Another day made for Dinghy Racers – a stiff breeze from NNE under a rather dull day – welcomed the volunteers as they got everything ready for the day. The forecast expected the wind to fill in to 14 knots with 20 knot gusts and some sunshine to appear – “When?” was the question we asked at the volunteers’ briefing by Steve at 0945.

By 1030 there was a good sized fleet on the water sailing around enjoying the wind. (It is so much easier to do when you can point your dinghy in the direction needed just to maximise its speed, irrespective of having to get to a specified Mark – which of course is the main difference between leisure sailing and racing! Ed)

By 1100 there were a dozen Racers entered for the 5th Race of the Summer Series and the 3 minute gong sounded. The Start line had been set at a right angle to the windward mark – Buoy D – and was between the Race Hut and a Distance Marker Flag out in the lake. (The Start Line was from where the photo was taken at the Race Hut to the Flag which can be seen in the photo above beside 303 Sail Yellow #4. Ed) The video starts some 2 or 3 seconds after the Start Gong had sounded and as you can see the fleet could have been positioned better in the last 20 to 15 secs of the count down period. The aim is to make a final approach so you can cross the Start Line (at speed!! Ed) just as the Start Gong sounds. The video shows a sluggish getaway by the leaders of the fleet into the first phase of the Race and then they pick up the wind and gradually separate. Do look at the different routes helms took – some stayed in the middle of the lake and some came across closer to the shore. Which route do you think was the better? The video follows the fleet on the Beat up to and around the windward Mark and then on a broad Reach to Buoy C and after gybing around C on the Run to Buoy A. Mike Blatchford (Liberty Sail Blue #25) started where he finished the last Race – at the front of the fleet – but despite the significant lead he created during this early phase of the race there was competition for Mike’s lead from Kelly Tripp (303 Sail Blue #11) and Martin Norman (Liberty Sail White #24) and Peter Wagner (Liberty Sail Yellow #22) which developed in intensity throughout the race right until the final legs of the Race.

And here are some photos of individual racers and a few groups:

Result for Race 5 of Summer Series is:

1. Kelly Tripp and her crew Anne – 303 Sail Blue #11
2. Peter Wagner – Liberty Sail Yellow #22
3. Mike Blatchford – Liberty Sail Blue #25
4. Steve Farmer – 303 Sail Red #5
5. Martin Norman – Liberty Sail White #24
6. Imogen Fletcher and her crew Helen Fairfax – 303 Sail Blue #9
7. Bob Fisher – Liberty Sail White #23
8. Mark Cayzer and his crew Nigel Raynes – 303 Sail Red #10
9. Geoff Taylor – 303 Sail Yellow #3
10. Trevor Monk – 303 Sail White #7
11. Tom Phillips – 303 Sail Blue #2
12. Stephen Connell and his crew Alec Ross – 303 Sail Yellow #4 – Retired

Congratulations to all the Racers and many thanks to the volunteers who crewed for some helms and to Angela who helped me in the Race Hut to keep track of the dinghies’ places and times and to the volunteers who get ready all the kit that we need to have safe fun on the water and then pack it all away at the end of the day and those helping to water us in the galley!!

The weather forecast was looking good for sailing and there was already a brisk breeze blowing across the surface of the lake at Chipstead Sailing Club as the volunteers were getting everything ready for another busy day which would include the WS Summer Series Race #4. The Volunteers’ Briefing from Mike and Steve at 0945 focussed on the high number of sailors who had told Steve they would be coming plus of course their parents and carers.

By 1000 we were all geared up, sailors were arriving and the course was set and written up on the Race Course Board by the entrance to the Club house: Start Line between the Race Hut and a Distance Marker Flag in the middle of the lake; the first leg would be a beat up to the windward mark Buoy D – moved into the middle of the water to try and ensure there would be sufficient wind for the sailors to use; then a downwind run along the lake parallel to the north shore to Buoy B; sailors would gybe around B before starting a very broad reach across the lake to the leeward mark Buoy A in its normal setting towards the south side of the lake. And then tacking round A to beat back up to the START line and on towards Buoy D again. There were eleven entrants to the Race and it started like this…

As you all know, just because you are ahead on the water at one stage of a leg does not mean that you will be the first to get round the Mark for which the fleet is aiming. The video shows this in practice. Peter Wagner (Liberty White #23) got away to another great start (Well done Peter! Ed) pursued by Mike Blatchford (Liberty Blue #25) and they were initialled followed by Mark and Alan Cayzer (303 White #8) and then Imogen Fletcher and David Mckee (303 Yellow #3) down the middle of the lake with Martin Norman (Liberty Yellow #22) taking a more southerly route. But after 2 minutes the wind strengthened to the benefit of Geoff Taylor (303 Blue #2) and Martin who caught up Mike but then stalled as he tacked behind Mike for a better approach to the mark whilst Geoff continued to close on the leader – Peter Wagner – but he was further away from the mark.

The wind’s next big puff favoured the middle and back of the fleet – mainly 303s – and Kelly Tripp and Helen Fairfax (303 Red #10) and Tom Phillips (303 Red #5) came storming through the fleet on a good approach line for the mark. Meanwhile Peter Wagner at the front had tacked to approach the mark on starboard (Hence having right of way over boats on port tack! Ed) and was again closely followed by Mike Blatchford who had found some wind to get away from Martin and Geoff.

The video shows the potential for a massive boat crash as the whole fleet converge on the windward mark but every helm managed to round the mark without any incidents requiring a penalty. In the end the rounding order was: Mike, Peter, Kelly, Martin, Trevor Monk (303 Blue #9), Geoff, Bob Fisher (Liberty White #24), Tom Igoe (303 White #7), Mark and Alan, Imogen and David, and Tom Phillips.

The fleet got stretched out on the downwind legs to the leeward mark (Buoy A) but some helms managed to take advantage of the wind conditions and get away on the beat back up the lake to the Start line and then onward to Buoy D. The leaders after the first lap were the trio of Liberties – Mike, Peter and Martin – followed by Kelly in her 303 and Bob Fisher in his Liberty just ahead of Geoff Taylor who clocked 13 minutes 15 seconds. This group stayed ahead on the water but Imogen and David sailed their 303 quickly enough to pip Geoff and Bob into 5th place once the PY Handicaps were applied to the sailing times. Here are a few photos of some of the boats in the race….

All in all another good day on the water with close racing. As always a big shout out to all the volunteers for getting the boats ready and providing safety support and cups of hot drinks during the day and those who crewed in the race and Angela who helped me to record the Lap Times in the Race Hut.

Result for Race 4 of Summer Series is:

1. Mike Blatchford – Liberty Sail Blue #25
2. Martin Norman – Liberty Sail Yellow #22
3. Kelly Tripp and her crew Helen Fairfax – 303 Sail Red #10
4. Peter Wagner – Liberty Sail White #23
5. Imogen Fletcher and her crew David Mckee – 303 Sail Yellow #3
6. Geoff Taylor – 303 Sail Blue #2
7. Bob Fisher – Liberty Sail White #24
8. Trevor Monk – 303 Sail Blue #9
9. Tom Igoe and his crew Oliver Davis – 303 Sail White #7
10. Mark Cayzer and his crew Alan Cayzer – 303 Sail White #8
11. Tom Phillips – 303 Sail Red #5

I will add these results to the Summary Results sheet on the website which can be found here – just scroll down and you will find the Summer Series below the Spring Series.

Yesterday saw the comeback of the Access 303s! Well done to Kelly, Noah and Steve for sailing so well in a better than expected 11/14 knot WNW wind and bright conditions. Although it was rather cloudy when we arrived at the lake at 0830 to get everything ready for the day, that soon changed and there was more blue in the sky by 0945 when the Volunteers’ Briefing by the Day’s Session and Safety Managers was held and even some sunshine breaking through by 1000 when the first Sailors and their families and carers started arriving for their day on the water.

There were a dozen Racers milling around the Start Line ready for the 3 minute Gong which sounded at 1100. At the final Gong the leading boats were well back from the Line (Perhaps put off by the Race Officer’s eagle eyes checking for Racers transgressing the Start Line before the “Off” – as demonstrated in last week’s Video! Ed) but some were moving faster than others and immediately Peter Wagner (Liberty Sail White #24) was building up a substantial lead. Here is the video that shows Peter and the rest of the fleet tack their way up to the windward mark (Buoy B). It is noticeable in the video how many ways there are to “skin this cat” (Apologies to PETA. Ed) and how important it was to give a generous allowance for the sideways drift of a dinghy when approaching the Mark on a port tack. A number of helms found they missed the Buoy – even by inches – and had to start their approach again. After rounding B there was a very broad reach across to Buoy C where a gybe was needed before running down to the leeward mark Buoy D. The video ends with Peter Wagner having established a 50+ metre lead on his run to Buoy D. But was that lead going to be held onto?

Chatting yesterday about the videos of rounding the marks in last week’s Race Report, a Racer said to me “We don’t want to make this too professional!” I did appreciate hearing that reaction since my and Fleur’s and the Trustees’ aim is to create a balance between giving anyone wishing to race each week a chance to have some competitive fun and to help them improve their sailing knowledge and skill. However, I did say that knowing and adhering to Sailing Rules is perhaps even more important for Sailabilty sailors so that they can rely on their fellow Racers behaving in a certain manner that will avoid collisions and not impede the progress of helms who have created a deserved advantageous position on the water. But please continue the discussion! Ed

Talking of which the sight across the lake throughout the Race was superb. Most of the race was held in bright sunshine lighting up lots of colourful sails spread across the water. At times there were groups of boats (e.g. immediately after the Start) sailing closely together vying (and possibly praying) for the wind to waft them in front of their immediate competition! There are some photos but first a video of a tightly bunched part of the fleet running down and rounding the leeward mark Buoy D – great sailing by all. (Except perhaps the Jolly Roger that got in the way of filming this super spectacle. Ed)

There was some surprise when the results were announced because there were three 303s in the first four positions. Where were the Libertys that had crossed the Finish Line first? Well that is what handicapping is all about…Sailing uses the Portsmouth Yardstick (PY) to put different classes of dinghy on the same footing when sailing the same course in the same conditions. There can be variations in the condition of the actual dinghy and of course the ability of the Helm/Crew. So a BIG well done to Kelly Tripp and her well-chosen crew Viv Holder and to Noah Potter and his crew Oliver Davis and to Steve Farmer for taking the fight to the bigger, faster Libertys!! No doubt we’ll see a fight back from the Libertys next week – but to all 303 Helms – Kelly has shown you that a win is possible!

To help you see the differences between the boats we have in the fleet at Wealden Sailability, here are the various PYs:

• 2.3 Single handed = 1925
• 303 Double handed = 1660
• 303 Single handed = 1630
• Liberty = 1550
• 2.4m = 1240
• Martin = 1315
• Stratos = 1095
• Venture = 1092

And here is an image of the spreadsheet showing HOW the PY is applied to the Lap Time data that is recorded during a race by those in the Race Hut. The sheet also shows how small the “time” differences are between each position – e.g. Bob Fisher was just 1 second per lap slower in his Liberty than Noah Potter/Oliver Davis were in their 303:

Nearly finally, here are a few photos. Some of individual helms and crews, others of close-quarter battles being fought and a few long distance ones to record the beautiful day and setting.

This report could not end without mention of a demonstration of some selfless sportsmanship when Peter Wagner did 2 X 360 dg penalty turns (to attone for two rule infringements that nobody else saw!) and as a result he slipped down the leader board from an useful lead on the final lap (Just what I would have expected Peter. But X2 turns is a bit showy! Ed)

Result for Race 3 of Summer Series is:

1. Kelly Tripp and her crew Viv Holder – 303 Sail Red #10
2. Noah Potter and his crew Oliver Davis – 303 Sail Yellow #4
3. Bob Fisher – Liberty Sail Yellow #22
4. Steve Farmer – 303 Sail blue #9
5. Peter Wagner – Liberty Sail White #24
6. Derek Preston – Liberty Sail Blue #25
7. Geoff Taylor – 303 Sail Blue #11
8. Russell West and his crew Peter Moore – 303 Sail Yellow #6
9. Mark Cayzer and his crew Alan Cayzer – 303 Sail Blue #2
10. Trevor Monk – 303 Sail White #7
11. Imogen Fletcher and her crew Angie Flory – 303 Sail Red #5
12. Tom Phillips – Liberty Sail White #23

Everyone had a terrific day and there was some very close racing. Thanks to all the racers and the volunteers who crewed and who helped with all the other jobs needed to keep the show on the road including Angela Cartwright for her assistance in the Race Hut.