As expected, the wind eased for the second day of the handicap open meeting. With an earlier than usual start the OD was able to run all three races.
The wind shifts may have been subtle, but they could be deadly and several places changed as a result. This led to the overall result resting on the final race. This is where Naomi (the love of Bean’s life) gets a special mention – partly because she didn’t get one last time L, but mainly because if she’d had the opportunity to fly the gennaker on the final reach she and Bean would have made up the necessary five secs required to beat Scumper and Zefer, and take the winning trophy from them.
Roy Blackburn was getting back in the swing (instead of swim for a change) and succeeded in being first to the windward mark in two of the races. Unfortunately, the first time he did it he was set on rounding it to port instead of starboard and ended up in the way of various boats on his tail.
Toggle did a bit of trawling at one stage, but still secured a prize as first Vareo, Mark Rimmer received a prize in his first Bass open. Lewis Tyson was first Topper. Ruth Critchley received a prize for putting up with her helm who had spat out his dummy twice in one day – we’ll let him off opting out of Saturday’s race after the first beat (otherwise it would have been a hat-trick). In fact it seems that only Bass members received prizes on this rare occasion. One visitor that appeared late on Saturday afternoon was unwelcome and ejected from the clubhouse (well, it was a mouse!)
HANDICAP OPEN
PN Boat Helm Class 1 2 3 4 Pts
1 1049 M SOMERVILLE RS400 1 4 2 1 4
2 691 P SMITH RS200 DNS 1 3 2 6
3 379 R DAWSON RS200 DNS 2 4 3 9
4 1303 W CARRUTHERS RS400 DNS 5 1 4 10
5 167828 I MACPHERSON LAS 2 3 5 7 10
6 174889 S HALL LAS RTD 6 6 6 18
7 1029 R BLACKBURN RS400 RTD 7 8 5 19
8 160516 T CHITTENDEN LAS DNS 9 7 8 24
9 1298 S HUNT RS400 RTD RTD 9 RTD 27
10 303 M COWAN VAREO DNS 8 10 9 27
11 1066 J CONNOR RSFEVA RTD DNS DNS DNS 35
12 374 M RIMMER VAREO DNS DNS 11 10 35
13 45866 L TYSON TOP DNS DNS 12 11 37
Points for RTD = 7 11 13 12
Points for DSQ = 7 11 13 12
Points for DNS = 14
3 races to count
All Bets Off!
The high winds that started on Friday were still around for the FA Cup final – were these the reasons why there were few takers for the Handicap Open? Those members that turned up were only slightly less reluctant to go on the water than the OD! After a quick show of hands it was decided to race, and all but the feint-hearted ventured out. Scumper and Zefer were the first to go out, but after 10mins (during which time no-one else had followed them) came ashore (but only to rig their gennaker correctly as it would only fly properly on port tack).
Six boats did go out, Scumper was the first to capsize, followed by Jonathan Connor, Sam Hall, Ian Macpherson, and Roy Blackburn. The only survivor was Shunty and Ruth – they sailed the first beat and then came straight ashore.
Roy’s crew for the weekend is Megan, a young, new member. She admitted to never having sailed so fast, and that was without the gennaker! Of course, as mentioned earlier, Roy’s old habits die hard, and they ended up swimming! But they’ll be back for more tomorrow.
As it seemed to be a dead cert that all those taking to the water would be going for a swim the only betting was to be on how long they would stay upright!
Those that didn’t risk life and limb, stayed ashore and enjoyed afternoon tea and biscuits……
With so many capsizes, the OD called it a day after the first race and postponed sailing until Sunday and then sat back and watched the rest of the cup final. First race 10.30!