Up River open meeting

Only 3 boats took up the offer of a sail with the Phantoms on the Saturday and showing what was to become the ‘norm’ Kevin Iles  & Jane Wade won both races even managing to negotiate the infamous Fenn creek with wings intact.

 

Sunday bought sunshine and perfect F3/4 Easterly wind for the Open meeting. Steve Le Grys turned up with a new winged rudder for his Foolish that had only received the final coat of epoxy the night before! In the first race a line start gave a mile beat straight down the River. Dave Wade and Alex Gore, in a borrowed pink boat, and Ian Gore and Penny Yarwood showed the right part of the line to start and lead the way. Unlike the day before Kevin & Jane decided to hang back in the early stages, however a good decision to cross to the North Bank early allowed him to hit the accelerator pedal and pull through the entire fleet to a convincing lead by the first mark. Several extremely fast reaches later it finished Kevin & Jane first with Dave & Alex second just holding off Ian & Penny. Gerry Ledger & Liz Ross came in 4^th as the first AC boat and in true Gerry fashion ran the boat up onto bank and lay in the sun until the 5 minute gun of the second race!

 

For the second race the boats stayed down river to sail on a triangle course. The wind decided to pick up starting to create waves against the outgoing tide. Steve Le Grys and Nick Copsey had turned for home by this point deciding discretion was the word with inexperienced crews, leaving 6 boats. A biased line saw an early tack onto port and an even start from all the main contenders and a drag race to the first mark. This time Kevin & Jane pulled away to lead at the first mark, but on the second round their mast decided it had had enough, leaving them a long run home on jib only and the chance of the win over.  By this time the wind was taking its toll and the fleet was reduced to 4 boats which enjoyed white water reaches and leg aching beats to the finish. Dave & Alex took the win and the meeting followed by Gerry & Liz with Simon & Matt Hopkins taking third to make it an AC benefit for the minor places. Sue Pelling & Andy Dale persevered through a nice swim and came home 4^th.

 

Overall results

1^st                     3512 - Dave Wade & Alex Gore – Feeling Foolish

2^nd & 1^st AC        3287 - Gerry Ledger & Liz Ross – Design 8

3^rd & 2^nd AC       3236 - Simon Hopkins & Matt Hopkins – Crusader

4^th                     3527 - Kevin Iles & Jane Wade – Dead Cat Bounce

5^th                     3463 – Sue Pelling & Andy Dale – Feeling Foolish

6^th                     3441 – Ian Gore & Penny Yarwood – Feeling Foolish

7^th                     3443 – Steve Legrys & Tanya Copsey – Feeling Foolish

8^th & 3^rd AC         3411 – Nick Copsey & Andrea Lazell – Baggy Trousers