Grafham water SC open meeting held on 3rd October was 6th and
penultimate event in National 12 Gill series. After a lack of wind
at last years event GWSC certainly made up for it this year. With
wind in range force 6 to 8 race officer Andy Palmer sent 25
boat fleet out for first of three scheduled races back to back for
triangle sausage courses.
In race 1 early lead was taken by Richard Williams crewed by Lindsey
Iles, closely chased by Jon Ibbotson and Charlotte Stewart followed by
Ian Gore and Penny Yarwood in 3rd. Eventually it was Jon and Charlotte
who took lead which y held to finish followed home by Richard
and Lindsey in 2nd and Ian and Penny in 3rd. Furr back re was
close racing between those who had managed to keep capsize count
down to one or two.
Race 2 started with a few less boats and some with fresh crew. Tom
Stewart with Jeremy Carey crewing in borrowed “Dead Cat Bounce”
showed fleet how to do it up first beat, going obscenely fast to
take a comfortable lead at windward mark. Unfortunately for Tom and
Jeremy gybe was not so slick and ended in a swim. After discovering
mast was in 2 pieces when y righted boat ir racing was
over for day. By second beat race seemed to be following
same pattern as first with Jon and Charlotte having a duel for
lead with Richard and Lindsey followed by Steve and Joanne Sallis in
3rd. At start of lap 2 wind strength was at its peak and
duel for lead came to an abrupt end with simultaneous nose dive and
death roll by Jon and Charlotte and Richard and Lindsey. (Check
out footage on YouTube) By final
beat fleet were fairly spread, but Steve and Joanne’s lead was still
tight with main threat, or than capsize and gear failure, coming
from Hykeham club mates Andy Bayliss and Vicky Woods in second. At
end of final beat Andy and Vicky were blown over while tacking
leaving Steve and Joanne to take it steady down final run to take
line honours. Andy and Vicky recovered from ir capsize and were
joined by Graham Camm and Laura Humphrey for a race down last run.
At finish Graham and Laura just managed to take 2nd ahead of Andy
and Vicki in 3rd.
With even more depleted fleet garing around start area for
3rd and final race race Officer looked at conditions and
called it a day, cancelling final race. With no discard and both
races to count it was Steve and Joanne who took overall win.
Here are some more videos:
Race 1 and
Race 2
Overall results
1st N3436 Steve and Joanne Sallis, Hykeham SC
2nd N3483 Jon Brown and Max Duce, Upper Thames SC
3rd N3481 Andy Bayliss and Vicki Woods, Hykeham SC
4th N3455 Caroline Martin and Sam Childs, Burghfield SC
5th N3492 Graham Camm and Laura Humphrey, Burghfield SC
Family
1st N3436 Steve and Joanne Sallis, Hykeham SC
2nd N3411 Gerald and Nick Copsey, St Edmundsbury SC
Admirals Cup
1st N3217 Philip David and Anthony Copsey, Yorkshire Ouse SC
2nd N2765 Tom White and Maria Gidley, Olton Mere SC
Burton week
Organising an event