The forecast was looking a little ominous before the event, with a high
sitting across most of the country and so it was with a degree of
trepidation that we set off for the club in the morning, arriving to
beautifully sunny, though mirror like conditions. Visiting teams
arrived, bringing the total to 13 teams, and started with a gentle
approach to boat rigging. By 10.30 and the race briefing there were
starting to be signs of wind rippling down the lake from the East. Was
this just an increase in traffic on the M4 which borders the eastern end
or were we in for a timely infusion of precious pressure from a
sympathetic Thor?
By the scheduled start at 11am, thunder, there wasn't, but enough wind
there was for the fleet comprising of a healthy mix of 6 foiling boats,
five AC's (single bottomed) and a two Double bottomed non foilers. A
line biased by the oscillating gentle breeze, meant being next to the
committee boat was a popular place to be, and though this position was
won by Jeremy and George in their borrowed Crusader, it was soon clear
that Graham and Zoe had made a good move early on by going left and were
in a strong position, being followed by Jon and Charlotte and Tom and
Robert. These three were first to the windward mark, followed by Nigel
and Chris in their Numinous. As the fleet headed around the 'P' course
for the second time, Nigel and Chris caught up and passed both Tom and
Jon to hold second place for a time, before Jon came back before the
end. Further down the fleet the AC's were having a good battle of their
own intermingled with the two foiling 'Foolishes' of Nick and John and
Howard and Ella in their 'Annie Apple'. Ian and Jenny led the AC's from
the start and were showing good pace throughout the race in the fickle
wind conditions whilst Howard and Ella were going well in their 'Apple'.
Tom White was also showing ominous pace off wind in his borrowed Warlock
taking heads downwind, though struggled to get it pointing on the way
back upwind. Places were changing regularly throughout the fleet as
gains and losses were made in the varying wind conditions.
Graham and Zoe took a clear win in Race 1, with Jon and Char having
fought hard to regain second place as they crossed the line from Nigel
and Chris.
During lunch there was a increase in wind combined with an increase in
oscillations, but Race Officers Rob and Jan Martin did a superb job to
account for this both before and during the afternoon races, moving
marks accordingly. Race 2 got off cleanly, and after a close start the
noses of Jon Ibbotson & Charlotte Stewart and Graham Camm & Zoe
Ballantyne poked out of the pack. Graham Camm & Zoe Ballantyne rounded
the windward mark first. On the second lap Tom & Robbie Stewart found
rhythm on the approach to the windward mark to claim second which they
defended to the finish. In the AC's the battling fleet of Crusaders were
again led by Ian and Jenny, who maintained their dominance within the
fleet recording a second 5th place overall. That is not to say that
there was not plenty of changes of position ad the swinging breeze was
allowing for some big losses and gains! A particular shift around
Pancake Island, (named for its unleavened status not its relationship
with Shrove Tuesday!) allowed Jeremy and George, who had forgettable
start and weren't making great inroads into the pack ahead, to get back
into contention and take a few heads before the final gun.
Race 3, and the wind had settled somewhat to its original easterly
direction, though a big shift seconds before the start put those towards
the pin end in fine position with Jon Ibbotson & Charlotte Stewart
building a good lead. In the AC fleet, Tom and Helen were in a perfect
position on the start and had a superb first beat, rounding the windward
mark narrowly in fourth place and holding their own against the leading
three doubled bottomed boats, with John Nixon and Ian Smith on their
heels. As the fleet headed into lap two Jon and Char held a clear lead
but the chasing boats took the risk of going the other side of Pancake
island where there was more breeze and despite sailing further Graham
Camm & Zoe Ballantyne took the lead which they maintained to the finish.
Further down the fleet a few Jeremy and George once again got a very
healthy lift which gained them a good 100yds and put them back into the
chasing pack taking two places up the final beat and right on the stern
of Ian and Jenny. They maintained this position on the two reaching legs
but as they came into the final run toward the finish line, they got
alongside Ian and pipped them by ½ a boat length with Tom and Helen a
boat length ahead of the pair to take 5th overall in the days final
race.
After the pack down, the prize giving was held in the clubroom
accompanied by tea and Cake, with Graham and Zoe taking the main prize
of the day, Ian and Jenny the first AC boat and a special prize was
awarded to John Nixon and Sue Howe who had travelled from Derby for the
event, even with the light wind forecast... now that's commitment to
your sailing! Thank you to Burghfield Sailing Club for organising and
hosting the event and also a special thanks to local club members Alan
and Syd Beeton who provided three of the boats on the entry, both to
visitors and locals alike.
The second of the GILL Series events is being held at Spinnaker Sailing
club on the 21/22 April and we look forward to seeing you there!
Jeremy Carey and Graham Camm.
Overall results
http://www.burghfieldsailing.org/content/results/show.php?page=2012_open_n12.htm
Burton week
Organising an event