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Category: Racing

WS Racing – Summer Series 7 – September 19th

What an incredible day – I hope that you all enjoyed what may well turn out to be the last warm race day of the season! (Hope not! Ed) The wind was slightly less than perfect, being very up and down, but you all made the most of it when and wherever it blew harder. Thank you all though for your perseverance for what was another one lap race. We seem to have had quite a number of those in the Summer Series so far. It’s a tricky one to talk about the contents of the race in one lap so I’ll push onto the bit you all care about, the ……..RACE RESULT

  1. Mike Blatchford (Martin)
  2. Fay Watson (303D)
  3. Mark Cayzer (303D)
  4. Malcolm Hill (Martin)
  5. Ann Frewer (2.3)
  6. Peter Wagner (Liberty)
  7. Geoff Taylor (303S)
  8. Keith Eeles (Liberty)
  9. Ben Gubb (303D)

 Whilst we are, and hope to continue to remain, a very friendly and approachable group, it is important to stick to the rules when racing. (Me thinks that this is not for the first time of asking? Ed.) In this race, the Race Controller decoded it was necessary to make an on-the-water disqualification for failure to stick to the sailing rules.

All racers make mistakes, if you did, please do a 360 degree turn (1x tack, 1x gybe). If you are not sure, it is better to do a turn than risk a penalty later. (The great Sir Ben Ainslie ensured he could still win an amazing 5th Gold Medal at the 2012 Olympics at Weymouth by doing a 360 turn when his Danish and French opponents protested against him on-the-water – even though he knew, and TV evidence later showed, that he had not touched the Mark!! Ed)

If anybody feels they would like a reminder of the rules, we have some documents floating around that you can be given. See you next week.

WS Racing – Summer Series 4 – August 29th

Oh how we are being spoiled by the weather Gods…another race day with near perfect conditions. Horizon to horizon sunshine and 7 to 10 knots of cool wind veering and backing between WNW and WSW. The Session manager, Steve, was delighted to welcome a large turnout of volunteers to his briefing at 0930 outside the clubhouse. Below us, nodding on the water as they were buffeted by the wind, were eight 303, 5 Liberty, a sole 2.3, two Martins, a Venture and two Stratos ready for….well, who knows. WS’s Tuesdays and Thursdays are like unexpected gifts – nobody knows precisely what they will reveal. Yesterday, there was a steady stream of sailors, carers and other visitors from around 0945 until by lunchtime there must have been 50 plus folk enjoying a day out by the water – and many of them having been out on the water or having lunch before going out. A marvellous sight!

Amongst this throng there were many bonafide Racers who were eager to get out and enjoy the spritely conditions. Eventually there were 16 WS Racers and 3 guests milling about on the start line at 1125. Here are some photos taken before the race…

The 3-2-1 minute gongs sounded and eventually the race started with a beat up to the windward Mark A, rounding it to starboard to start a reach across to Mark B, again leaving it to starboard before a long run downwind to Mark D and a reach across to Mark J before beating back to Mark A, ensuring they went through the starting gate at the end of each lap.

Here is a video of the Start – It is great to see how well many of you are doing in getting close to the start line ready for the final gong. But you can also see an alternative method, employed by Peter Gregory in his 2.4m (aka The Red Torpedo). Find him and then see where he sails before the Start, carefully avoiding other boats, and how he eventually arrives at exactly the point along the Start line that will enable him to sail nearly directly to the first Mark A. (The lesson seems to be – getting close to the Start line as gong sounds is important BUT POSSIBLY more important is WHERE you cross the Start line. Ed.) As in recent weeks, do view the video and see how well you were able to employ the tactics which you decided you needed to, from watching the videos of Starts of some races earlier in the season. (Well, one can but hope! Ed)

The Result was:

  1. Mark Cayzer with his crew Andrew in Access 303 Sail #8
  2. Martin Newman and Seb in Martin #125
  3. Peter Wagner in Liberty #21
  4. Fay Watson and James Thomas in 303 #6
  5. David Mason in Liberty #22
  6. Ben Gubb and Di in 303 #9
  7. Peter Gregory in 2.4m #102
  8. Lewis Atkins in 303 #7
  9. Mike Blatchford in Liberty #25
  10. Geoff Taylor in 303 #5
  11. Jake Jones and Natasha in 303 #4
  12. Tom Philllips in 303 #3
  13. Ann Frewer in 2.3 #279
  14. Trevor Monk in Liberty #23
  15. Imogen Fletcher and Pat in 303 #10

John Beck and his crew Paul in 303 #12 retired due to equipment failure (Apologies for that John! Ed) and guest entries were Beth in Stratos #2, Fenton in Stratos # 3 and Ian Gubb in 303 #2. Well done to you all.

Many thanks to all the volunteers who help get the Rcers on the water and crew for those who want a crew, and to those in the Commando and Rib keeping an eye out for any mishaps and to Paul Cove who assisted in the Race Hut (in preparation to help Fleur Bryant in the Race Hut during Peter Ashwell’s absence for three weeks).

WS Racing – Summer Series 2 – August 15th

Results

  1. Ben Gubb and his crew Helen Fairfax in a 303 Sail # 9
  2. Peter Gregory – Liberty Sail# 22
  3. Mark Cayzer and Anne – 303 Sail# 7
  4. Mike Blatchford – Liberty Sail#21
  5. David Mason – Liberty Sail# 23
  6. Imogen Fletcher and crew Bruce Hebbert – 303 Sail # 1
  7. Peter Wagner – Liberty Sail# 24
  8. Martin Norman – Martin Sail# 126
  9. Keith Eeles – Liberty Sail# Sur
  10. Louise McSweeney – 303 Sail# 6
  11. Malcolm Hill and Don Basins – Martin Sail# 125
  12. Trevor Monk and his crew – 303 Sail # 2
  13. Fay Watson and crew David Phillips – 303 Sail# 10
  14. Geoff Taylor – 303 Sail# 5

Well done to all the racers!

WS Racing – Summer Series 3 – August 22nd

What a day was had by all who ventured down to join the 25 or so volunteers of Wealden Sailability at Chipstead. A nearly completely blue sky and 10 to 14 knots of westerly wind – veering and backing between SW and NW. Most of the WS Racers arrived early and had plenty of time to test the wind around the course of the Windward Mark A, followed by a broad reach to Mark B and then a downwind run to Mark D and a short reach to Mark J, before tacking and beginning the tough beat back up the lake to pass through the Start/Finish Gate and sail onward to Mark A.

Here is an extended video of the Start and how the leading group got away and how the groups of boats in the middle and at the back of the fleet fared! (As always, do try to find your own boat in the film and decide if you can see whether you can learn anything regarding, for example, better positioning on the Start Line, or the timing of when you tacked on your way to the first Mark. Ed.)

The Result was:

  1. David Mason in a Liberty Sail # 24
  2. Malcolm Hill and crew Douglas Haig in Martin Sail # 125 (+3 seconds per lap behind the boat ahead)
  3. Ann Frewer and crew Helen Fairfax in 303 Sail # 6 (+8 secs)
  4. Mike Blatchford in Martin Sail # 126 (+5 Seconds)
  5. Keith Eeles in Liberty Sail # 21 (+52 seconds)
  6. Imogen Fletcher and crew Di in 303 Sail # 1 (+2 seconds)
  7. Fay Watson and crew James Thomas in 303 Sail # 10 (+9 seconds)
  8. Peter Wagner in Liberty Sail # 22 (+6 Seconds)
  9. Martin Norman and Sebastian in 303 Sail # 2 (+15 seconds)
  10. Ben Gubb and crew dad, Ian, in 303 Sail # 4 (+12 seconds)
  11. Geoff Taylor in 303 Sail # 7 (+47 seconds)
  12. Mark Cayzer and crew Ralph in 303 Sail # 8

Well done to all the Racers and many thanks to Alan Cayzer for his assistance in the Race Hut and all the volunteers who crewed.

WS Racing – Summer Series 1 – August 8th

The result was:

  1. Keith Eeles in Liberty Sail # 24
  2. Mike Blatchford in Liberty Sail # 21
  3. Martin Norman and his crew Sebastian in Martin Sail # 126
  4. Kelly Tripp and Kim Sparkes in a 303 Sail # 1
  5. Lisa and crew James Thomas in 303 Sail # 9
  6. Malcolm Hill and crew Douglas Haig in Martin Sail # 125
  7. Ann Frewer in her 2.3 Sail # 279
  8. Peter Wagner in Liberty Sail # 22
  9. Lewis Atkins and crew Mike Cartwright in 303 Sail # 4
  10. Mark Cayzer and crew in 303 Sail # 10

Well done to all the Racers and thanks to the volunteers who crewed 🙂

WS RACING – SPRING SERIES 2 – MAY 9th

Those Racers who decided to come to Chipstead were – according to most weather forecasters – taking a risk of getting very wet and being blown around the lake by a quite strong and gusty wind. The early volunteers found themselves launching and rigging the fleet in light drizzle but fortunately that eased off and the task was completed in dry conditions. The wind was blowing from a WSW direction (that is from the Bricklayers Arms / Waterfall end of the lake) and, by its gusts, showing that it was probably going to blow as forecast!

The volunteers’ briefing heard that heavy rain and squally conditions were due to arrive sometime during the middle of the day. Exactly when was uncertain but it was decided to keep the Race Start Time at 1130 and hope that we could derig and get most of the fleet out of the water before the monsoon arrived!

T’was good to see Steve and Ann amongst a dozen stalwarts who had arrived to race. The Pontoon Manager and volunteers sorted out the crews for those who wanted them and suitable boats for the others – with Martin back in a Martin this week – and there was plenty of time for them to practice the course under a rather overcast sky with the same gusty winds.

The sun broke though the clouds at 1120 and the race started on time, in glorious conditions. And, if only he had been 2 seconds (or about 3 meters) further away from the Start Line, as he approached it, Martin Norman (aforesaid helm of Martin 126), would have made a storming start. However, despite announcements from the Race Hut over the Tannoy and shouts from the Pontoon Manager, Martin did not know he was required to go back and restart, until he had already sailed a 100 meters. Nevertheless, he made a swift turn about and restarted the race quickly and then had a battle on his hands making up distance he had lost to the leaders. The other fast starters can be seen in a short video clip (Thanks to Matt Bryant for technical help with loading the video. Ed) as the fleet tacked up to Mark B and then reached across to Mark A.

The rest of the course was: 3rd leg downwind to gybe around Mark D and sail further down wind to Mark J, before pulling in the sails to tack back upwind, across the Start/Finish line (Mark K to a flag in the middle of the lake), to Mark B.

There was good close racing throughout the fleet as the various classes got stretched out on the water.

The Race result is:

  1. David Mason – 2.4m – #108
  2. Mike Blatchford – Liberty – Sail #23
  3. Malcolm Hill and his crew Mike Mackenzie – Martin – #125
  4. Peter Wagner – 2.4m – #109
  5. Peter Gregory – 2.4m -#148
  6. Kelly Tripp and her crew Doug Haig – 303D – #10
  7. Martin Norman – Martin – #126
  8. Steve Farmer – 303S – #1
  9. Fay Watson and her crew Bruce Hebbert – 303D – #6
  10. John Beck and his crew Paul – 303D – #745
  11. Ann Frewer and her crew Don – 303D – #8
  12. Trevor Nunn – Liberty – #21

Well done to all the racers. The results have been added to the summary sheet on the website.