Course
Class 2 and John Apthorp Series start at 1300. Class 1 start at 1315. John Apthorp Series will be sailing their own course. Start will be in vicinity of Hedge End between Payasu and orange flag on West Bank
Class 1 and 2 (approx 5.5 nautical miles)
Spit (P)
Watch (P)
Boom (S)
Cormorant (S)
Romany Rye (S)
Coles Creek (P)
Wade (P)
Twizzle (S)
Colonels Hard (P)
Spit (P)
Hedge End (S)
Watch (S)
Spit (S)
Club Finish
John Apthorp Series (Approx 3.7 nautical miles)
Spit (P)
Watch (P)
Romany Rye (S)
Coles Creek (P)
Wade (P)
Twizzle (S)
Romany Rye (S)
Club Finish
Race Report
Dinghy racing this year has been beset by poor weather and this weekend was no exception as 17 hardy crews made their way down to the start in heavy rain, occasionally giving way to dispiriting drizzle. Despite the thoroughly unpleasant conditions there was still a certain degree of competitive enthusiasm and the usual suspects were joined by four cadets sailing in the first of the John Apthorp supported racing series, which is aimed to ease young people into dinghy racing on a slightly shorter course, with Heidi on hand to offer help and advice on the water.
The foursome were Harry Baldwin in a Topper, Annabel and Flossie Blake in Teras and Emily Hipkin in a Laser 4.7. Emily unfortunately lost her rudder before the start and was unable to continue but the other three sailed extremely well with Harry taking first place and Annabel in second, just ahead of sister Flossie. We hope to see lots more cadets joining in as the season progresses.
In the main fleet, Class 2 were first away with Lotte and Ella Langfeldt and Sue Wood getting a 15 minute head start on the faster boats. In Class 1, James Oxley was the early leader in his International Canoe, with Simon Whitehouse in hot pursuit, followed by Torsten Marquardt and Simon Hipkin, also in Canoes. This order was maintained for the first three legs with the boats closely bunched by the time they got down to Cormorant Creek. Hipkin, who was recovering from a capsize just before the start, steadily pulled through on the beat up to Spit to take the lead with Whitehouse gradually pulling away from Oxley as the race progressed. The real threat however came from behind, with the Wayfarer of John Summerfield eventually taking first place on handicap, with Dom Jacobs second in his Aero7. Simon Hipkin managed third on corrected time with Lotte and Ella putting in a sterling performance to finish fourth and fifth respectively in their Laser 4.7 and Nimbus. Simon Whitehouse was sixth with Sue Wood also having a good race finishing seventh in her Laser 4.7 pushing the Canoe of Oxley back to eighth. The remaining Canoes were happily having their own battle at the back of the fleet with Torsten in ninth, Tim Wood tenth, Warren Martin eleventh, Chris Nelson twelfth and Anthony Wood thirteenth.
Despite a thorough soaking, a good time was had by all and spirits were revived by a convivial lunch kindly organised by Caroline Wilberforce.
Results
Harry B in Topper Bluey2 crosses the finish line in the junior section.