Henley open meeting

21st September 2008

On arrival at Henley there was so little wind and so much current that it looked like the day would be spent happily sitting on the riverbank in the sunshine watching the pleasure cruisers, kayaks and dragon boats go by. Fortunately a few zephyrs of breeze filled in and twelve N12s took to the water for three races.

In the first race, Graham Camm & Zoë Ballantyne got a good start, but John & Katy Meadowcroft caught a personal gust which pulled them just past into the lead. Despite several minutes on the second beat when the wind died and the whole fleet drifted backwards into a large tangle, John & Katy managed to hold on to their lead to the end.

In the second race, there was a lot of close short-tacking up the bank between Graham & Zoë, John & Katy, John & Mandy Thornton and Mike Day & Anne Murch. John & Katy got caught up by the pack behind, but the other three managed to stay ahead on the second beat, with Graham & Zoë finishing in first place.

The fleet was nervous of ending up too far downstream of the start line before the third start, which resulted in some last minute ducking manoeuvres on an already crowded line. Graham & Zoë managed to keep clear of the resulting mess to take the lead. John & Katy put on a sudden burst of speed up the penultimate beat and were snapping at their heels round the leeward mark, but Graham & Zoë just managed to ghost across the finish line ahead.

Overall results

1 Graham Camm & Zoë Ballantyne Babel Fish Burghfield SC

2 John & Katy Meadowcroft Happy Hour Henley SC

3 John & Mandy Thornton Full Monty Henley SC

1^st Admirals Cup

Steve Gent & Viv Roberts N2799 & N3221 Henley SC