heatstroke.

Fortunately, a cheerful easterly breeze swept straight down the length of our 100+ acre reservoir, giving sailors something to work with and providing some relief from the heat.

While visitor numbers were few with just two intrepid Comet travellers, this was more than made up for by a number of home-grown "ringers" who either fancied their chances at silverware or just couldn't resist the charm of sailing "such a great little boat". Several local hotshots—Cole, Jamie, and Harry (usually found leading the Solo fleet), and Paul, a known Laser and Enterprise aficionado—dusted off borrowed Comets with suspicious enthusiasm. There were mutters of, 'How hard can it be?' from people who really should've known better.

The race team, in a heroic feat of multitasking, managed to set a suitably challenging course and run club racing alongside the Comet event, proving that yes, you really can herd cats... if the cats are in dinghies and somewhat competitive.

As if the wind couldn't quite make up its mind, it varied in both strength and direction all day—just enough to keep sailors in a constant state of alertness and confusion. If that weren't enough, clumps of weed lurked beneath the surface like aquatic snares, demanding frequent de-weeding of daggerboards and rudders.

Race 1

Dave and Paul leapt off the start line like men possessed, pulling away up the first beat and never looking back. Behind them, Cole, last year's winner, found himself lingering near the back but staged an impressive comeback to finish third keeping his hopes alive. With the shifty breeze, tactical decisions were already proving critical.

Lunch

With spirits lifted and sunburn forming nicely, the fleet came ashore for a fabulous lunch served by dream team Dav and Rachel who manned the galley all day with endless good humour. They kept the troops fed and hydrated in the kind of conditions where just buttering bread can feel like a cardio workout in the galley sauna.

Comet open meeting at Shustoke - photo © Lorna Foley

Race 2

Refuelled and lightly roasted, the sailors returned to the water for back-to-back races just as the breeze grew more playful, varying in both strength and direction. Add in the ever-present clumps of weed—which latched onto daggerboards like enthusiastic toddlers—and things got... interesting.

In Race 2, Harry led the charge around the first buoy, trailed closely by Dave and Paul. Dave edged ahead but on the second lap Paul spotted a gust with his name on it, took the lead and covered effectively all the way to the finish. Ben, visiting from sunny Baltic Wharf in the heart of Bristol, took a well-deserved third, showing that visitors can indeed challenge the locals.

Race 3

Everything came down to Race 3: a showdown between Paul and Dave. Paul led early but picked the wrong side of the second beat, allowing both Dave and Cole to slip past with the smug satisfaction of those who chose wisely. Positions held... almost... until Jamie staged a perfectly-timed coup to sneak into third at the finish.

Elsewhere, Ben was capsized by a rogue gust but he recovered swiftly and with impressive dignity (though perhaps fewer points). Meanwhile, local sailor Nigel had his best race of the day, sailing with the lead group throughout. Shout-out also to Henry, who made the long journey from Beer, Devon to sail consistently well throughout, representing the visiting fleet with style and stamina.

Comet open meeting at Shustoke - photo © Ria Burgoine

Teas, Trophies and Thanks

It's obviously not all about the winning, but the day was rounded off with prize-giving and a most welcome afternoon tea, where cake was consumed faster than boats rounded buoys. There were whispers that the cake alone was worth entering the Open for and everybody was sent on their way suitably sugared and sun-toasted.

Huge thanks to the race team, safety crews, and of course, the galley—without whom there'd be no sailing, no sustenance, and certainly no sarcastic reports.

In summary:

• Glorious weather
• Challenging breeze
• Aggressive aquatic vegetation
• Great racing
• Excellent cake

All in all, a fantastic day of sailing, sunshine, and friendly competition. We look forward to doing it all again next year.... perhaps with a little less weed, a little more wind and a few more boats.

Overall Results: