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Solo Open, Chelmarsh Sailing Club; 21^st May 2006

The date might have been 21^st May, but the weather was anything but summery – heavy cloud, persistent rain, and temperatures around 11 degrees centigrade. Winds at the start of the day were light, around force 2.

The first race got off to a very tidy start, most of the fleet of 18 staying fairly closely bunched to the first mark. A short reach to the second mark saw the fleet spread out, with the first three boats well in the lead on a run, with G.Calladine ( 4393 ) taking up the rear. R Pye (4357) remained in or close to the lead for much of the race, vying for first place with C Brown (4672); by the time the fleet sailed a second long run along the lake, both boats were well ahead of the rest of the fleet, and sailing extremely competitively – meanwhile, however, C Newton (4336) rounded the mark first, taking a good lead. The fleet continued to be well ‘strung out ‘behind the lead boats, with R Cartwright (4303) recovering quickly after capsizing.

C Newton (4336) maintained a strong lead, the rain continued to pour, and at the next long run, R Pye (4357) found himself in third place but still well ahead of the remainder of the fleet, with C Brown (4672) in second place. C Newton (4336) crossed the finishing line just seconds before C Brown (4672), followed shortly afterwards by R Pye (4357); it had been clear from early on in the race that these three boats would gain first, second and third places – it was now simply a matter of the order in which they would finish.

After a very swift break by a few of the fleet, the second race began in much less heavy rain, somewhat brighter skies, a slightly increased wind speed, and with 19 boats. The start was good, the fleet once again sailing – with the odd exception – in close formation towards the first mark. C Brown (4672) was first around the mark, followed by R Pye (4357) and then C Newton (4336). It was somewhat confusing at that point to discover that there were 2 boats with the same number – 4344 – one of which was fourth around the mark, the second one following at some distance behind. The first half of the fleet went in quick succession around the second mark, and at the third mark, in first position was C Brown ( 4672 ), second was R Pye ( 4357 ), and third, the younger one of the Thursfields - Matt ( 4344 ). Once again, the fleet was well spread out across the lake, and remained so for the next 30 minutes, with very few changes in position within the fleet. In the last part of the race, it was C Brown (4672), R Pye (4357) and C Newton (4336) sailed well ahead of the fleet, with the two 4344s in close pursuit – father and son, David and Matt Thursfield. Once again, G Calladine (4393) took up the rear – someone’s got to do it! 45 minutes into the race, the committee boat went out to the finishing line. First across the line, in rapidly diminishing visibility, was C Brown (4672), followed by R Pye (4357), and in third place C Newton (4336).

By the time the third race started after lunch, the rain was lighter, visibility had improved, and the wind had increased – becoming blustery, force 4-5. There were 16 boats on the start line, one of those capsizing before the start.

Another good start for the fleet – in the much windier conditions they separated much more quickly than they had in the first two races. Around the first mark – R Pye (4357) followed very quickly by 5 further boats – this was quite a different race – those boats at the top of the fleet sailing very fast in the wind – which 15 minutes after the start of the race was howling around the clubhouse. R Pye (4357) continued to take the lead around the second mark – while the second safety boat sheltered from the wind and increasing rain underneath the trees on the far side of the lake.

First around the next mark – R Pye (4357), then C Brown ( 4672 ), followed by G Wilkinson ( 4575 ), and then some nice planning by several of the fleet. This was certainly a faster race than the morning’s had been, and more exciting for that, although again the fleet was very spread out.

For some time, an interesting race for third and fourth places between G Wilkinson (4575) and N Wilkinson (4578) – particularly in the blustery conditions, which saw Matt Thursfield’s boat sinking. R Pye (4357) remained well in the lead – the real interest continued behind – now for the second, third and fourth places – but once again – visibility became difficult as the rain again set in. First over the line was R Pye (4357), followed by C Brown (4672), and third N Wilkinson (4578), and fourth G Wilkinson (4575).

Race Four – Matt Thursfield back in competition after ‘sinking’ in the third – 14 boats on the start line. The wind was less blustery, and mainly at Force 4. A very tight start to the last race, with M Thursfield (4344) taking an early lead around the first mark, followed by C Brown (4672). M Thursfield (4344) continued to lead the fleet, which, once again, were well ‘strung out’ behind, and in easier conditions than the third race. After 20 minutes, C Brown (4672) took a good lead and again, in fourth place and battling for third place, G Wilkinson (4575). By 40 minutes into the race, there was very little distance between most of the fleet – the first instance of this during the day apart from the starts; it was also at this point that the sun came out for the first time. C Brown (4672) maintained a strong lead throughout the rest of the race – with R Pye (4357) in second place. At the finishing line, C Brown (4672) took first place, R Pye (4357) second and G Wilkinson (4575) third place.