Trent Valley September open meeting

 

Trent Valley Double Open (Vintage & 4 Plank plus DB/AC event) Sunday 13^th September 2009

day dawned bright, sunny and (most unusually for recent TVSC meetings) breezy – however wind was from north, totally wrong direction for racing at Trent Lock. re was a reasonable breeze at top and bottom of course, but in middle section with tall trees to north of river ( “Doldrums”); wind was erratic – frustrating for all competitors.  And some of less fit sailors who had partaken of five races at Olton day before (and some who had also been at hog roast) were going to struggle – whatever wind direction!

We were very lucky to have race management skills of Mike Haynes who has been race officer for a number of national and international sailing events – and after his inspirational briefing he proceeded to set a totally unique start line in front of clubhouse (start line one to off bank finishing post), perfect for very unusual wind direction!

Admirals Cup and Double Bottom boats – notes from Graham Camm

Race 1 - Graham & Zoë were hot off blocks taking inside line off start. However lead didn’t last long as fleet caught a gust from behind and piled up in Doldrums. Dave Peacock & Trisha Wood found best wind near bank and took lead. Steve & Jack Louden looked good for a moment as wind filled in middle of river but Graham & Zoë sniddled through on a lucky gust to emerge first out of Doldrums. y held ir lead for remaining 2 laps.

Race 2 - Graham & Zoë were again hot off blocks, however Chris Day & Sophie Richards made a bid for lead in Doldrums with ir private Zephyr. But it was Dave & Trisha again taking inside line who came out of Doldrums first. leaders battled for next lap until second encounter with Doldrums where Dave & Trisha found a hole letting Graham & Zoë through to take race.

Race 3 - Chris & Sophie made best start pushing Dave & Trisha over line. leading pack including Graham & Zoë and David & Liam Borrett jostled on long run up river. Graham & Zoë pulled through during a luffing match at leeward mark. Gerald & Nicholas Copsey worked hard and pulled through to second.

Graham & Zoe won event convincingly with three wins with Dave Peacock and Tricia Wood just pipping Gerald and Nick Copsey to 2^nd.

 

Vintage & 4 Plank – notes from Paul Turner

Race 1 – Paul with Andrea Murphy had a flying start which y held on to through Doldrums but ir big lead was slowly eroded by Tom White and Maria Gidley who overtook m by end of first lap; Paul and Murph caught up on second beat down river (even overtaking several AC/DBs in process) but loss of Dolly’s mainsheet pulley meant that Tom romped away to take gun; Ben and Josh Richardson managing a creditable 3^rd in Mr Jones.

Race 2 – A general recall put paid to Tom and Paul’s flying start and at re-start Paul managed fill up on start and ended up last. Tom roared off into distance leaving rest of fleet to battle with each or and vagaries of doldrums; Kevin Rose & Jemima Dixey, beating Phillip David & Nick Copsey to 2^nd.

Race 3 – Tom got anor great start with Paul & Murph again stretching out a decent 2^nd place until Brian Herring, Phillip David and Kevin Rose (and briefly High & Alison Ambery in Starfish) sailed straight past m in Doldrums on second lap. Whist Brian and Phillip battled it out all way round lap 2 (Brian triumphing , but only just), Paul slowly hauled in Kevin to pass him nearing club, beating him by feet at finish line for a fourth place – this was to prove crucial in final results.

Tom & Maria headed prize list with three wins as first 4 planker, but re were three vintage boats (all China Dolls) with 6 points; OOD Mike’s expert knowledge of rules on count back instantly sorted result into Paul, Brian and Phillip in that order (no money changed hands!)

results were as follows:

AC/DB

1.       3157 Graham Camm & Zoe Ballantye

2.       3524 Dave Peacock & Tricia Wood

3.       3411 Gerald & Nick Copsey

4.       3377 Christian Day & Sophie Richards

5.       3502 Steve & Jack Louden

6.       3412 Chris Troth & Rebecca Butler

7.       3102 Dave & Liam Borrett

8.       3271 Brain Cobb & Ros Nichols

9.       3192 Peter & Oscar Terry

10.   3458 Martin & Matw Clarke

 

Vintage/4 Plank

 

1.       2765 Tom White & Maria Gidley

2.       2487 Paul Turner & Andrea Murphy

3.       2468 Brian Herring & Roz Stevenson

4.       2545 Philip David & Anthony Copsey

5.       2947 Kevin Rose & Hanna Butler

6.       2399 Ben & Josh Richardson

7.       2020 Hugh & Alison Ambery

 

This was last meeting for MAAT series; full details of results, clubs and boat designs are posted elsewhere under “Events & Results – Midlands”.

 

Special mentions: Welcome back to N12 sailing after many years away for Hugh & Alison Ambery who sailed Starfish N2020 – great to see Mike & Ann Nokes (Mike demanding to know why Shotgun N2359 hadn’t been restored yet) – Ben Richardson & his son Josh who bravely yotted in leaking Mr Jones (Ben received a bottle of very tasteful Liebfraumilch for his spectacular back flip (with added tiller extension) out of Mr Jones in race 2) – Peter Ferguson, who couldn’t sail as he had converted N3222 from an N12 into a flying boat previous day on his return journey from Olton Mere by forgetting to attach his launching trolley to trailer and wondered why it took off on M42 (re must be easier ways to remove bilge keels than use of motorway tarmac at 70 mph?) – Tom White for scaring everyone with speed of his immaculately restored 4 plank China Doll originally built by TVSC’s Ken Goddard from a kit back in 1974 - Graham and Zoe for venturing out in N3157 Perfect Kiss (and n baffling her owner by assuring him that underwater lines/ free board/ aft wave etc are very similar to Dead Cat Bounce and addition of wings to rudder would ensure a Burton win next year!- Paul Turner for supplying four of seventeen boats – Mike Haynes for doing a brilliant job as race officer aided and abetted by Roger and Ann Britton, Sam & Rachael, Fergy, Helen and Brian – and finally many thanks to Ken Goddard who had put so much time into arranging event but wasn’t able to be re because of family illness; we all sent our best wishes and love to Jean.