As low, dark clouds scudded above their heads, threatening to drop their load at any moment but bringing stronger winds, WS Racers had another great day on the water, racing around the course which they know quite well now since we have raced with westerly winds over the last few weeks . Fortunately after last week’s light breeze, the prevailing wind blew at a steady 12 knots which enable the helms to work out how to get round the course – even if quite a few of them were often tricked by the wind direction as it veered WNW and backed WSW at times.  This was especially notable for many, as we watched their efforts to sail through the Start/Finish Gate. By not achieving a lay line to get them trhough the Gate and then realising it, but not wanting to put in another Tack, they ended up head to wind as they tried to sneak inside either Mark K (on starboard Tack) or the distance Mark (on Port Tack).  It was great to see Kim in the Race and to welcome Louise and Anne to WS Racing for their first time! Hope you both enjoyed yourselves. More to follow…

A good fight downwind to Mark D

The Red Torpedo – really trying

The leaders battling it out

The Final Result:

1. David Mason in a 2.4
2. Mark Cayzer (and John Douglas) – 303
3. Martin Norman – Liberty
4. Fay Watson (and James Thomas) – 303
5. Peter Gregory – 2.4
6. Rachel Ibbott (and Jane) – 303
7. Anne Chester (and Helen Fairfax) – 303
8. Kim Sparkes (and Louise) – 303
9. Malcolm Hill (and Mark Coleman) – Martin
10. Steve Farmer – 303
11. Paul Hagan (with Bruce Hebbert) – Venture
12. Mike Blatchford – Liberty
13. Peter Wagner – Liberty

There was hardly sufficient wind to ruffle the surface of Chipstead Lake when the first volunteers arrived to rig and launch the fleet of Wealden Sailability’s dinghies and safety craft last Thursday. The forecast was for a gentle breeze of 6 to 7 knots from the West, backing to the South-west and South later in the day. As can be seen from this photograph,

The calm before the Race

taken just before the start of the race at 11:30 AM, the 10 Helms who had gathered to do battle were in for a gentle ride – with lots of potential for frustrating moments when deciding whether to tack…or not…Yes, I’ll tack…just done it….oh no…look where the wind has moved to now! Arrgggh!!! (And I thought that sailing is a sport that enables folk to get away from it all and relax! Ed.)  Nevertheless, there they were: two 2.4s (108 is still being repaired), two Liberties, a solitary Martin and five double-handed 303s milling around on the millpond.  The bigger and faster boats were close up to the start line whilst most of the 303s were hanging back. This resulted in an exhortation over the tannoy from Race Control for them to get closer.  The Gong for the start sounded but regrettably the wind conditions were such that those Helms in the fleet furthest away from the start line, were still struggling to get over the start line 5 minutes into the race.  But back at the front of the fleet, we didn’t have to wait long for a bit of action. Surely like last week we couldn’t have had a clear front runner, streaking away from the pack. There was just insufficient wind. No, that’s right. Nobody was moving very fast. In fact, one boat was moving so slowly on port tack that it was not able to avoid two other boats on starboard tack. So we had our first collision – which took place pretty much on the Start Line! (Hang on. I didn’t see any 720 penalty turns. Have the rules changed? Ed) But WS Racers being such a nice bunch of people, they just sorted themselves out and got on with it. (Well done, chaps! Ed.)  However the two innocent parties to this incident must have been slightly concerned when they saw the other party apparently disappearing into the distance and building a sizeable lead – as can be seen here…

Brian Mac makes the most of nice Messrs Gregory and Mason

Because of the light wind and the self -imposed 50 to 75 yard penalty (as described above), many boats in the fleet struggled on the initial Tack up to Mark B. Even the Red Torpedo, helmed by the skilful and fit Peter “Hand-cycle” Gregory, appeared to stand still in the water at times. But gradually, Peter and the front runners crept closer to the windward Mark.  Just after Peter rounded it, some 50 yards in the lead, the breeze picked-up and that helped his pursuers to finish the upwind leg and get around Mark B.  But that very same gust helped to propel the Red Torpedo away from the clutches of David Mason (2.4), Kelly Tripp and her crew Di (303D), Brian Mac (Martin) and Lisa Holland and her crew Sue Ives (303D), downwind towards Mark C and onwards to the Leeward Mark. And by the time the front-runners of this group had managed to get to Mark C, Peter Gregory was rounding the LeewardMark (which was a temporary Flag 150 yards due East of the middle of the start line). (There is just no slowing him. Is there? Ed.) 

In fact, Race #5 seemed to be split into a race between the 2.4s and a separate race involving the others. As can be seen from the three photos below, Peter Gregory demonstrated the impressive performance which he manages to get out of the Red Torpedo.

Stratos 3, helmed by our very own, highly experienced sailor, Bob Marsh, crossed the Start/Finish Line, to complete his first lap, 3 seconds ahead of Brian Mac in his Martin who crossed the line at the end of his first lap, 8 seconds before Peter Gregory arrived at the very same spot on the Lake to complete his second lap. What to do when confronted by two big boats apparently blocking your path? The answer can be seen in the photos – you just sail straight between them and say “Bon voyage, mis amis!”  (So how come he still came 2nd? Ed.) 

Red Torpedo Over/Undertaking – Stage 1

Red Torpedo Over/Undertaking – Stage 2

Red Torpedo Over/Undertaking – Stage 3

It was this level of sailing that enabled Peter to complete three laps at 9 mins 45 sec per lap – whilst the fleet managed 18 to 29 minutes for a single lap. Not that they weren’t trying, they were very competitive with some close racing, but the conditions were very, very tricky and there were reports that some boats suffered dreadfully from having picked up large bundles of weed around their keels and rudders. (Nobody can sail with  such drag or stopping them steering. Can they? Ed.) So WELL DONE to all you WS Racers for sticking to your guns and a big THANK YOU as always to the volunteers for crewing and for helping those boats that had the weed problems and had steered themselves into trouble. (See grouching below!! Ed.)

A difficult moment for Fay

Close quarter racing

Final Result

1. David Mason in a 2.4
2. Peter Gregory – 2.4
3. Kelly Tripp – 303D
4. Fay Watson – 303D
5. Mark Cayzer – 303D
6. Lisa Holland – 303D
7. Brian Mac – Martin
8. Peter Wagner – Liberty
9. Rachel Ibbott – 303D
10. Martyn Norman – Liberty

Another brilliant effort by all you WS Racers on a lovely summer’s day at Chipstead. Even the wind tried to behave as it freshened to 10 to 12 knots whilst most of you were on the water practicing before the race and then gradually weakened as the race progressed. How does he know that? Ed.  By looking at Peter Gregory’s lap split times – against a first lap of 7 min 43 secs, his second was 25 secs slower, the third 1 min 9 secs slower and the fourth lap was 1 min 43 secs slower.

Most of the fleet were marshalled close to the Start Line as the final gong of the 5-4-1-Off sequence sounded, with the result that half the fleet crossed the line in a blanket start. Well done! Ed. Once they were clear of  the other’s wind shadows, David Mason in a 2.4 and Mike Blatchford in a Martin started to pull away and then tacked onto Starboard whilst Peter Gregory in his 2.4 stayed on Port tack and sailed away to the north of the lake, as close as possible to the wind.  And although it appeared that Mike Blatchford would round the windward Mark (B) first, he had to put in another tack which let Peter Gregory through to lead by 50 yards before Mike and David Mason tacked around Mark B closely followed by Brain Mac in a Liberty, Malcolm Hill and his crew Mark in a Martin and the front running 303s of Fay Watson and crew James Thomas and Steve Farmer sailing single-handed.  There was some closing up and pulling away for those boats that set their sails to maximise the effect of the good breeze from the West which was blowing them back down the lake to gybe around Mark C and run another 500 yards before tacking round the leeward Mark (D).  Peter Gregory had pulled out a 300 yard lead over Mike Blatchford who was 25 yards in front of David Mason as these three helms beat back up  the lake to complete their first Lap. Not surprisingly the bigger sails on Malcolm Hill’s Martin and the Venture, helmed by Keith, with Mike Cartwright as crew, meant that they started their 2nd Laps in fourth and sixth place respectively – split by an excellent first lap by Brian Mac in his Liberty. Only a minute later, Fay Watson and James Thomas completed their first Lap, 50 yards ahead of Steve Farmer in his 303. The remaining boats in the fleet were still battling, Bill Garry in Pink Lady a Liberty just keeping ahead of Peter Wagner, sailing for the first time in the fleet’s only servo-driven Liberty.  See Peter Wagner’s interesting comments on his experience below. Ed.  But Bill was lapped by Peter Gregory’s Red Torpedo as he tore across the Start/Finish Line 13 secs ahead of Bill.  They were followed by Martin Norman and Sebastian in their 303 who were holding their own against Mark Cayzer and Don in their 303 who started their 2nd Lap after 19 minutes on the water and just as David Mason and Mike Blatchford were about to lap them.

Despite the lessening wind speed during his second Lap, Peter Gregory pulled away by 2 1/2 minutes from David Mason and Mike Blatchford, whilst they played cat and mouse with each other.  And only these three, plus Malcolm Hill in his Martin and Keith in the Venture, sailed a third Lap – and only Peter Gregory sailed a fourth Lap, because he had built up quite a lead over the rest of the fleet by the time he completed his third Lap. Hang on there. I thought I saw David Mason sailing a forth Lap? Ed.   Yes – well he shouldn’t have and it confused the Race Controller in the Race Hut which resulted in the provisional results having to be corrected! Excuses, excuses. Ed.

So, after applying the respective Portsmouth Yardsticks, the Final Result is:

1. David Mason in a 2.4m
2. Fay Watson and James Thomas – 303D
3. Peter Gregory – 2.4m
4. Mike Blatchford – Martin
5. Steve Farmer – 303S
6. Malcolm Hill and Mark – Martin
7. Brian Mac – Liberty
8. Peter Wagner – Liberty (with servo steering)
9. Bill Garry – Liberty
10. Martin Norman and Sebastian – 303D
11. Mark Cayzer and Don – 303D
12. Keith and Mike Cartwright – Venture

It was good to see Bob Fisher down to enjoy a WS coffee and witness Steve storming home to a great 5th place! And we were all very sorry to hear that Ann Frewer could not race due to a cracked rib, sustained when sailing on the Medway last weekend. Our thoughts are with you for a speedy recovery Ann!

And here are a few photos that show how close fought a race it was at times:

A forecast of a fresh 14 knot, gusting 20 knot, W / SW wind had drawn an eager throng to the lakeside on Thursday. The earlier light sprinkling of rain, which had threatened when the volunteers were rigging and launching the fleet, had passed and by 10 AM the sun was trying, sometimes successfully, to find its way through the light grey cloud cover. By 11 AM the lake was busy with the race fleet, the pirate lugger, the venture and all three Stratos out on the water, plus, of course, the safety RIB and Commandos. The wind had freshened from the earlier gentle breeze to a respectable 10 to 12 knots which enabled the 14 Helms, signed-on for the race, to cross the Start line soon after the final Gong of the starting sequence had sounded.

Here’s the start……clear evidence that everybody was away quickly…

The early leaders above were  Rachel Ibbott and her crew Sophie Poston in their 303, Mike Blatchford in a Liberty, Ann Frewer in her mighty 2.3, Fay Watson and her crew James Thomas in their 303 and Malcolm Hill with his crew Mike McKenzie in the first of the two Martins.  Also on the race course to were Stratos 2 and Stratos 3 and the Venture but they were not in the race, just taking clients out for a sail. However, with their much larger sails (even when reefed or in cut down format) they comprised obstacles for the much smaller 2.3 and 303’s – but not for the 2.4m’s which had escaped from their wind shadow quickly.

But hang on where are Peter Gregory and David Mason in their 2.4m’s? Didn’t they start at the same time as everybody else…?  Ah! Here they are….. way out in front. But how do they do that? (Good question! Ed)

Peter Gregory having managed to get a good start found clean air and tacked most effectively to be the first boat around the Windward Mark B. David Mason and the non-racing Venture and Mike Blatchford’s Liberty followed Peter around Mark B by which time Peter already had a lead of 50 yards.

The wind remained blowing mainly from the West but, in typical Chipstead manner, varied in strength and direction. However that didn’t stop The Red Torpedo from charging downwind, gybing around Mark C and continuing downwind towards Mark D, and by the time he rounded this Leeward Mark, he had a 400 yard lead over the next group of boats in the pursuing fleet.

By the end of the first lap, the fleet had settled down into an order which an observer would have expected, if they had known the boats’ various handicaps. Namely, the second 2.4m, the Martins, the Liberty’s and then the 303s and 2.3. But as we know looking at a boat’s position on the water doesn’t mean a lot when the results are calculated AFTER the Portsmouth Yardstick handicap is applied.

What is important is how fast each boat is being sailed and whether the helm can maintain their best speed consistently. Look here: On the second lap Peter Gregory maintained his first lap time of 8 min and 1 sec, but his pursuers were generally faster over their second laps. See how you did:

• Ann Frewer faster by 3 min 53 sec
• Andy Wallace – 2 min 56 sec
• Martin Newman –  1 min 18 sec
• Malcolm Hill -1 min 7 sec
• Rachel Ibbott – 1 min 5 sec
• Fay Watson – 1 min 2 sec
• Mike Blatchford – 42 sec
• David Mason – 18 sec.

Of course this could be down to having better wind during the second lap but if that was the reason then why didn’t Peter Gregory also go faster? I think it may be down to how quickly you settle into sailing in race mode rather than cruising mode. In the next race try to focus on getting in the groove in lap 1 – don’t leave it until later to show your real speed.  (I think that there may be a lesson to be learned from that data. May be use the 20 to 30 minutes BEFORE the race to get tuned up. Ed).  But everyone sailed well and we all had a great day on the water. Well done to all you WS Racers.

Here is the Race Result:

1. Mike Blatchford – Liberty
2. David Mason – 2.4m
3. Martin Newman – Liberty
4. Fay Watson – 303D
5. Andy Wallace – Martin
6. Rachel Ibbott – 303D
7. Mark Cayzer – 303D
8. Peter Gregory – 2.4m
9. Malcolm Hill – Martin
10. Ann Frewer – 2.3S
11. Lisa Holland – 303D
12. Bill Garry – 303S
    (DNF) Brian Mac – 303

And then after the Race, the sun came out and we all had Lunch outside the clubhouse…

Last Thursday was forecast to be near perfect conditions for Race #2 of the Summer Series. And that expectation was probably why there were 16 boats on the water at 1125, ready to race.  But the forecast was not quite borne out by the conditions that greeted us when we all assembled at the Lake at 0830. Rather than a North-Westerly we found ourselves with wind coming from the East backing to the North-East and rather than a steady 14 knots, the wind was struggling to get to 10 knots – however there were some reasonable gusts which would keep everybody on their toes (Or their gunwales? Ed) 

For the first time in many races, Helms were faced with an anti clockwise course running from the Start Line between an Inner Distance Marker and Mark K, then beating down the lake to Mark D, tacking around D, leaving the Mark to Port, before starting downwind leg to gybe around Mark C and continuing the run to Mark B which was also left to Port, before starting the long leg, beating  back up to Mark D (going through the start gate each lap).

After a short delay to enable everybody who wanted to race to be helped into a boat (Many thanks to Andy Wallace for agreeing to a late change from his favoured Martin to an alien Stratos! Ed), the Race was underway.  There is no doubt that WS Racers‘ starts are getting better, with everybody within a few boat lengths of the Start Line once the one minute Gong had sounded – as is evidence from the photograph below!

Within a few seconds of the Start Gong sounding, the first boats were across the Start Line and tacking up to Mark D –  led by Abe in the Commando! The first to show were Mike Blatchford in Martin 2290, Peter Gregory in 2.4m 148 (AKA The Red Torpedo. Ed), David Mason in his 2.4m 109 and Fay Watson and her crew James Thomas in their 303 with yellow sail #4. (The Pirate Lugger in the pic below was not in the race but may have been eyeing up any  laggards as booty! Ed).

The race also had two Stratos in the fleet; one helmed by Helen Fairfax  – a volunteer – with Andy Wallace  as crew and the other helmed by Bruce Hebbert – a Trustee. The sole Venture in the fleet was  helmed by Paul Hagan with Allan Griffiths as crew (Paul – don’t get Allan to sign-on for the Race. The  Race Controller  didn’t know you were racing but fortunately the timekeeper recorded your lap times – thank you Bob Marsh!! Ed).

The North-Easterly wind was blowing around 10 knots as these front runners began their beat up towards Mark D. The two 2.4m’s were best able to point high into the breeze and after a couple of tacks they were first around Mark D and building up a lead of some 200 metres over the third-place boat, by the time that boat rounded D. Perhaps not surprisingly in this breeze, the two Martins and the third 2.4m were the next group of boats to round Mark D to commence the downwind chase of Peter Gregory and David Mason in their 2.4m’s.

LESSON OF THE DAY – With the wind blowing from the NE and Mark D positioned close to the shore (to avoid the encroachment of water weed in Donald King Reach), all the Helms had to contend with quite a large wind shadow caused by the tall trees on the shore of the lake north of the Mark and extending westward. The Chipstead Lake savvy Helms (e.g. Bruce Hebbert) were seen to steer back into the middle of the lake after rounding Mark D, run downwind and then gybe and Run or Reach across to Mark C rather than head straight downwind towards Mark C.  And from the race hut, we could see the boats using the middle of the lake overhaul other boats stationary in the doldrums – caused by the wind shadow. (So next time everyone can do the same as Bruce!! Ed)

With the wind as tricky as ever, the fleet became quite strung out and gradually the leading boats started to catch up and overtake those at the back of the fleet. However, as can be seen from the Final Result, this situation does not always mean that the boat being overtaken is actually behind the overtaking boat because of the handicapping system. So don’t worry or be downcast, if every helm keeps sailing as well and as quickly as they possibly can, irrespective of how many boats they think may be catching and passing them, then wonders can happen! (That’s right – best foot forward at all times. So this week, all three 2.4m’s, the two Martins, the two Stratos and the Venture all managed to complete three laps whilst everyone else did two laps but just look at the Result! Ed)

Well done to everybody. Below you will see where you came at the end of all your efforts during the race:

Final Result

1. David Mason
2. Fay Watson
3. Paul Hagan
4. Steve Farmer
5. Peter Gregory
6. Peter Wagner
7. Martin Norman
8. Ann Frewer
9. Mike Blatchford
10. Malcolm Hill
11. Rachel
12. Brian Mac
13. Bill Garry
14. Andy Wallace