2010 Wednesday Evening Series»2010-07-07
The third race of the Summer Series saw 33 dinghies racing on Wednesday evening which saw the best weather of the day with a reasonable WSW wind for a change. The racing across all the fleets proved to be very tight with seconds splitting many of the results once corrected times had been calculated dependant on each boats handicap.
Tonight’s results can be found here with the Series Overall results available here
Thanks to all that took part & to all the safety boat & line crews
Lightning Report
Up close and personal
The Lightning sailors all get on really well. Good job really as they sail around the course in a tight fleet. This week the leading 3 boats all finshed within 7 seconds.
We still get teased by the weather providers about having 10 knots of breeze but only get 5 knots. It did hold out for the whole race and provided some great summer sailing. It’s not yet got its own wiki page but summer sailing is when there’s a lightish breeze to allow you to sit on the side but not hike out but also not have to hang it out to leeward. It also involves wearing sunglasses and maybe a jaunty hat.
The fleet set up on port tack alongside Mountbatten Breakwater. Rob Beaton and Peter Ganderton in his Ent were over the line at the start and had to throw a U-turn (with no rights) back through the pack. Steve got the best start in the Lightnings and lead Hugh and Guy out into the Sound. Rob followed some 50 metres behind.
The silver lining on being behind at the back of the fleet is that you can see the rest of the fleet sailing away. You can however see how well they are sailing away and make some choices.. Follow, sheep like and bide your time or lauch your audacious attack. Rob chose option B. He tacked on to starboard and found his way to Melampus in first place. Good news – was in the lead.
Bad news – could not see the next mark. It was a laid mark (small and easy to miss unless you know where it is.) It did have nice flag on the top but it’s a bit of worry when you get the lead but don’t know where to lead people to.
Heading towards Dunstone with the Ents highlighted the buoys location so the main aim was to stay in front until the end. This was mostly acomplished. After stick buoy positioned half way to Dunstone it was to West Mallard on a near dead run. Rob held a 50-80 metre lead over the closely scrapping Hugh and Steve with Guy in close attendance as a potential witness for any protests that might results from their combat. I do like the phase in the rules books ‘When two boats meet’. It sounds very friendly, like the two helms wave, smile and say Hello. If you’ve been in one of the boats that ‘meet’ it’s not often (ever) like that.
Seasoned pros like Hugh and Steve keep it fair and out of the protest room which is the best way forward. It’s not a fun place to be.
The second beat required Rob to loosely cover the rest of the fleet and hold on to most of his lead to Melampus. In the run to finish the rest of the fleet closed up to Rob with a new gradiant breeze from the West. Rob and the Ents around him could do nothing but to watch the following pack with their frothy bow waves close them down. Steve Oliver used his momentum to pass Rob to windward and get an overlap for the hook finish. Rob luffed him a number of times but could not take him too high without letting Hugh passed underneath.
Steve gets another win. Rob held second but was quite cross for a few moments. Hugh was third and Guy fourth. Everyone had a real chance of a win and a really close race all the way to the finish.
BTW Steve’s boat is for sale. It seems quite fast and has winning ways.
Rob Beaton
by Jon Buckler