CHELMARSH SAILING CLUB SOLO OPEN 19TH MAY 2007
Photo's Sail Action
Photo's
Arrived, just in time for the start, having made the early morning tea too early and gone back to sleep.
Wind around Force 4 less windy than it had been earlier and 11 starters 5 from Chelmarsh and 6 visitors.
First race great start but Ian Harridge ( Nantwich SC ) still at the jetty.
.. still, he soon got going, and joined the rear of the fleet. Up towards the second mark very fast planing exciting! Almost at the third mark, the first capsize Gareth Wilkinson but he recovered quickly and the wind picking up.
Chris Brown ( RYA ) kept the lead last year the rain was so heavy it was extremely difficult to see across the lake quite different this year but just as windy to start with, I think. I expressed surprise that Grahame Calladine was not sailing only to hear that he had Gastro-enteritis. Chris Brown still way ahead other absentee reasons included childminding, bunion removal, and so on.
More fast planing between the second and third marks and between the fourth and fifth. The wind dropped. Andrea Wilkinson decided to get ready to join the second race, as did Martin and Sam Bunn and then the rain started!
The first race finished after approximately 35 minutes - :
Winner:- Chris Brown
Second place:- Neil Wilkinson
Third place:- Gareth Wilkinson
Second race:-
Not such a good start and Andrea was stuck at the jetty, having a problem with her boom and gooseneck. A less strong wind than earlier but nonetheless some fast planing between the second and third mark by three or four of the fleet. Once again, Chris Brown took the lead, but not such a convincing one this time and eventually Andrea joined the back of the fleet. After 25 minutes, Gareth took the lead and a battle for first place ensued between Gareth and Chris Brown with Chris taking the lead again as the wind speed increased and once again the rail fell heavily and became torrential.
When it became possible to see through the rain and hailstones again, Chris Brown had a convincing lead. Derek Bollen retired shortly after Andrea reached the jetty. Meanwhile, Gareth and Neil were vying for second and third place, with the remainder of the fleet spaced widely behind. The rail stopped, the wind dropped, the sun came out, the race ended, with an exciting battle for the line and the fleet came in for lunch much needed and very good!
Winner:- Neil Wilkinson
Second place:- Chris Brown
Third place:- Gareth Wilkinson
Chatting over lunch, it became clear just how difficult and unpleasant the conditions had been periodically during the morning races including at times the wind being cyclonic.
Third race:- After lunch, the wind had picked up again. The fleet had a good start but no Andrea she, Derek Bollen and Dave Allen packed their boats away.
:- it was very windy, and wet, at that point. Chris Brown led the race, once again, with some superb planing, almost the length of the lake from a number of the fleet.
More like traditional March than May weather, the sun came out again, the wind dropped and the lake looked beautiful, and still it was the same three in contention. Chris, Gareth and Neil, later joined by 4550 Richard Butterfield.
4595 Alastair Raynard retired after capsizing, as did 4219 Ian Harridge. That left just 9 boats in the fleet.
Winner:- Chris Brown
Second place:-Neil Wilkinson
Third place:- Gareth Wilkinson
Fourth race
A challenging starting point a small gap between the end of the jetty and the committee boat, and down to the nearest mark the start was just fine, though.
The calmest starting wind so far and the fleet arrived at the first mark then quickly spread out between the second and third mark as the rain started just a brief shower this time, and little increase in wind speed. Chris Brown led the fleet, followed closely by Neil Wilkinson.
After 25 minutes or so, the wind picked up once again and was howling around the clubhouse there were white tops on the waves, and the squalls were visible on the water it was at this point that Gareth used the wind to get from seventh to third place with an impressive following wind, just after which David Thursfield capsized whilst gybing ( known the feeling ) but recovered and rejoined the race and the wind dropped once again. Some lovely planing in this race from marks 2 to 1 during the gusts.
The last race finished at around 3.55pm just as another shower started.
Winner:- Chris Brown
Second place:- Neil Wilkinson
Third place:- Gareth Wilkinson
Kate Greene
