Marblehead Nylet RM Challenge GAMES 6 at Littleton with Guildford Model Yacht Club

The intense heatwave and strong easterly breeze gave almost perfect conditions for exciting racing and the Marbleheads provided a fantastic spectacle in front of the Littleton SC clubhouse. 13 races were sailed in A rigs initially, but required C rigs after the first two races.

The wind was variable in both strength and direction which made it very difficult to set the course, but after several changes a short course was established by RO Roger Stollery with windward mark, spreader and a leeward gate and a short starting line.

Peter 39 still in control under pressure with rudder out - Marblehead Nylet RM Challenge GAMES 6 at Littleton - photo © Roger Stollery

This was no problem as the twelve boat entry soon became eight on the water and then technical difficulties with the strong gusts and waves forced boats to retire from the event. This left just five boats racing. A big problem on the course was weed blown to the lowered end of the lake where we were racing and annoyingly upset everyone and their results.

ARO Martin Crysell started the first race, which was won by Nigel Barrow sailing an F6 design, followed by Peter Stollery with his UP and Rob Vice sailing a GRUNGE. Race 2 was won by Peter from Nigel and Rob third and appeared to set the pattern for the event. However Oliver, who had struggled in A rig changed down to C rig and sailing his grandad's UP was much more comfortable and won Race 3 with GAMES' leader Phil Holliday second and Nigel third. Peter won the next with Nigel and Chris Watkins sailing a Brad Gibson INDIE design third.

Rob 41 slips away from Peter 39 and Chris 70 at the start of Race 6 - Marblehead Nylet RM Challenge GAMES 6 at Littleton - photo © Roger Stollery

Races 5 and 6 belonged to Rob Vice with Nigel second and Oliver third. Rob was sailing with a conventional C rig and was the first boat with that rig to win a race and set up an interesting battle with Peter sailing with a swing rig, which gained a bit more speed by being able to tack downwind. Both were going flat out under pressure downwind with rudders showing in the gusts and having great fun and a close finish in Race 7, which Peter won.

Ever consistent Nigel won Race 8 from Rob with Oliver third. Race 9 was another tight race with the Peter winning from Rob with Oliver third, who went on to win Race 10 with his dad Peter, second and Rob third. Race 11 finishing order was Peter, Rob and Nigel, who went on to win Race 12 from Peter and Rob. After fixing a really difficult technical problem Oliver went on to win the last race under great pressure to win that final race.

Roger presenting the Nylet trophy to Peter on the left - Marblehead Nylet RM Challenge GAMES 6 at Littleton - photo © Roger Stollery

At the prize-giving Roger and in particularly Martin were thanked for running another superb GAMES event. Whilst the course was OK for the small entry, bigger events need at least a longer start line for an E/W breeze and one has been identified at the northern end of the control area.

Results:

1st Peter Stollery, GaLRS, UP 20 points
2nd Nigel Barrow, Datchet, F6 26
3rd Rob Vice, GaLRS, GRUNGE 27
4th Oliver Stollery, GaLRS, UP 37
5th Chris Watkins, Royal Temple YC, INDIE 46
6th Phil Holliday, Datchet, F6 88
7th Jim La Roche, Datchet, F6 95
8th Hugh McAdoo, Datchet, F6 106

Oliver 117 pushing it with big bend in the swing rig but no broach - Marblehead Nylet RM Challenge GAMES 6 at Littleton - photo © Roger Stollery