Access Dinghy Open at Frensham Pond Sailing Club
by Jim Morley 23 Apr 2010 13:10 BST
21 April 2010
Frensham Sailability Access dinghy open © Mike Durston
Once again Frensham provided a challenge to 28 entries from eight sailing clubs in their annual open for Access Sailability dinghies. These were backed onshore by a small army of helpers both local and travelling supporters. A gentle but shifting north east breeze dominated a cold but sunny day. Four races were sailed back to back with a lunch break midway. The furthest travelled visitor was from north Yorkshire and the event was supported as usual by a big contingent from Rutland Water Sailability.
Four variants of the Access design raced in separate starts; ranging from the single-handed 2.3 dinghy to the larger single-handed Liberty, to double handed and single handed races for the medium sized 303 Access. The Liberty class was quickly dominated by the visitors from Rutland but on a tricky day of wind shifts, local Frensham helms took the honours in the other three classes. Linday Burn a long term Frensham member from the early days of the club made short work of the 2.3 contest with three wins and a second place. Runner up went to Frensham sailor Monique Foster, with Sussex Sailability’s Pat Jackson third.
After lunch race officer, Graham Howlett, relaid the racing course taking into account windshifts sometimes exceeding sixty degrees. This seemed to play even more into the hands of local helms. At the end of the day top Frensham sailor, Paul Holzheer, had won the single-handed 303 event with fellow members: Paul Phillips and Tessa Watkiss, second and third. In the two-handed 303 class Frensham did not have it all their own way. Local duo: Peter and Peta Etherton won the series, but second and third places were claimed by Rutland.
To qualify for Access competition entrants have to be subject to a recognised disability.
These included paraplegic sailors with sophisticated electronic controls, as well as others with a variety of medical and accidental problems. None of this made any difference to the skills on show. These, both tactical and boat-handling, were as polished as any able- bodied regatta.
Prize giving and the traditional Frensham tea followed, and in conclusion Brian Lowe of Farnham Weyside Rotary presented Frensham Sailaibility with a cheque for £500 to go towards helms expenses when attending the World Championships.
Overall Results:
Access Liberty
1st Clare Andrew (Rutland SC)
2nd Dave Durston (Rutland)
3rd Ric Cassell (Swarkestone SC)
303 Double handed
1st Peter & Peta Etherton (Frensham)
2nd Chris Emmett & Malcolm Kirk (Rutland)
3rd Andi Garcia & Ian Macnair (Rutland)
303 Single handed
1st Paul Holzheer (Frensham)
2nd Paul Phillips (Frensham)
3rd Tessa Watkiss (Frensham)
2.3 class
1st Linday Burn (Frensham)
2nd Monique Foster (Frensham)
3rd Pat Jackson (Sussex Sailability)