With tale end of the American hurricanes coming through to spoil our weekend after such a glorious week, three RS400 went to Ullswater to enter their one day open meeting. Along with 35 RS200s there were 13 RS400s. On arrival the water was already covered in white horses, but the wind did ease and racing was underway by late morning. But the wind did not ease for long! The first race proved a challenge for boats to stay upright, especially when gybing – it was to be Neil Currie’s turn to come a cropper, and having been late for the start due to crew Andy Smith being delayed on the motorway, they retiredm to save themselves for the next race. The 2nd race was to be held back to back, and between races the wind continued to rise and the boats continued to capsize – this time William Carruthers and Lesley Braddock took to the water (for some time, as the boat continued to blow over when it was righted). With so many capsized boats, the OD opted to delay racing and everyone had an early lunch. The wind did ease and racing resumed mid afternoon, but the light breeze for race 2, was not to continue into the last race which was to be Steve Hunt’s chance to come a cropper when having an excellent first beat, Andy put the genniker up, they promptly gybed and capsized on to the wing mark.
Overall winner was Robbie Wilson from Wormit, with Steve taking 8th position, William 9th and Neil 12th.
Back at the club, it was only the toppers that dare take to the water. Rescue driver Wil had his work cut out for him on his last day. He had to right an RS Feva and sail it home before returning to resolve various other capsizes. Did Rhonwen Bryce hustle her way to the lead by making out she did not know how to tack or gybe a topper? Who knows?
On Sunday, the big boys (and Ruth!) went out for what was to be the only race of the day. First casualty up the first beat was Jim Christie in his vortex – after capsizing he could could not right without help, so that was his race over. Playing it cautiously was not enough for Steve Hunt and Ruth Critchley in an RS 400 – they had decided not to fly the kite but still went at the leeward gybe mark – with enough capsizing for one weekend, Steve retired gracefully. And then there were two; Phil Smith and Toggle Cowan in their GP were in a safe position to beat Mike Moore and Ian Smith (in a F15) on handicap, but ‘wanted to beat them on the water’ (as Phil put it), so up went the kite to ‘stabilise’ the boat (pity it wasn’t a run!), and boat number three capsized and packed up. So would OD Mike Fairlamb make Mike sail the full course? After seeing Mike Moore flattened at the gybe mark, the race was shortened, and Mike eventually made it back to take first place and confirm his lead in the series.
Weekend results:
SKIDDAW TROPHY
PN Boat Helm Class 1 2 3 4 Pts
1 1210 S HUNT RS400 2 1 DNS DNS 3
2 13749 R DAWSON RS400 1 2 DNS DNS 3
3 69960 M CHAPPEL MS 3 3 DNS DNS 6
4 937 W CARRUTHERS RS400 4 4 DNS DNS 8
5 103 A NICHOLSON VARIO 5 RTD DNS DNS 11
6 125514 R BRYCE LAS DNS DNS DNS 1 17
7 13327 M FAIRLAMB GP DNS DNS DNS 2 18
8 13655 N LEWIS GP DNS DNS DNS 3 19
9 2324 R BLACKBURN LARK OD DNS DNS DNS 19
10 167828 I MACPHERSON LAS DNS DNS DNS OD 19
11 400 T KNOWLES RSFEVA RTD DNS DNS DNS 23
12 17 P HEMMINGWAY TOP DNS DNS DNS RTD 24
12 382 G HEMMINGWAY RSFEVA DNS DNS DNS RTD 24
12 40894 S HALL TOP DNS DNS DNS RTD 24
12 40892 J HEMINGWAY TOP DNS DNS DNS RTD 24
Points for RTD = 7 6 0 8
Points for DSQ = 7 6 0 8
Points for DNS = 16
2 races to count
MJM TROPHY
PN Boat Helm Class 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Pts
1 3473 M MOORE FF 5 4 2 2 7 4 2 2 DNS 1 13
2 1140 J CHRISTIE VORTEX 6 DNS 3 3 RTD 6 DNS DNS 5 RTD 28
3 1210 S HUNT RS400 DNS DNS 1 1 DNS DNS 1 DNS 1 RTD 42
4 13176 D LAWSON GP 1 1 DNS DNS 1 3 DNS DNS DNS DNS 72
5 13327 M FAIRLAMB GP 2 2 DNS DNS 8 7 DNS DNS DNS DNS 85
6 1125 JoHALLIDAY RS400 10 9 4 4 DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS 93
7 2324 R BLACKBURN LARK RTD DNS DNS DNS 5 RTD DNS DNS 4 DNS 102
8 161866 M SOMERVILLE LASER DNS DNS DNS DNS 4 2 DNS DNS OD DNS 108
9 13839 H GODFREY GP 7 DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS 3 1 DNS DNS 110
10 167828 I MACPHERSON LAS DNS DNS DNS DNS 6 5 DNS DNS 2 DNS 112
11 3560 I CAMPBELL FF 9 6 DNS DNS DNS DNS OD DNS DNS DNS 117
12 13749 R DAWSON RS400 RTD DNS DNS DNS 3 1 DNS DNS DNS DNS 120
13 69960 M CHAPPEL MS 8 7 DNS RTD DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS 121
14 13791 P SMITH GP DNS DNS DNS DNS 2 DNS DNS DNS DNS RTD 139
15 13789 J TELFORD GP 4 3 DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS 139
16 12329 J WOOD GP DNS DNS 5 5 DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS 142
17 70142 T SMITH MCH 3 8 DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS 143
18 13013 J SEDGWICK GP 11 DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS 6 DNS 149
19 125514 R BRYCE LAS DNS DNS DNS DNS DSQ RTD DNS DNS DNS DNS 154
20 913142 P HODGKINS RS400 RTD DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS RTD DNS 160
21 13326 S WATSON GP RTD DNS DNS DNS RTD DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS 161
22 13118 V BELL GP DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS 3 DNS 168
23 3332 W SOMERVILLE FF OD DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS 168
24 1148 N CURRIE RS400 DNS DNS DNS DNS OD DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS 168
25 382 G HEMMINGWAY RSFEVA DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS RTD DNS DNS DNS 170
26 93673 J SOMERVILLE FF DNS 5 DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS 170
27 103 A NICHOLSON VARIO DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS 7 DNS 172
28 595 H KNOWLES RSFEVA DNS DNS RTD DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS 172
29 122174 P DILLON LAS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS 8 DNS 173
30 562 A SMITH 49R DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS RTD DNS 176
31 913733 J HODGKINS GP DNS RTD DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS 176
32 13238 D NICHOLSON GP 12 DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS 177
Points for RTD = 17 11 7 7 12 10 5 3 11 5
Points for DSQ = 17 11 7 7 12 10 5 3 11 5
Points for DNS = 33
6 races to count