Yeadon open meeting

An enthusiastic fleet arrived at Yeadon for the 2011 open meeting to be greeted by a warm welcome but a very light and variable to non-existent breeze.

Photo: N2769 Barrow Boy and N3356 Squidgy Bits 2nd and 3rd Overall
Photo  Sarah Chadwick
 

Despite the conditions race officer Bill Wilson and his intrepid team managed to get the racing off almost on time and it was local boat N2769 Barrow Boy sailed by Howard Chadwick and Helen Nicholson who prevailed in the difficult and light conditions with N3499 Out of the Blue sailed by Philip David and Katie McInnes in hot pursuit finishing second whilst N3356 Squidgy Bits sailed by Austin and James Flather finished third with Brian Herring and Ros Stevenson N1673 finishing fourth and first vintage in the race.

Photo: N2335 Saskia  Tim Gatti and Ben Palmer 1st Vintage Overall
Photo  Mike Cox

After an excellent lunch provided by Sarah, Margaret and Cathy the course was changed and the breeze had picked up but only slightly and race two was started.  Philip and Katie were taking no chances this time and were manoeuvring against Howard and Helen even before the start, a move which worked well and allowed Philip to take up the lead and hold it to the end. Howard and Helen recovered to second place and N3468 Pillow Fight finishing third closely followed by Austin and James Flather in fourth.  Brian and Ros were again first vintage in N1673 whilst N2335 Saskia sailed by Tim Gatti and Ben Palmer was 2nd vintage in sixth position.  John and Sue Nixon in N3514 had travelled up from Carsington but unfortunately had only brought their winged rudder and found that the shallow water and (uncharacteristic) weed at Yeadon were making their Feeling Foolish very difficult to sail so they called it a day after race 2 vowing to come back without wings in 2012.

Photo: Philip David and Katie McInnes winners of the Yeadon Open Meeting October 2011
Photo Mike Cox

In race three Austin and James made a great start and led the fleet, however Philip and Katie again got through whilst the positions behind them were changing frequently.  As the breeze finally picked up Tim Gatti was in second place and a close dual was fought between Howard and Tim over several laps whilst Austin and John were never far away.  Eventually Howard got past Tim and at the finish it was Philip first, Howard second and then Tim.  Tim’s hard fought 3rd place in this race allowed him to take the overall first Vintage on a tie breaker.

Overall results

Report:-   Howard Chadwick
Photos:-    Mike Cox/Sarah Chadwick on page 2 and as attachments to email.