23rd of August 2015
The Solo Series
The club graciously managed to get me onto the water yesterday and although we were a little late getting out there, the day proved to be a good look at the youngsters ( and those not so young ) working on the water.
The first two races were sailed in an easterly of some 10 knots that decided to drop out and in the ensuing calm before the sou westerly arrived, the usual frolics occurred on the water. RO Les Swinton and his team had the Optimist sailors gathered around the start boat and an impromptu game ensued with flag races in hand to keep the youngsters amused whilst they waited for the arrival of the sea breeze. From our vantage point all we could see was the raising and lowering of the flags in a decidedly unmannered progression and only on investigation did we find the nub of the matter.
The third race had been abandoned as we made our way out there and we like everyone, sat and waited until the breeze made it's way in. This gave me the opportunity to look at the fleets both in total and in make up and a lot of the crack sailors were away enjoying the European or American summers as they plied their craft on foreign waters.
The first of the Solo's had started with a fleet almost a hundred strong and as usual the numbers had dropped a little with those with conflicting interests and a lack of urgency deciding to step out of the boat for the day. However the regulars were there and in the Flying 15 Fleet, the Jerwoods were right out at the front with the Petterssons putting in a solid performance to take second for the regatta. Another husband and wife team in the Howells tied up third place with consistency as their mark.
The irrepressible Optimist fleet numbered into the 20's and they had their battles too with the ability to barge (in the mid fleet) in these development regattas being honed to a fine degree. However Jackson Porter did a fine job in taking the fourth regatta showing his improvement over the series starting the first regatta with a eighteenth over all to his present win. Shannon Dalton and Axel Fleet finished second and third respectively.
The slightly diminished 125 fleet still has the Barwoods in Under Pressure out front and they have every right to expect the overall series to end up under their belts. Green Out has Alex Thomson teamed up with Felix Browning and they have kept the pressure on throughout the series. Going Gonzo took third.
The 420's have missed the presence of "Beast Mode" ( not ) and while the girls are away, Jayden Dalton and Owen Ready have stepped up. With 5 boats out on the water they took three firsts and a light winds fourth to take the day. Hydrotherapy and Columbus took second and third in that order.
The Pelicans flew their pocket handkerchief spinnakers with pride in the last two races as the ( generally younger ) crew's had them up in a flash as they rounded the top mark and headed off to the wing mark. Seaking, helmed by Kimberly Lanter and crewed by one of two sibs in the Pelican fleet Aiden Duthie. They too look like taking the series. Special FX was second and Seas the Day was third.
In the Laser fleets with some of the bigger players playing elsewhere, the elder statesmen were able to wave their flags with David Whait and Fr8 Train taking out the Laser Full rigs and we had a chance to see Lachie Gilham strut his stuff in the full rigs. Sailed well, but didn't sail the full regatta, but he took two bullets out of four.
The 4.7's were taken by Campbell Stewart as did his brother James in the Radials. James however had to contend with Richard Maher who must have been having a bad day because he took two bullets, a second and a fourth, giving the day to James who also took two bullets and two seconds.
In all a good day on the water.
My thanks to SoPYC for getting me onto the water and driver Mark and crew Alan (a laser sailor)
Enjoy the images
The first two races were sailed in an easterly of some 10 knots that decided to drop out and in the ensuing calm before the sou westerly arrived, the usual frolics occurred on the water. RO Les Swinton and his team had the Optimist sailors gathered around the start boat and an impromptu game ensued with flag races in hand to keep the youngsters amused whilst they waited for the arrival of the sea breeze. From our vantage point all we could see was the raising and lowering of the flags in a decidedly unmannered progression and only on investigation did we find the nub of the matter.
The third race had been abandoned as we made our way out there and we like everyone, sat and waited until the breeze made it's way in. This gave me the opportunity to look at the fleets both in total and in make up and a lot of the crack sailors were away enjoying the European or American summers as they plied their craft on foreign waters.
The first of the Solo's had started with a fleet almost a hundred strong and as usual the numbers had dropped a little with those with conflicting interests and a lack of urgency deciding to step out of the boat for the day. However the regulars were there and in the Flying 15 Fleet, the Jerwoods were right out at the front with the Petterssons putting in a solid performance to take second for the regatta. Another husband and wife team in the Howells tied up third place with consistency as their mark.
The irrepressible Optimist fleet numbered into the 20's and they had their battles too with the ability to barge (in the mid fleet) in these development regattas being honed to a fine degree. However Jackson Porter did a fine job in taking the fourth regatta showing his improvement over the series starting the first regatta with a eighteenth over all to his present win. Shannon Dalton and Axel Fleet finished second and third respectively.
The slightly diminished 125 fleet still has the Barwoods in Under Pressure out front and they have every right to expect the overall series to end up under their belts. Green Out has Alex Thomson teamed up with Felix Browning and they have kept the pressure on throughout the series. Going Gonzo took third.
The 420's have missed the presence of "Beast Mode" ( not ) and while the girls are away, Jayden Dalton and Owen Ready have stepped up. With 5 boats out on the water they took three firsts and a light winds fourth to take the day. Hydrotherapy and Columbus took second and third in that order.
The Pelicans flew their pocket handkerchief spinnakers with pride in the last two races as the ( generally younger ) crew's had them up in a flash as they rounded the top mark and headed off to the wing mark. Seaking, helmed by Kimberly Lanter and crewed by one of two sibs in the Pelican fleet Aiden Duthie. They too look like taking the series. Special FX was second and Seas the Day was third.
In the Laser fleets with some of the bigger players playing elsewhere, the elder statesmen were able to wave their flags with David Whait and Fr8 Train taking out the Laser Full rigs and we had a chance to see Lachie Gilham strut his stuff in the full rigs. Sailed well, but didn't sail the full regatta, but he took two bullets out of four.
The 4.7's were taken by Campbell Stewart as did his brother James in the Radials. James however had to contend with Richard Maher who must have been having a bad day because he took two bullets, a second and a fourth, giving the day to James who also took two bullets and two seconds.
In all a good day on the water.
My thanks to SoPYC for getting me onto the water and driver Mark and crew Alan (a laser sailor)
Enjoy the images