So this weekend saw the highest turnout ever for a Hare and Hounds race (at least while I've been Dinghy Secretary), with 50 boats on the start line for the H&H7 race in a very welcome Westerley F4 on Saturday. Fantastic.
Race Officer Julian Mandiwall and team had set up a video camera on the start line to record any transgressions in the starting procedure, this was quickly noted by the fleet and we had a very orderly start with no sniff of a black flag (bet Julian was disappointed). One Laser was over at the hut end of the line, otherwise everyone was clean at the gun.
The results sheet may suggest that the course and conditions were somewhat favourable to the 300 contingent, for those questioning handicap I suggest you take a look at Sundays results (my 300 brethren and I despise the lighter winds, thankfully there is a minimum wind requirement for class events!).
Anyway, some highlights from Saturdays race :
- Will Acres and Fin Preston have a fantastic race in their 29er, placing 4th overall. Only a matter of time before Will gives dad Dave a hiding!
- Neil Mant comes home first Laser, 8 seconds ahead of Tom Tredray. But stalwart of the Laser fleet John Fifield is in hot pursuit, only 40 seconds behind Tom. Good to see close racing in the Laser fleet.
- Mike/Dean and Andy/Chris have a very close race, finishing in 7th and 8th. The 'Slipper team spirit' didn't appear to be in great health on the final close reach, I looked over my shoulder to see a full on luffing match, with Mike and Andy seemingly very keen to find the mudbanks on the side of the channel!
- Mark Newton places 3rd with his 300 'A' rig (a 9.25m rig as opposed to the 10.0m 'B' rig), lets hope no one lends him a B!
- According to crew Gael, Matt Johnston had jaw ache and tongue blisters from excessive whinging about the 300 fleet performance.
Sundays race was a very different affair, a fickle SW F1. Again, a clean start, with an apparent bias towards the pin end - at least from a wind direction perspective. Shortly after the start, the wind filled from the West, and those closest to the wind line made massive gains that they didn't lose. Simon Townsend was so far ahead in his 400 that I couldn't read the sail numbers!
Some highlights from the results:
- Simon Townsend and crew take a deserved win, by over a minute on handicap, great racing in very testing conditions.
- The RS200s of Paul and Caroline, and Marcus Lawson take 2nd and 3rd. The 200s have shown remarkable consistency through the series, always placing well and securing points for their clubs.
- John and Hilary Excell place 5th in their Laser Stratos, great boat speed and a good read of the first beat.
- The ISOs of Mike/Emma and Andy/Vicky again finish in consecutive places, its tight in the fast handicap fleet. But disappointingly no luffing up mudbanks.
- Delanie Rutter and Eve Townsend sailed their Laser 2000 into 9th place, a fantastic result. Great boat speed in the light conditions.
- Not a day for the 300s, we will be considering a 'minimum wind' requirement at Sailing Committee tomorrow night!
As ever, contributions from Guests are welcome, it only takes a few minutes!
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