Ripon Open Meeting

7th October 2023

Alan Mason & Phil Gibson were the first in the dinghy park, getting the Sparklet 2066 rigged while the race team sorted out the rescue boats. As the rest of the sailors arrived the wind was whistling through the rigging and the clouds lowering. However, by the time of the briefing the wind had calmed and the day remained dry.

Ian & Alex Gore were in Freak Out 3406 borrowed from Bernard Clark rather than their own Dead Cat Bounce, it’s a while since they were in a single bottom boat. With a long beat to the windward mark and gusting conditions, close racing ensued in the first race. Ian & Alex made it to the windward mark first, followed by Tim & Em Hampshire in Big Issue 2 3502 and then Philip & Rosie in Feeling Foolish 3499. After a few nose dives the positions had reversed and Philip took the first win. Further back in the fleet John Cheetham & Ali Stoyles went for a swim in their Numinous 3468, however they managed to recover and stay ahead of Neil McInnes & Chris Hampshire in Baggy Trousers 3216, who were recovering from a bad start.

After lunch the wind had abated slightly but Ripon was still full of its usually gusts and hollows.  A change of course was required due to local issues (fishermen and their sensitivities) and the windward mark provided some entertainment. Ian & Alex managed to round it in the wrong direction, while Philip & Rosie and John & Ali tacked short and were held off the mark by Neil & Chris, all 3 of them having to bear round and try again. Neil & Chris rounded first followed by Tim & Em who finally passed them on the run back. Ian & Alex fought their way to the lead and managed to open out a convincing win with Philip and Rosie second. John & Ali couldn’t make it past Neil & Chris despite a close battle.

Carrying on their battle into the last race Chris & Neil (having swapped duties) pushed John & Ali over the line. Tim & Em made a clean start and looked to be making progress away from the fleet until a series of unforced errors (also known as falling over repeatedly) allowed first Ian & Alex past and then Philip & Rosie past. They got their act back together and were closing Ian & Alex down but ran out of time, coming in second with Philip and & Rosie third. The race between John & Ali and Chris & Neil was close all the way through until the remnants of the summer’s weed caught the Baggy Trousers’ centreboard, allowing the Numinous to pull away. Alan & Phil made the most of the lighter winds in the third race to put the Sparklet to good use, catching up before the gusts allowed the newer designs to pull away.

As this is the last event of the Northern Series, The Old Spice Trophy was awarded. Following close racing at Annandale, Yorkshire Ouse, East Lothian, Yorkshire Dales, Solway and Ripon, Philip David was the clear winner with new crew Jacqui Massie.

As the boats were being packed away the wind started to whistle through the rigging in the dinghy park again.