Race Report - Sunday 25th September 2011....

A brilliant morning greeted the Fleet today. Several regulars absent for some reason but we still mustered six boats at the slipway. I suppose that we maybe had 10mph of breeze and it crept up to 13-14mph as the race session progressed. The Big Deal in town though was that Mike and the Admiral had borrowed the drop-dead gorgeous, wood decked 3342 for the day. It looked just amazing....stunning even. (See the FF Blog for photos...)

Howard and Richard were still replacing boom outhauls at gone ten, and were last in but made it !!!

There was a large 29er event on at the same time today, so we were captive of the south end of the lake. It was an odd course, and for a change laid to starboard. There was a huge pin end bias which meant the last few seconds got a bit frantic. Mike and Phil, aka "The Woodentops", in 3342 were just slightly too early at the pin and had to peel off down the line, leaving Howard/Richard, The Humes, and John/David to smack their way up the right hand side of the beat. It was a one tack beat really - almost a fetch.... At the top mark, it was Howard/Richard then The Humes, John/David and The Stensons all in pretty tight order - the Woodentops lying fifth.

It was one of those "get in front, stay in front" kind of days (Mark and Tony get them all the time....). I was about to say that we didn't get much overtaking - a bit processional.... but not so. The Woodentops flew downwind in that old silver, and passed two boats to get into third. The boat was a bit reluctant to go uphill though, but on our olympic courses that might suit well.... It turns out that the VC is swooning about the boat understandably, and would consider selling both his other two boats in order to buy it. This is a major problem, as our fleet would lose its "largest UK fleet status" if he did so!!!!

Race two got away cleanly too. The VC, being all muscle, ripped the genoa turret clean out of the Wooden Marvel and they had to retire. Doesn't know his own strength sometimes.... Roger and Tony went off coaching... so the four other boats took off. The course was reversed to port rounding and things did not go at all well.... The beat was still hopeless, and Howard/Richard almost used the wrong gate - and anyway crossed last in the final moments (pity - we had prepared a timed run into the other gate!). A couple of tacks and we were at the top mark - The Humes in a super first place, followed by John/David, Howard/Richard and The Stenson Family. It was good fun, but I think we just stayed like that all the way round. Leg two became almost another boring tight fetch, and we had a couple of boring runs. Not very pleased we were.... And getting around that windward mark was a tricky approach actually - it was lying pretty close to the wall and you could only really come in from the left.

It was a pretty good day though - plus McLaren's Jenson Button came second in Singapore.... so an excellent day for the Country !

Datchet Race Report - Bank Holiday, Sunday 28th August 2011...

As a Bank Holiday weekend, the Club was as quiet as the grave.... except, that is, for the Flying Fifteen Fleet!!! Despite seasonal absences, we had an excellent 7 boats racing today.  Breezes were Westerly, probably 8-12 knots and as fickle as can be.....!!!  Today was pretty much all about reading the shifts upwind, but the downwind legs were not without their moments!!  

The PRO laid a short 15 second line in the moorings, which was novel but seemed to work just fine. We had to dodge Osmo at the outset and it was a fabulously long first beat right over to Windsor Castle, thankfully using as much of the lake as they could manage!! The first race got away with a small pin end bias, and Mervyn/James, Roger/Tony and Howard/Richard got a bit locked in down there.  Hiking across to the pier, we found that Thames were suddenly pumping in large volumes of water (thank you, Rain Gods!!), which with volumes of water coming out in an unseen direction caused havoc in the apparent wind there. We all got hammered by those who tacked off for Windsor early. Coming off the middle of the line and at the top mark, it was The Humes making the pace. The Millars were right there with them, as were Mervyn and James.  Howard and Richard were not at all pleased, rounding fifth - and I think a very grumpy Admiral Firth may have been 6th.

On the next reach, Howard/Richard pulled out past a few and I think hit second place by the wing mark.  There was a right old tussle going on in mid fleet as Dom and Non-Dom set about opening a handsome lead.  Up the second beat it was again so easy to pick the wrong path. Mervyn and James leapt up into second, ahead of Howard/Richard, The Millars and The Admiral, sailing today with celebrity crew, Richard Stenson. 3536 went left on the long, long run downhill, but The Humes, Howard and Richard and the pack went right - a much better breeze out there on this occasion.  Mervyn, fighting a new but slipping spinnaker halyard cleat, ate spray and dropped into third. Somehow in the following bit, the Admiral crept past to the third position and that's how it finished. Words aboard 3536 have not been published.....

Race two took off in similar conditions, but the fleet trying largely to take the centre of the line to avoid the water melee off the pier head. Osmo escaped again, and the fleet took a more right handed track toward the top mark. This time The Admiral had made no mistakes and was right up there vying for the lead with the Humes.  Then a little shift here and a little veer there, and the Humes were through and away.  A fierce battle commenced between The Admiral with Richard Stenson, and Howard and Richard. Tacks were swapped and at very close quarters the pair of boats approached the top mark. Both tacked on to port to lay the mark with the Admiral ahead. Howard and Richard opting to sit on the Admiral's stern port quarter as the mark arrived, effectively locking down the Admiral. This was never going to stop Mike and Richard who threw in a tack to starboard right on the mark - much shouting and Zimbabwean swear words, but Howard and Richard squeezed past - then a puff in the big black spinnaker and they were gone.... Lots of place changing in the pack in this race I would say - and at the finish, after an ever so tight and puffy spinnaker reach, The Admiral took 3rd, The Millars sailed really well into 4th, Mervyn/James 5th (Still cursing that slipping halyard....), John Watling in his fabulous woody (going worryingly quickly for a first race) was 6th, and Roger/Tony a close seventh.

The VC was apparently touring rowing venues for a summer holiday .....     

Datchet Race Report, Sunday August 14th - Fickle, Fickle, Fickle!!...

Considering it's holiday season, we had a great turnout today - 9 teams competing!! Even the VC was back aboard The Admiral's Barge after a long absence - and seemed to be pretty clued up as to what the fluffy sail was for!! In fact, Mike said they passed someone on every single downwind leg of today's racing and it was superb spinnaker work wot did it !! Quite right, but I was told in the Bar afterwards that it was the same boat that they passed on every leg - ha ha ha !!!

Well - it was really quite an attractive day. Thirteen Wayfarers were having an Open Meeting and that all looked very good. Won by a team from my old Club at Medway I'm told. We had 10 knots of westerly breeze, but it was shifty and picky as can be. And the undoing of many.....

Race one got away with a pretty strong pin end bias, with many of our number plumbing for the Committee Boat end - but it was one of those days where the swings were so big it might have been committee boat when you tested it!! Best start at the pin was a closely contested affair between Steve and Simon (sailing excellently today) and Howard and Richard. The fleet picked it's way up the middle trying to figure out the best path. At the top mark, Mark and Vice Cap'n Hanson took the lead by two boat lengths from Howard and Richard and with Steve and Simon in third. The fleet was already a bit strung out in the fickleness of breeze. Within about 80 yards, Howard and the big black spinnaker had munched past Mark and John, and pulled out maybe three or four boat lengths of lead. No obvious shouting aboard 3860 to their credit !!! It stayed like this until the second beat - Howard and Richard took to the middle, and Mark and John just 100 yards to the right, and with the rest of the fleet (!) roared past!! Howard and Richard found themselves about 5th and out of the game. Mark never lets a chance like that go and popped off into the distance as usual !! At least when Tony's in the boat, it goes a little bit slower...!! To be honest , I'm not sure of the placings and timings for the finish (I couldn't see that far ahead) - you'll have to check the "Last Sunday's Results" button on the Right Hand Side of this webpage.

For Race Two the line was a good bit squarer - Steve and Simon made another tip-top pin end start, closely followed by the Admiral/VC and Howard/Richard on Starboard and right in the groove. Howard and Richard split tacks and well ..... went all pear shaped again somehow. HQ is at a loss to explain where that beat went, but they popped out at mark one in about seventh. Mark and John looked well away with it but there were some excellent performances in the pack. I've mentioned Steve and Simon, but The Stensons sporting a Hayling number 60 on the bow (average age in the boat?!!) were having a really good day. Roger and Tony also were ahead of both The Admiral and Howard/Richard at various times and their boat looked in good shape going upwind today. Mervyn and Callum (he of the gashed head!) were also right on the money in Race Two - so some very pleasing performances to be seen today (3934 excluded!!).

It's Helen Selden's birthday this week. Twenty Fifth, I'd say ! Next time you see Helen, just raise your eyebrows and snigger slightly when you say, "Good Morning!" !!!

Datchet, The Admiral's Race Report - Sunday August 7th

Sailed the first race only today having a lunch to attend (on Sunday! Highly unpopular)

VC not available so I sailed with Mark! Mervyn with Callum, Andy with Mark, Roger and Tony. It was a super morning - some sun and a lovely if somewhat flukey wind, F3 gusting 4 and a tight first reach which rewarded those who resisted the temptation to put up spinnakers. All were roughly on the line for the first start with Andy in particular going fast and pointing high. He was first at the windward mark and then up went his spinnaker. Firths caught up by the end of the first reach and were ahead at the lee mark after a splendid planing run. . Wind flukes made the next two beats chancy but we maintained sufficient lead to the finish. Andy and Mervyn fought closely over second place. (I think Andy made it).

John Watling was there with his beautiful woody but did not race.

Datchet Race Report - Sunday July 31st....

Quite a few of the Hayling Competitors are starting to return now. We had six boats racing today in a stunning sunshine setting - bright, bright light and a breeze that was .... fickle...!!!! Most of it we sailed in Force 1 or Force 2, but on one spectacular reach a couple of us were planing madly!!

Race one got away on time, with a considerable committee boat bias in the shifty conditions. Mark and Mike got a great start at the committee boat end with Howard and Richard about a boat length off their transom (not a good place obviously!!), the other competitors strung off the line a little. It was a close beat along the whole length of the reservoir (admirable!) though and the Firth Team rounded first, followed by Howard/Richard, The Stensons, then Mervyn and Callum, Andy and Mark, Roger and Tony. The placings remained pretty steady on the first lap, then on the second beat Mervyn/Callum went left and it paid HUGELY - they leapt to second. On the run down, Howard and Richard went wide and made up lost ground. All three leaders rounded tightly together... Mervyn went left again, and Howard/Richard did likewise a few seconds later - but got the inside of the curve.... leaving Mervyn/Callum for dead basically. Then that was it... At the start of the last pair of reaches Mervyn and Callum spiralled off somewhere....letting the big Stenson boys through. Mark and Mike won it handsomely by a minute, with Howard and Richard as close as they could manage... Then the pack was the best part of a leg behind another two minutes later - The Stensons got third.

Race two saw another racecourse-wide shift and an apparent bias appear at the pin end. Howard and Richard were right there on the gun, only to meet Andy and Mark trying a port flyer. Much consternation followed. None of this seemed to phase the Firths who started some way up the line somewhere and once again wriggled away. This time though, Mervyn and The Stensons did a great job of the beat and rounded ahead of Howard/Richard and Andy/Mark. It stayed like this until the second beat - Merv went left again, of course - straight into a hole - taking I think, The Stensons and 3378 with him. Howard and Richard nipped up the middle on the shifts and once again found themselves getting close to the elusive Firths. On the run the gap closed some more, but just not enough......Mark and Mike took it from Howard and Richard by 25 seconds, then the rest of the fleet headed by Andy and Mark were 160 seconds behind that - a huge gap it must be said. "Two horizon jobs", says Howard.....

Racing Cancelled - Steve and Phil take the British Championship

Racing was abandoned today, so the final result is on four races with one discard.

Big waves and strong breezes for the first couple of races suited Steve Goacher and Phil Evans. They also had a fabulous draw in the flights on day two seeing many of the strong challengers together in the other flight - there is a God after all... !!!!!

So the British title goes to Windermere....!!! In second place were Russell and Tim. Third and fourth were tied on points between Charles and Gavin in the magic boat (right on minimum weight!!) and Greg and Mark.....from memory I guess Charles and Gavin have it on count back!

So the BIG one is to come next... The met office breeze forecast is better too. Australia need to up their game to keep the title... Get all your Ashes gags ready!!!....

Sent from my iPhone

Race Report - Sunday 3rd July....

A funny thing happened today – the VC turned up to sail! Even the Admiral looked bemused. Obviously the Admiral's son and wet Mumford declined to sail, but there was wind – despite the dire forecast – at first at least!

Stensons (with repaired boat after being boarded by the Admiral – helms! Honestly – you can't leave them alone!) and Midnight Rog made up the field. Multitudinous Cadets filled the lake, and bizarrely 4 (yes 4 49ers ! Who knew we had 4 that ever sailed?) who chose to "train" halfway down the second reach, and a lone 18' skiff (which looked like a Marlin seeking mackerel (cadets?).

An enthusiastic run at the line by the Admiral's Barge, saw them at the wrong end as the gun went, but at least they had speed? Stensons had the best start, with Rog delayed in irons by the committee boat. The beat was a bit fluky, but the Barge rounded with a good lead – only to sail into a huge hole, and have the exquisite pleasure of the Stensons slide by and Rog nearly board them! The Admiral was NOT impressed – how had the crew got them into this mess!  The Barge rallied, rounded the wing mark and found the 49ers playing some sort of sheepdog whistling game on the race course! Bit odd! After a reasonable second beat, the Barge had eased away, but as the wind died on the run, there was a long wait for the "shorten course" as they tinkled down to the leeward mark – knees aching. It duly came (thanks Mike and Vicki!!) and we all retired to the lunch queue – cheered up by the Cadets finishing lunch as we came in!

Next Sunday is the Hughes Regatta – rumours of 18 to 20 boats! How wonderful will that be!! 

 

An Innocent Bystander

Race Report - Sunday June 19th....

Brilliant day today!! Really nice, vigourous Force 4, bright gleaming sunshine (well, in parts....) - and no rain, so Tony at least turned out today !!! Yes - we had a cracker....!! I can't think how many weekends in a row now we've had great breezes - plus the water is still very high in the lake. So fantastic all round really.

Nine boats racing today - Helen and Vice Cap'n 'Anson were missing, also the FC and Midnight Rog with Tony C. Andy Murphy is on the road still and not coming back till after Hayling, I would guess. The Classics all stayed ashore but most of the rest of us were out there.....

And it was not as if the day was without incident either. We had one key player carted off for stitches (see item below), and maybe a couple of bumps at the corners - one of which resulted in a corker of a hole in The Stenson's boat. "Crunch" it went at the last wing mark of the day, and the boys managed to limp over the line - well done!!! However, the challenge is that Richard and David are off to Hayling soon, so need to get the hole made good - so a pretty quick trip to P&B is called for.

The Stensons were noteworthy for something else to day - their shiny new Epsilon mast. They are both a right chunk of beef in their own right (!), and their old Superspar flopped round on their boat like over-cooked spaghetti. It seems it developed a lateral crack virtually all around the girth right where the mast ram/puller attaches. So just below deck-line and out of sight (a lesson for us all). They were lucky to find it ashore while packing - could have been a lot trickier.... Those days of floppy mast are gone, and they showed cracking good speed today. Yet more competition for Mark and Tony !! And that's what Mark and Tony needed today - they did a couple of demonstration sails. Really excellent.

Race One was started a bit promptly for a few of us - we'd only just arrived at the line and the one minute popped off. So all a bit frantic - the fleet seemed to get away alright though riding the strong committee boat bias. Mark/Tony chugged up the left with Howard/Richard and it was these two first around - but the pack snapping right behind them. It might have been at this point that Mervyn/Callum had a set to with The Millars - and all this stitches-in-the-head mularkey happened. It certainly looked a bit busy back there - a fair bit of shouting going on. Mysteriously our triangle-sausage-triangle yielded three (good) beats and five runs - and no three sail screamers at all. Boo !! Actually, to be fair I don't think the PRO could have got the wing mark any further over. Pity - it would have been a cracking three sail day. We did though use the whole water today - which was bliss in itself.

It was a good workout and there was plenty happening in the main part of the fleet - a right old time actually. However, Mark and Tony relentlessly pulled away and put in a fine win - with a good margin over Howard/Richard. Then the main fleet was miles away - I think it may have been Andy and Tim next (Club Results not posted as I write...)

Race Two pushed off in a slightly declining breeze (sans Mervyn). Few of us noted that the favoured end had swung to the pin - suddenly Mark and Tony shot off down there, and Andy/Tim had a great pin end flyer. The fleet generally went right, except Howard and Richard who went left - being so well served there in race one. Yuck!! - it was ghastly over there and H&R rounded buoy one in very last place!! Mark and Tony were around first again, with Andy and Tim very hard on their heels. At the end of reach one, Howard and Richard nipped the inside berth at the wind mark and passed a couple of boats just there. As usual, The Admiral with Neil Palmer did very well up the beat and had an excellent third behind 3378. There was a bit of surfing to be done, but not too much place changing I believe. Up the last beat, Howard and Richard scrabbled past Mike and Neil and shot off down the reach trying to catch Andy. The last time at the wing mark, the main fleet was very bunched. The Admiral got the inside berth, but somehow in the hoo haa forgot to sling the helm across and all I could hear was, "CRUNCH".... It was a bit more than a touch.... Mark and Tony were miles away, Andy and Tim took second, Howard and Richard third. I'm not sure how the pack sorted out after that kerfuffel at the wing mark - we'll have to see when the results come out.

Then it started to rain,... so Tony pushed off home....!!

"Hey, Hey - We're the Wimpies....!!".....

Race Report - Sunday June 12th:-

Did you know that "Mumford" is from an ancient Anglo-Saxon word for "I've just looked out of the window and it's raining - so, Mark, I'm not sailing!!! Go have some breakfast!!..."

Yes - it was a grey, dismal, rainy 7knot day when we all arrived at Datchet this morning. Mind you - it was chilly, cold too - just 10 degrees...... In fact, it didn't stop raining from the time I crossed Reigate Hill until I crossed it again in the other direction going home. I had forecast Force 3 gusting 5 and there was simply no sign of it. It was beginning to seem that Tony Mumford had the right idea. We had five boats on the slipway, and Roger and Tony looked at the joy of it, and headed for home. Then there were four....

Three of our star teams - Helen and Vice Cap'n 'Aaansford, The Stensons, and Mervyn and James were all at the Southerns at Parkstone - so our numbers were severely depleted. (More of the Southerns in a moment...) So we headed off for the start area in miserable little breeze, water dripping down necks, etc - and then.... the breeze kicked in !!! The gusts were plentiful at the far end of the lake - the club anemometer recorded 22knots, but we were thinking we had a bit more down there. The stable breeze was F3-F4 and South Easterly. Sharing the water with 14 Musto skiffs, we had an unusual course. A brilliant beat, right the length of the reservoir at the far end, then a left handed course. Unfortunately the placement of the wing mark (for race one) was such that we got two runs and a two sail reach. Not optimal, but then PRO'ing from Osmo on a shifty day can be difficult...

We had a short 25 second line and even then it got quite busy. John Basford was teamed with the Admiral and made a great start at the pin, with Howard and Richard just in front, pushing them up - a few inches between them and many polite requests for room at pretty high volume.... Steve and Simon, and Andy teamed with Dave Freeman went right and did pretty well out of that. Steve and Simon were extremely concerned about a mainsail crease from the second batten pocket, but it didn't seem to slow them down much. At the top mark, it was Andy/Dave, Howard/Richard, John/Mike, Steve/Simon - all pretty close. The reach was something of a run, and bagging to starboard we held sequence around the wing mark and barrelled off down a pretty good blaster of a two sail reach. Gaps changed, but I don't think positions did.... Howard/Richard closed on Andy/Dave at the bottom mark. Up the beat then, Andy and Dave went more left, and Howard and Richard went for the wall. The breeze over there was horrible quality - right dead under the flight path. However, it curled along the wall and saw Howard and Richard pull out a short lead by the top mark. Into the sausage leg, a run again, then the breeze was kind and a little more distance went in between the two - then... in a puff of spray they were gone. In beat three, the wall was again the side to go - more ghastly aircraft swirls, but yet the correct route. The reach was still a run, but the two sail fizzer to the finish was great - a proper honker in fabulous breeze - but Howard and Richard were about a leg ahead by this time and well away with it. "A horizon job", as Howard says.... Andy and Dave were second, well ahead of Steve and Simon - with John and Mike fourth.

It was pretty miserable out there, and we were all wet and cold. Steve and Simon were the first to head for the bar. The PRO wisely decided to shift the wing mark for the new breeze, but it took a while. Andy and Dave were the next to shiver and cave in as we flopped around waiting for the start signal. Howard, Richard, John and Mike all grinned gamely at each other to signal how very much we were enjoying it.... and sadly still no start signal. The PRO was very kindly waiting for the 15s to reappear, but of course they were headed for burger and chips.... Suddenly John and Mike uttered the terrible words, "we're going back" and instantly common sense kicked in. So the fleet headed for shore....

We made up for all this in the Bar, of course - and suddenly Vice Cap'n 'Anson appeared and all victorious. Much to tell us about he Southern Championships. 34 entries and Helen and John got a creditable 22nd. Setting aside Mervyn forgetting his tally - they all had a great first day. 18-22 knots of breeze and fabulous rolling waves. Day Two was a clanger - blown out completely in 30 knots plus, so the fleet headed for home. Charles got two firsts and a third in the magic boat. A very encouraging boost for him going into the Hayling Championship. He's a great friend to our fleet, and wed' all cross our fingers for him but we're all shivering too much. John thinks that Steve Goacher and Phil Evans were fourth. Other points - Helen and John were using a new red P&B spinnaker which John says is just fabulous - very full on, but tall shoulders and can be carried much higher. Looking forward to seeing that on the Lake soon. The Stensons got a cracked mast I think, so will turn up with a shiny new stick pretty soon.... Don't know why our fleet doesn't just put in a bulk order with Selden....

Tony - on balance, you did the right thing..... perhaps 'Mumford' is from the Greek for "Smart man in a tent..."

Stop Press!!... from the Southerns....

High winds stop play! A win for Charlie after 3 races sailed in champagne conditions on Saturday. The fleet assmbled on Sunday at pyc to be greeted by an overcast sky with up to 30 knots with rain. After a slight delay the PRO abandons racing, difficult to hold the umbrella and sail!

Keith Jamieson

Race Report - Bank Holiday Weekend, May 29th....

Miracle of miracles - we had yet another corker today !! It was Bank Holiday half term and the Club was exceptionally quiet. We had just six flying fifteens racing and there were but a couple of handfuls of other boats. The breeze though was a cracker - 18mph gusting mid twenties! Not as much as last week, and the course was a tad inaccurately set today - with a two sail reach and a couple of runs basically. Nonetheless, we had brilliant racing... The Stensons were back from family commitments, and Mervyn brought along a visitor, Ralph Singleton - who turned out to be a bit scarily good on the racecourse. The Admiral donned his special Musto top - always a good sign - and teamed up as bowman for John Basford in the Club Boat.

We had an anxious time at 1015 when the Datchet Watersports people turned up at the jetty with a van to casually launch their RIB - just at the critical time we were trying to get the keelboat fleet in for the start of racing. Then they left the RIB in the middle of the pontoon and drove off - leaving us to move it to a socially acceptable place. I'm surprised it didn't get cast adrift, frankly. Many harsh words were spoken, but it didn't seem a very well considered plan on their part, nor too good for their company image. Letting the race fleet get out a few minutes ahead would have made all the difference. Sometimes you could wonder if the Club is run for Members or for Staff.

In the end, we had some great and close racing - we had three podium teams on 5 points each at the end of the day - Mark and Tony, Mervyn and Ralph, Howard and Richard..... This is how it went :-

The start of race one suffered from a late shift making the pin end exceptionally biased. The fleet was slow getting down there, and Howard and Richard unusually put a quick hitch in at five seconds and crossed the fleet on port. I'm not sure where John and Helen started but they just nipped around that weather mark ahead leaving the rest of us breathing their spray !! ... Howard and Richard were round next, then Mervyn and visitor Ralph Singleton. Mark and Tony rounded fourth. The reach was questionable as a three sailer, but by the wing mark we were all kited - the gaps were really quite small and the speed pretty high. Reach two was disappointingly broad, but fun nonetheless as we were all pretty tightly packed in. The top three boats steadily pulled away and by the second beat, Mervyn/Ralph, sailing as if possessed, crossed Howard and Richard into second. The run was a bit of a surfer and pretty great in the gusts. At the leeward mark there was again only a few boat lengths between the top three. Up the beat the last time,.... and there is a God - Howard and Richard pulled ahead of Mervyn and Ralph once more. A shifty day - it was all down to the shifts.... The reaches were Champagne fun once more and Howard and Richard surged right back on John and Helen - but that's the way it stayed at the line with about two boat lengths between them. Very close - just five seconds apart after forty minutes racing.... Mervyn and Ralph got third, and Mark and Tony fourth. When Tony was asked about the race later, he said something like... ummbergullumph..... Glad too know even our heroes have a bad day occasionally.....!!

Start two seemed to have a little more breeze, but the pin had to be moved back - even then we had a deeply biased line. Ralph, steering this time, and Mervyn cut through on a port tack flier and did very well out of it. Mark and Tony were right on their heels, and pretty soon had grabbed the lead. Try as they might, Howard and Richard could not get past Ralph and Mervyn. There were several fun attempts, but no deal....!! Slightly further back we had John and Helen working the boat up on their 2009 sails... (!). Last week we had Bob and Andy moor up to a mark to cheer everyone up - this week it was the turn of Richard and David Stenson to do the same - high entertainment !! They clearly feel that John Hanson pushed them into it, but frankly, and full of sympathy, the rest of us just cried with laughter..... Then some great but broad reaches, and at the gun it was Mark/Tony, Ralph/Mervyn, Howard/Richard, John/Helen, The Stensons, then John and Mike.

A Tip-Top day's racing.... John and Helen are off to the Southerns, so it'll be three weeks before they're back to beat us all again - you'd all better turn up the next two weekends!!

Phwoar!! - ( The Sound of this Sunday's Race Report ....)

May 22nd

Some people might have described today as a bit changable - cloud, rain and bright, bright sunshine all made an appearance. One thing that was there all the time, was solid, huge, great slabs of breeze!! Yes - for the fourth weekend in a row, Datchet served up an absolute stonker of a race day!! When we rigged up, it was 18mph gusting 23 - by the time we raced it was 24 gusting 35 and all in startling, stunning sunshine - oh, what a day....And our water seemed so clear and clean. Heaven knows where Thames got it from, but it made seriously bright, white spray. Lots of it....

The Club was deserted actually - just loads of nomadic windsurfers in their motorhomes with that distant look in their eyes. And us - slightly mad looking to them, I imagine. The results sheet (click on "Last Sunday's Results") is hilarious - a Contender, a Laser ... and the Datchet Flying Fifteens. We had seven boats rig... I don't think John Basford made it to the line in the end. Pity - he would have had a blast! The Admiral and the VC also decided they were too young to die, and stayed ashore. Who else missed a treat?? - Andy and Nadia, The Humes, The Stensons (just right for them) and Midnight Rog. We have noted all you duvet-huggers!!

For the first time in two years, we got our special (flatter) spinnaker-for-honkers out. An amazingly good "Apthorp" rigging tactic. It was brilliant!

The PRO, Mike Clapp, set us a superb FFing course. A tough, grade 1 accurate beat, with three sail and two sail reaching and just glorious boat power on all legs. Race one blasted out of the gate, and the fleet shot up that first beat. It was quite a haul, I must say. John and Helen pulled out all the stops and, I feel, sailed really superbly. They chugged away leaving Richard and Howard then Mark and Tony in their wake. The first reach was really full on - blood curdling power, and spray a major hazard. Bit wet up front I thought. Probably....

At the wing mark we slung the boats around, but the next leg was best served as a howling two sail reach. The sort that takes your breath away,... if you have any left. The next beat saw Mark/Tony nudge in front of Howard/Richard - not much in it actually. Then the run saw John and Helen take the honest course - Mark/Tony and Howard/Richard slipping out to the right looking for the gusts. Well, the gusts set in from the left, didn't they, seeing John and Helen surge away. I think it was at the wing mark this last time that Mark and Tony did a keel inspection!! Much (sympathetic) laughter aboard 3934, who also promptly fell in. Anyway - "if we'd only dropped before the mark, we'd have had 'em..." - etc etc. Once we had all recovered we tore off on reach two which had become a terrific two-sailer. John and Helen were sporting their brand new Selden Epsilon which has absolutely no scratches on it plus, to Helen's delight, it says "Selden" in big letters down each side to remind her of who she is on the reaches. It wont be as stiff a mast now as it was yesterday... And that's the way it stayed through to a storming finish line (we end on reaches), making I imagine an amazing sight aboard the committee boat. I can't actually say how the places for 4th, 5th, 6th were settled. Too much spray on my glasses.

Aboard our boat, we both pulled back muscles in race one, so were pretty tender for Race 2 .... and then the breeze stepped up.... Mervyn and James had popped ashore to replace spinnaker sheets which were losing their sleeving in the pressure. We zipped out of the gate in nice bunch - Howard and Richard tacked off to the right. A disaster leaving them with loads to do. At the top mark, it was 3860 around first, John and Helen right on their heels, and then a right old mularkey - in a Force six we had a nested port Starboard sequence of three boats on the mark, with Steve and Simon pushing over Howard and Richard and they in turn bearing down on The Millars - pushing them onto the mark. Just picture the three boats with as much power as they could handle and about 6 inches apart! Storming stuff - I'm told by Mervyn, laughing as he did so, that Andy and Bob caught the mark with their spinnaker sheet and moored up - possibly with a Force 6 gybe in there.... Howard and Richard surged out under Steve and Simon's bow - and that was that settled. Spinnakers up and we were off down the wild surf ride of reach one. Well, with all that going on, 3860 and 3536 were well away. We all tried pretty hard to catch up but Mark and Tony really showed what 40 person-years less in crew-age can do on a day like that! They sailed superbly. At the last rounding of the leeward mark, all three boats were actually quite close up together - maybe three or four boat lengths between each of the first three places. Howard/Richard held tightly in the box, tacked away - and the rest of the fleet did very nicely thank you up the right hand shore. However, the placings were held though and we set out on the final reach - 3934 in all sorts of disarray sailing flat out with the windward spinnaker sheet tight around the main boom end after the gybe ready to garrott the team. Mark and Tony got it this time, from John and Helen, then Howard and Richard and heavy breeze specialists, Mervyn and James in fourth.

A good day.

Race Report - Sunday May 15th....

We had nine teams competing today - and WHAT a day !!! The forecast was a gentle force 3 NW, but in the event we had a strong Westerly Force 4, gusting 5 !! Fabulous, simply fabulous!! That's the third Sunday in a row with sparkling slabs of breeze on the Datchet Waters - our statistical share for the whole year according to the VC! The water level is still up, too .... The wind was honestly all over the place which made the beats very challenging - more of that in a moment. To be fair to the race team the direction was hard to pick, but most of us thought the triangle a tad short, the windward leg almost a fetch and too short - each race lasted a blink, and the leeward mark was more or less at the line causing some interesting traffic problems as we three-sail surfed into the cat start..... Some talk in the Bar afterwards about the Laser 4.7 event taking too much of the water. To be sure, it's easy to wonder sometimes if the Club is run for its Members or for its Visitors... In 'the season', we have around three visitor events in every four weekends, and well, the compromise can get a bit wearing for those who pay their annual fees to race there year after year. We seldom seem to use the whole water anymore. You'd get the same racing somewhere half the size... Anyway - the races were a bit short on mileage and despite the late start we were in the bar by 1pm.....

The turnout was good - we had two teams in the loan boats. Janet and John continued the series 3316 and they are starting to put in some very handy performances! In 'Flouride' this week, we had two newcomers - Neil Palmer and David Freemen. Neil is an ex-bigboat sailor, and horribly fit looking! David used to dinghy race a lot but stopped for 'The Family Years' and is now wanting to get back to it. Could be a useful pairing, actually. They got some speed out of old Flouride today...

Mervyn asked me last week about predicting wind patterns at Datchet. I gave him my tale about recording every race and wind pattern for more than two years in order to build some kind of prediction system. And after two years ???.... Yes, that's right - Complete Rubbish. Go right if you are in doubt..... And so it was in Race One today that Howard and Richard, Janet and John shot out of the LEFT hand side of the gate!!! With the rest of the fleet packed to the right, it was harder on the nerves than anything else. Anyway, it gave the wily Admiral something to talk to the VC about as Howard and Richard shot around that windward mark just miles ahead. Mark and Tony were pretty surprised, but not as much as Howard and Richard.... I think Firth senior may have been 7th at this point. The first reach was a bit broad it must be said and 3934 had near a leg lead to squander - which they duly did later....!! Reach two was a sparkler and THE reach to have some fun on! World order was maintained until lap two - Mark and Tony inevitably caught right up and then surfed through Howard and Richard on the run, and on the next beat John and Helen grabbed second place. The first three boats, then well ahead of the pack, shot off down the first reach again - spray everywhere...well, all over the crew mainly.... At the gybe mark Howard/Richard were right up on 3536 again and during the gybe grabbed second place once more - it was pretty breezy now, fizzing spray all over the place in huge gusts. 3934 moved to consolidate second place and there was a sudden 'bang' - John and Helen lost the mast while lying third. A shroud parted in the excitement (at the spreader tip, I think) and over the side it all went, snapping the mast around about the mast eye. Amazingly, no other damage, but John will now have to get a new mast for the Hayling Championships. God moves in mysterious ways.....

The Admiral and VC were next, probably. Pretty good from 7th, but the VC, being one of these delicate little rower types, pulled a shoulder muscle in the breezey gybe and sadly had to pull out for chip munching during race two.

Race two got away in a shade more breeze possibly. A couple of boats, Howard/Richard included and possibly Janet&John too, were too early at the pin and while extricating themselves from that fell right back. Mark and Tony put a huge stamp of authority on things up front. Mervyn and James sailed a corker and looked to be set to take the lead at one point.... Good to see that they are really getting the hang of things now!! The final reach of the triangle that caused the mayhem previously turned into a placid (fflacid?) affair and Mark/Tony and Mervyn/James white-sailed it to the line, with Howard/Richard in third.

Another fantastic day with seriously great racing....!!

(No race results posted online just yet, so apologies for any errors... )

Race Report - Sunday 8th May....

Wow !! What did you think of the racing today ?!?! If you bunked off, you missed a treat - and the second blast of a Sunday in a row....

We had 12 FF's for racing (just one short of the RS Open Meeting that was on...) which was a great turnout...!! Twenty four people had a fabulous day, let me tell you.... We spotted another new Club Member and his FF today - I could only see from a distance a lovely gleaming wooden boat, which I am told was previously owned by Keith Jamieson, the BIFFA Secretary... new owner is John Watling, I believe. Dying for an introduction so that I can go and have a gawp at the boat !! We also had Neil Palmer join us for the first time today - an ex-big boat sailor he crewed for the Admiral today. Jolly fit looking chap and exactly the right build for FF racing - if you are looking for a crew, get his contact details from Mike.

I drove over early from a dark, soaking Kent this morning (as usual) and drove through every kind of weather except snow. Arriving at the Club it was brilliant, bright sunshine and a fabulous, forceful breeze - much harder than forecast and we raced in a glorious Force 4-5, gusting to 28knots. What an absolute STONKER of a day !!! It was just brilliant - Spray everywhere!!

As I write, the Club has not yet posted the results and to be fair I can't remember all that much of the placings. Race one was simply terrific. We hacked away out of a very square gate and blasted our way up to the top mark. Reach 1 was too tight - pity it was a great length - and we barrelled down there under white sails only - pretty quickly it must be said...!! We flicked around the wing mark and you could hear the bags boys cursing - "wrong bag!!" - and really honked across reach 2 which was a surfing run most of the way. The fleet started to split - out front were John and Helen, followed closely by Howard and Richard, then Mark and Tony, with Dom and Non-Dom in close attendance somewhere. As we took to the sausage leg, Tony and Mark sailed deep and fast and took the inner berth from John/Helen, Howard/Richard at the bottom mark, rounding first. It was all extremely close here - with the three boats within a few feet - and Howard and Richard almost taking a munch out of Hakuna's transom on the turn. Howard and Richard were boxed by the tight turn and had to break away here, but the other two marched on and gained a few lengths on the beat - as did the Humes, sailing really well. It was all a bit close again as they got to the windward mark for the last time, and Howard and Richard touched the damned thing. One penalty turn later and the Humes galloped through. The final reach to the finish saw Mark/Tony just ahead, then John/Helen and Dominic/David coming through - Howard and Richard chastened and some way back. Suddenly a huge gust propelled Howard/Richard at breakneck speed, eclipsing The Humes and overlapping with John/Helen at the finish line. Spray and flogging sails were everywhere, but I would think the record will show John/Helen taking second, Howard/Richard third and Dominic/David fourth. There were just a few metres in it.... a stunning race, all the way.

(Aboard 3934 we discovered our main was not right up for the whole of the race - and had to let rig tension off to get it hoisted. Then we slacked the rig tension for the first lap of race two - a laughable mistake! )

Race Two saw us get away cleanly again - Steve and Simon in Black and Blue making a lovely start at the pin that would see them good all the way through the race. Dominic/David and Howard/Richard tacked off to go right up the beat and this was a hopeless way to get up there. The whole fleet came past and we were, I think, tail end Charlies. So lots of work to do - I can't actually tell you what was going on up front - we were a huge way back which I tend to describe in the bar as "spray on my glasses...". We did though get past a lot and may have got 3934 up into 5th or so, maybe 4th. I'll rewrite this part when the Club Results are posted.

A fabulous day's racing.......

Race Report - Sunday May 1st

Bank Holiday Monday and the Datchet Flying Fifteens were out Racing !!! And so was the breeze.... huge great slabs of it !! It really was a fabulous day - generally 15-20mph with gusts up to 27mph. In bright, sparkling sunshine - Simply fantastic!!

We had seven Flying Fifteens for Racing - Bank Holiday weekend was taking its toll, and many regulars missed a proper treat (we know who you are !!!). We had a number of newcomers in the fleet too - Mark was sailing with Jan, Roger with his daughter Laura, Andy with Mark, and Mike Firth with Julian Shawyer. But today was one of those days when teamwork was all.....

There was an alleged starboard pin end bias to the line for start one - the fleet was tending to gather there - with white caps on the waves, the fleet got away cleanly - and generally we all went leftish. They were funny beats, but at the bar-side debrief afterwards David thought the quickest way up there was left-middle, and overstand the mark on port to sail the big header in. It certainly seemed to work for him !!

Dominic and David did a nice start at the pin, just squeezing Howard and Richard out to the right - and they fair stormed up the beat. At the Clubhouse mark Dominic and David tore around first, Howard and Richard second, then Mark and Jan in third. Kites were hoisted for the rather too short second leg, and the boats fair stormed down that reach. Not sure what happened aboard 3860, and they seemed to fall back. At the business end, Dominic and David stamped real authority on proceedings and try as they might, Howard and Richard could not make a real impression. These two boats though stormed ahead in the spray and opened up an enormous lead - as Dominic and David crossed the line they were just about TWO LEGS ahead of the pack - FOUR and HALF MINUTES!!! - and a good minute ahead of Howard and Richard. A stunning win. The racing was pretty close in the pack though - Steve and Simon made an exciting third just two seconds clear of Mark and Jan, with Andy and Mark 17 seconds behind them.

The breeze had shifted slightly for start 2 and wound itself up another couple of knots - just lovely !!!!! There was a clear favourite at the starboard end - Mark and Jan, Dominic and David, and Howard and Richard all gathered there. Now I have to say, Guys, that Howard and Richard did the start of their lives - like they write about in Yachts and Yachting... Right place, clear air, full speed and on the pin at the gun - plus they squeezed Dominic and David into the bag - how good can life get !! (Sorry - I had to write it down, else might not sleep tonight....!!) Anyway - Howard and Richard smashed their way up that beat and rounded the top mark just ahead. The first reach had got a bit tighter and it turned into a two sail hose-down for the guy at the front - a complete hoot of a sail. Second reach, Howard and Richard hit the calm and fleet loomed up on the new breeze horribly quickly....

However, order was maintained on the next leg - it was Howard/Richard, Dominic/David, Mark/Jan. The run found us all trying to sail deep in the breeze, and for those on bags, gybe-drops at the bottom were the order of the day. The final triangle again gave us terrific fun on the reaches - spray everywhere - fantastic sailing. Howard and Richard took the gun, just twenty seconds ahead of Dominic and David, and they in turn were half a minute ahead of Mark and Jan.

For full results, see "Last Sunday's Results" on the button to the right of this page.....

Race Report - Sunday April 10th...

A bit of a drifter.....

Well, slightly better than that.... With the reservoir really very full, you only need 3 or 4 knots of breeze to fill right across the water. And that's what we had, with bright sunlight and ever increasing balmy temperatures. The sunshine was simply spectacular and we had 9 boats rig for racing. As seems normal at the moment, we get one or two drop out across the day - and Andy Murphy got his new boat afloat before any of us, but unfortunately didn't seem to make it to the line for racing.

The PRO laid a pretty fair course today and we completed 3 laps each time, despite the light breezes. Race one got away with a modicum of hoo haa, and one boat was I think over the line. Roger and Tony got in a bit of a knot with some cats, so that made their day. It was John Basford in the Club boat who set a cracking pace up the first beat and at the top mark he had Howard and Richard, then Mike and Phil pretty hard on his heels. The three closed up on the first close reach and at the gybe mark, Richard and Howard nipped inside John, but the VC and the Admiral nipped inside them!! After this, the Admiral's Barge sometimes just a few inches ahead of Howard and Richard pulled away from the fleet and these two boats finished just 13 seconds apart after almost an hour's racing. Andy Clark led the pack home a minute later. Mervyn/James were fourth and the Stensons were fifth ahead of The Millars.

The wind was swinging around somewhat for race two. The Lasers started heavily bunched at the committee boat end, but things seemed to even out by the time of the FF start. The Millars did a corker start, full speed, flat out from the middle of the gate. Terrifically inspired guesswork - ha !!! No, seriously, a text book start....!! Nobody was over, and we tumbled up the beat. The order through the gate didn't matter too much and very soon the Admiral was out front - revelling as always in these conditions. Howard and Richard, it must be said, were last at one point. However, the chase was on. John Basford had to retire with a broken jib halyard (in THIS weather!) and we all cheered as a cat fell over in a force one - how embarrassing!! The order of players gradually resolved to pretty much the same as race one. Richard and Howard scrambled up to second, but Firthie this time was 90 seconds ahead and in a class of his own.

For full results, click on "Last Sunday's Results" at www.flyingfifteen.org

Race Report - Sunday 3rd ... Mothering Sunday !!....

The VC reports:

 

Initially no wind at all greeted the seven boats that rigged. Andrew Murphy declined the weather offering, and Midnight Rog just christened Deffiant (3642) and kept his powder dry for next time. VC had an early rowing start (06.30 in London) so arrived for lunch at 09.30!

 

First race saw a swinging breeze – Both Firths has shockers, but fought back. First lap saw plenty of place changes, with the newly reunited Russians, John and Helen, Admirals Barge and Jnr Firth (who despatched Grandson Matt to the Topper as the breeze increased, grabbing a JYS teenager to ballast 3860!) all suffering the shifts! The Admiral gets 9 out 10 beats right , but the second beat was a major 10^th!! Crew allowed the Barge to end up wide right and STONE last! Firth Jnr stormed away to win from John and Helen, the Russians and Steve Bell and Simon Sculion who are getting Black and Blue (3827) up to speed and a grumpy Barge grumbled in last. How did they lasso the mainsheet on one of the yellow mooring buoys today? Genius! Hmph!

 

Second race saw two 360 penalties BEFORE the start! Left paid again, and Firth Jnr got that right AGAIN! The other three had a race long tussle, initially the Russians and John/Helen exchanged places, but in a return to form, the Barge joined in a three abreast charge down the last reach – who did touch who? – and the Barge snatched second on the line from John/Helen and the Russians – all within about 20 seconds! VC then dashed off to work again – how well will he sleep tonight? – and Rog was left to pour champagne over his new vessel! Cheers!

 

If the warm sunshine continues – next Sunday could be even better! Come along and have some fun!

Datchet Flying Fifteen Open Meeting - the Final Account....

After a pretty challenging day of light breezes on the first day, the met office served up the same again for day two... we did get three races in though !! Our Fleet Captain had a crew no-show, and retired home sulking - leaving twelve boats to race.

We started the day with the Saturday results on the wall - basically it was Brett/Jonathan, Ian/Mervyn and Richard/Howard in 1,2,3 in each race.

For the first Sunday race, Howard and Richard found the breeze up the first leg and rounded well ahead of the pack - and that's where they stayed for the first two laps about half a leg ahead. Coming up the final beat though they fell to a hole on the left and at the rounding Brett and Jonathan were suddenly right on their heels, with Matthew and Andrew a metre behind that. Along the first reach of the last lap Brett and Matthew trampled past leaving Howard and Richard in third - and that's how they all finished ahead of Mark and Tony in 4th. The breeze was pretty challenging for the next race as well. Ian and Mervyn successfully boxed Howard and Richard out on the line putting paid to their day! This one went to Brett/Jonathan, Matt/Andrew and then the Admiral and VC were third. Ian and Mervyn, right up in the hunt at all times, were fourth. It was all a bit exciting for the VC who had to have a lie-down on the foredeck - then the RIB took him away for a longer rest (all fine now though!!). So that was the end of their day. Race 3 saw several eager beavers over the line at the start, Howard and Richard, Andy and Mark included. As that carnage sorted itself out, it was ex-Flying Dutchman sailors, Tony and John, in their first weekend in a Flying Fifteen who set the pace. They simply blasted into the distance and not even the magic of Dr Dingwall could get close. They finished way ahead !! Brett/Jonathan were followed home by Matt/Andrew, and Ian/Mervyn.

Overall, Brett and Jonathan won the event by a handsome eight points from Ian and Mervyn. Two points behind in third, were Howard and Richard, who also receive the Veuve de Vernay Trophy for best Datchet Club Team - at least they will when Mark and Tony bring it back!!

Race Report - 20th March... Goldilocks and the Three (Firth) Bears...

It was a pretty busy rigging area this morning - thirteen boats parked up and ready to go. Pity the breeze was not as active .... We had enough to race though, and pushed off on time at 1030. Of the thirteen, Andrew Fairleigh had to repair his rig having snapped a boom in the WWU, and Andy Murphy had a no-show from his crew - so covers back on for him, and then there were eleven.

There was a pretty la rge cat open at the Club and we found ourselves sharing the slipway and lake with the wide ones. A few dozen cats can churn up the wind quite a lot and that was the story of the beats. The fleet got away from the slight committee boat biased line and chugged our way up the first beat. Ian Linder and Kevin Sweetman picked the shifts magnificently and soon worked out a useful lead from The Humes. The Admiral and The VC took a flyer to the left, away from the Cat fleet and scorched up the fleet into third - leaving Howard and Richard wallowing to the right hand side and even passing Mark and Matt who finished 4th.

Race two saw a tight jam at the pin end, with at least Howard/Richard and Janet&John (no - really...) being over the line at the gun. It is reported that the Admiral's Barge also made their second rubbish start for the day - but again it didn't stop them. Daddy Bear and Baby Bear Firth, with about 15 stone aboard, shot off into the middle distance just about straight out of the gate. Poor start aside, it was Grand Daddy Firth and Goldilocks who challenged them strongest - finishing less than half a minute astern. G-locks reported that Grand Daddy Firth didn't know whether to be proud of his offspring,... or angry that they were uncatchable... but that was the way it stayed. John Hanson with newcomer, Michael Vogt, sailed very well into a strong third. Then came Ian and Kevin followed by Howard and Richard.

This weekend was the Bewl FF Open - we hope they had more breeze there than Datchet managed. However, next weekend (26/27th) is the Datchet FF Open and we look forward to some great racing. First start on Saturday not before 1pm.

Victory !! (Seen from the Front....)

The VC speaks:

 

The Admiral is a genius! Neither in the Admiral's Barge had sailed since early January, and he pulls off two bullets!

 

First race – started before most of the fleet had slipped out of the warm coffee fug in the clubhouse - Mervyn was a tad early, slid off down the line, opening the door for the AB to slip in front of XFC and boss the first beat! Slightly expected to have every one trample past, but only the XFC pressed us, and a nifty gybe saw us home.

 

Second race – fuller fleet, and port biased line saw plenty shouting and a nifty port start from Ian and Brett (super boat?). Initially we bugged out right, and some instinctive helming saw us nip round at the top mark – pressed by Ian and Brett and XFC – far too close at many points, but a CALCULATED carry on the last leg (cheeky Datchetman!) saw us home – grins all round on the way in!

 

The next 13^th cups are November 2011 and May 2012.

Race Report - Sunday 13th Cup !!... (March)

We had eleven boats turn out today ... and rain... and windless conditions. It's always the same - - we drink tea, then look anxious wondering who buckles first - and then we start packing off home.... then the breeze kicks in!! And so it was today....

Five teams opted for a return to the duvet, but the slower tea drinkers (or were served the hottest!) launched and had a smashing pair of races - no rain and around 6-8kn of breeze. Race one started with a strong committee boat bias, but in we dived with a fair amount of intimate closeness to the PRO... it was the sylph like Mike Firth, with the VC to weight down the bows, who slipped gracefully off into the lead. It's not that they were unthreatened - in fact they heard the bow wave of Howard and Richard more than once. Suddenly, at the end of leg 7 they relinquished the lead momentarily to Howard and Richard on the spinnaker chug to the North shore, but grabbed the overlap at the wing mark and held the lead then till the finish. Very noticable today was the performance of Mervyn and James. Super lightweights they are not (!), but they are getting into the light airs swing in 3536 and were seriously threatening off wind today. So Race One to the Admiral and the VC...

The start line was squared off for race two and I must say it got a bit busy at the pin end - with Brett and Ian scratching across Howard/Richard on port with inches to spare. Mervyn and James were less lucky with the port end strategy and had to weave hard between a couple of boats. Somehow the Admiral found the lift again and slipped away to a very nice lead. Wasn't to last though.... their lead looked well established until Brett/Ian were right on their heels. The fleet split in the fickle breeze but it was the sound of 3934's bow wave again that heralded the surprise visit at the end of leg 7. They swung around the wing mark more of less together. Howard and Richard, Brett and Ian decided to drop for the last leg, but the VC to his credit decided he would cope. Very suprisingly three sailing gave them the edge and they pulled ahead once again from Howard/Richard, to a famous victory. It's not what it says in the results, but I thought it was Brett and Ian in third and Mervyn and James in fourth. (We'll see...) In fifth was John Basford in the loan boat, and Tony Cumberbirch in his first FF race in xxx years, came 6th with Midnight Rog.

So with two straight wins, The Admiral and VC were worthy winners of the Sunday 13th Trophy, the Castle Cup. Until the next time.... (When is it??)

Race Report - Sunday March 6th, a Sparkling Day !

Arriving at Datchet this morning we initially had grey skies, but a great F3-4 Easterly - which had a bit of a nip in it, I admit. However, the sun gods won out and it turned into a really blue skies, bright light kind of day - and the breeze held !!

Great turnout too.  Ten boats rigged - probably 8 raced. What a stunning sight they were too,  lined up in the rigging area under the sun! John Basford was meant to be racing 3316 but the main halyard had disappeared... so by the time he had fixed that all he could do was day sail. But he'll try again next week... and the other bit of great news is that Tony Cumberbirch did a trial sail with Midnight Rog today. Tony has bought a dry suit, paid his subs, the lot. So he's "in" !!  We also had two visitors referred from the Dinghy Show - another father and son team, I think. Fingers crossed for them coming to see more...

Now to the racing. Well it was near perfect conditions for FFs - sparkling sailing, with marginal planing and a fair bit to do upwind. Am shattered tonight, actually!! For the first race the PRO was again very prompt and half the fleet were still in transit to the start area. I appreciate the need for punctuality, but when the launch area is congested and running late I really don't see the point of booting off when half of us were being polite to women, children and wayfarer sailors on the slip....  So race one was something of a procession (viewed from the back!) and little point for the later launchers. In the distance it looked like The Stensons were really getting the hang of things. Mark and Tony won, but until the results are available online, the rest is a mystery to me!

Race two though was a different kettle of fish !!  The line had a strong committee boat bias, so things got a little busy. Mark and Tony popped away from the middle of the line in clear air and opened up a teeny weeny little lead. The fleet was generally pretty bunched up, and on the first reach it looked a bit tight at first- - -  but up went those spinnakers and off we all burst... all pretty close stuff and there was a fair bit of luffing and overtaking going on in the first triangle. Then the trick on the second beat was to go right. To be fair in previous beats there had been a good breeze curve to ride on the left, but in that Datchety way, it always pays to check out the right hand side - there was heaps going on over there and at the second visit to the windward mark, The Russians and Richard/Howard paid Mark and Tony a surprise visit.  These three took off and left the rest of the fleet for a private battle. At the end, The Russians got it by a whisker (with much un-British whooping - why cant Estonians just say "Hurrah" like we do??) from Mark/Tony with Richard/Howard third. Then a big, big gap... but fourth and fifth were separated by just one second. The right old battle between The Humes and John/Helen was resolved in The Humes favour. Great stuff though !!...

Much talk in the bar of the FF Stand at the Dinghy Show...  Some interesting ideas on the new Ovi, and lots of praise for how new Keith Jamieson's 15 year Mk IX old actually looked!   The Admiral was reportedly running a sweep to see if anyone could guess its age.....