Burghfield open meeting

The strong local fleet and a weather forecast without any snow featuring attracted 7 visitors to make the fleet a round dozen for some close racing around the islands on Burghfield lake.  A rather unstable but generally south westerly breeze provided some challenging racing, with 90 degree shifts (thankfully mainly between races) and strength ranging from a millpond to marginal planning testing the competitors.

The first race provided the biggest tactical decision right at the start.  With the line not far to leeward of one of the islands and a strong starboard bias, anyone tacking early off the start would be forced one side of the island, whilst anyone wanting to go the other side would have to get a clean start at the pin and sail close to leeward of the island in slightly less breeze for a while.  Jon Ibbotson & Charlotte Stewart got the clean start and headed off to the left with the Thorntons and this proved to be the right decision, those on the left suffering from being in less breeze on the wrong side of a persistent bend.  That set the pattern for the race, with Fran & Sophie making huge gains on the second beat by going furthest left to take the lead for the second lap.  The Thorntons’ consistently good boat speed proved too much for the other competitors though, and they built a comfortable lead, followed by Fran and Soph, with Jon and Char match racing the Whites at the close to get third place.

After lunch, the wind became less predictable, so playing the shifts and hunting for pressure was the name of the game.  Tim Laws & Graham Camm were first to the windward mark but were soon overhauled by Jon & Char who managed to build up a good lead upwind only for it to evaporate as the wind died to virtually nothing on the downwind legs and then blew in from behind, compressing the whole fleet into a small space.  Jon & Char just managed to get their nose in front at the leeward mark and, with Kevin & Jane, made the most of the returning fresh breeze.  Jon & Char led to the finish, though the Thorntons eventually hunted down Kevin & Jane to take second place.

Going into the final race, the Thorntons, Jon & Char and Fran & Soph could all have won overall.  As it was, Kevin and Jane led comfortably around the first lap, going left as the wind seemed to be returning to its pattern of the first race, with Jon & Char second and  both Fran & Soph and the Thorntons back in the pack.  Up the second beat, with the wind as far left as it had been all day, Jon & Char followed the lift but this took them onto what had seemed to be the unfavoured right hand side of the islands.  This decision got them the lead which they held to the finish, followed by Kevin & Jane then Fran & Soph.

Overall results

1st N3494 - Jon Ibbotson and Charlotte Stewart

2nd N3443 - John and Mandy Thornton

3rd N3512 - Kevin Iles and Jane Wade