Despite the weather,
which was more conducive to sailing down the M42 rather than driving
down it, 3 visiting boats joined 5 local boats for the 2008 Olton Mere
Sailing Club N12 open meeting. With a nice southerly breeze down the
lake the OOD set a challenging days sailing aiming for 5 races, 2 in the
morning, 3 in the afternoon.Tthe course was a long beat followed by a
run, a couple of nice reaches, and gybe marks to make it interesting.
Race one started with a pile up at the pin end, with all the visiting
boats getting tangled and giving the home boats a good head start. Ian
Hirst, crewed by his son Alex in his Tigress led the fleet to the 2nd
gybe mark, where a gust, and a lack of grip, led to an on the water
inspection of the paint job on the hull completed just the night before.
This allowed Tom White in his China Doll, crewed by Laura Humphrey to
head the fleet, with Kevin Rose and Ben Humphrey in Gordon in second,
and Steve White and Anna Gidley in a borrowed Foxi rounding in third.
By lap 2, Paul Turner and
Christine Marshall had clawed their way back to 2nd, and lap 3 to the
lead which they never lost, Tom looking safe in 2nd until a broach on a
gybe mark led to a collision with the mark, allowing Kevin, Chris Bilton,
crewed by mother Gill, in Moonshallow and the recovering Martin Clarke
with his son Matthew in his Foolish to pass. At the finish, Martin had
overcome Kevin to take 2nd, and Tom had recovered to 4th.
Race 2 was held virtually back to back, despite the rain, and proved to
be slightly less eventful, with Paul showing a clean pair of heels to
all, pursued by Martin , and then a battle between Ian and Tom, Ian
coming out on top.
After the lunch break the wind was a little lighter, the rain a little
heavier, and 6 of 8 boats reluctantly headed for the start. Again Paul
showed a clean pair of heels to the fleet, but the lighter conditions
allowed both Tom and Kevin to lead Martin around the first lap, Tom
remaining ahead, and Kevin slightly behind at the finish.
Despite the OOD's plan for 2 back to back races, all boats then headed
for shore, to have a cup of tea and see if the rain would abate and the
wind would return. Unfortunately it was the wind that abated and the
rain came even more. Having got 3 races in, it was decided to call it a
result.
A mention has to be made of Chris and Ben Palmer, who came down in their
Crusader bought earlier in the week, and despite the lack of experience
with the boat, kept up well, and remained in very good spirits
throughout.
Overall results
Name Boat no Boat name Design Club
1st Paul Turner / Christine Marshall 3157 Perfect Kiss Microclipper Trent Valley
2nd Martin Clarke / Matthew Clarke 3458 White Heat Feeling Foolish Hykeham SC
3rd Tom White / Laura Humphrey 2765 Le Shed China Doll OMSC
4th Kevin Rose / Ben Humphrey 2947 Gordon Cheshire Cat OMSC
5th Ian Hurst / Alex Hurst 3138 Tiswas Tigress OMSC
6th Steve White / Anne Gidley 2930 Foxi Cheshire Cat OMSC
7th Chris Bilton / Gill Bilton 2823 Moonshallow Paper Dart OMSC
8th Chris Palmer / Ben Palmer 3244 Why Can't You Crusader 88 Redesmere SC
