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Racing Reports
New Year Races - Race 3 - Sunday 12th February 2012
An old sea dog said of winter sailing “either there is too much wind or too little!” Last year he was wrong, but so far this year, he has been right. The last two races run by Dittisham Sailing Club in the New Year Series have tested the competitors’ patience and also their blood circulation. Contrary to popular opinion racers get much colder in drifters that when it is blowing a gale – unless they capsize!
This Sunday there was slightly more wind but it was still a toss up whether it was more exciting to watch the racing or watch paint dry. The first job many competitors had to do was to remove the ice from the bottom of the inside of their boats due to the overnight frost. Race Officer Patrick Bromley sensibly set a small course in the centre of the lake where there was just enough wind for the small fleet to make progress. Les Moores in his Solo made an excellent start but could not maintain his position. Unusually Jonathan Weeks made a poor start from which he never really recovered. At the finish Solo sailor Bob Thomas won from Pete Joscelyne in his Laser. Third was Barry Kenyon, also in a Laser, returning to competition after a spell of injury.
Results
New Year Race 3: 1 Bob Thomas, Solo. 2 Pete Joscelyne, Laser. 3 Barry Kenyon, Laser.
New Year Races - Race 2 - Sunday 29th January 2012
The second race in the series was run with seven hardy participants. There had been no wind at all as they rigged their dinghies but at the appointed time a zephyr of wind came up which was just sufficient to start the race. Only one lap was possible and the conditions suited the two Solos. Jonathan Weeks overtook Bob Thomas “because I removed a floating branch from my rudder," said Jonathan. Young Josh Honey exchanged his Topper for a Laser and was rewarded with a third place, beating Alex Johns who was fourth. The three other competitors all retired due to slow or no progress. Particularly unlucky was Neil Drew, sailing a Club Laser 13, who got to within a short distance of the finishing line only to be beaten by the ever increasing foul tide.
Results
New Year Race 2:1Jonathan Weeks, Solo. 2 Bob Thomas, Solo. 3 Josh Honey, Laser.
New Year Races -
Race 1 - Sunday 15th January 2012
The first of the Dittisham Sailing Club New Year races was held last Sunday in ideal conditions with a fresh southerly wind and glorious sunshine. The small but keen fleet was set a course which took in the full racing area available with a beat from Waddeton to Galmpton and plenty of reaches.
The wind direction was variable and gusty at times and with one minute to go before the start 2011 Club Champion Jonathan Weeks was caught out by one such gust and was unlucky to capsize and turn turtle in the process. He recovered his Solo promptly but was some distance behind an otherwise clean start.
Pete Jocelyn led the fleet followed closely by Alex Johns, both in Lasers. There was much place changing on the beat ahead of a developing battle between Joshua O’Brien sailing fast in his Topper, Jenny Richardson hoping not to test her new dry suit and Barry Kenyon, making a welcome return after a long absence from sailing due to injury. Joshua continued to take advantage of the gusts that prevailed and planed in short bursts in his Topper, the smallest boat in the fleet.
After a one hour long race Pete Jocelyn was first over the line in his Laser and second on handicap. Fellow Laser sailor Alex Johns was third but young Joshua sailed a faultless race and took a convincing win on handicap.
Results
New Year Race 1: 1 Joshua O’Brien, Topper. 2 Pete Jocelyn, Laser. 3 Alex Johns, Laser.
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