After two weeks when racing was not possible and with just three races remaining in the 2019 season, seventeen of you Racers came to Chipstead to race. That is a record number of entrants and nearly a maximum since it only left a few dinghies in the WS fleet unused. The weather forecast was for an overcast sky and a 14/18 knot WSW wind to be blowing by 11am with gusts up to 25 knots. But at 8am, when the volunteers started to rig and launch the fleet, the lake was covered by a nearly clear blue sky and ruffled by a steady 7 knot breeze from the West. By 10 am most of the racers had arrived and were able to get out on the lake to practise in the gradually strengthening wind which was backing towards the South, especially in the SW corner of the lake near Mark A. A few more clouds were gathering but it was still perfect sailing conditions. From the shore, one could see wind gusts buffeting the dinghies on the water and thus reminding the helms and crews to keep a viligant eye open for advancing pressure shown by the darker patches of water often called “cats paws”.

Between 11.20 and 11.30 am the lake had all the Racers sailing up and down the Start Line, tacking and gybing to ensure they were able to position themselves exacty where they felt they would have the best initial tack towards the first, upwind starboard mark (Mark A). Here is a video of the Start and first few minutes of the race (Apologies for the off-camera noise – someone clipping a hedge? And well done to Mike Blatchford for doing a 360 degree penalty – but why? Ed). The course continued with a very broad reach across to Mark B followed by a downwind leg to Mark D, a short reach across to the windward mark (Mark J) before tacking up back up the lake, crossing the start/finish line so the race Hut could record the times, and heading off on another lap.

As so often has been the case in this and previous years, Peter Gregory sailed his 2.4m, oft referred to as the Red Torpedo (and often used as the WS Poster Boat! Just look at the welcome page of the WS website. Ed), through the mass of boats on the Start line to his preferred position on the lake and an near-immediate lead – which he never relinquished until the Race Results were declared (see blow). The Martins and Liberties, as would be expected on handicap, started off well but were caught out by PG who sailed across them, being on starboard tack, and on the video you see them give way to him. Even on the first leg, they were tracking Peter Gregory, albeit quite some distance behind by the second Mark. Nevertheless three 303s, especially Imogen Fletcher, Fay Watson and Mark Cayzer, were battling away, with assistance from their crews to keep them out of trouble in the gusty and tough conditions, and were rewarded with good places in the final line up. The whole fleet managed to complete the course over some 30 minutes duration before getting together on the benches outside the clubhouse for a very convivial lunch and the declaration of the result. Well done to you all.

Result of the race

1. David Mason in Liberty Sail #22
2. Martin Norman and his crew Sebastian in Martin Sail #126
3. Derek Preston in Liberty Sail #21
4. Mike Blatchford in Liberty Sail #23
5. Imogen Fletcher and her crew Anne Burrell in 303 Sail #2
6. Peter Gregory in 2.4 Sail #148
7. Fay Watson and her crew James Thomas in 303 Sail #10
8. Mark Cayzer and his crew Helen Fairfax in 303 Sail #8
9. Keith Eeles in Liberty Sail #25
10. Peter Wagner in Liberty Sail #24
11. Malcolm Hill and his crew Mike Mckenzie in Martin Sail #125
12. Louise McSweeney in 303 Sail #7
13. Geoff Taylor in 303 Sail #11
14. Steve Farmer in 303 Sail #4
15. Ben Gubb and his crew Don in 303 Sail #9
16. Claudine Stone and her crew Ralph Brandenhorst in 303 Sail #5
17. Tom Phillips in 303 Sail #6

The weather on the day of these two scheduled races has been so bad that on 26 September the Trustees felt the strength of the forecast winds would endanger WS sailors and racers. So the whole day’s activity was Cancelled. On 3rd October the wind at the start of the day up until just before the Race start time was totally absent and although there were 14 Racers on the Start Line, all ready to race, the Race Organisers felt that the absence of wind was such that the leading boat would be unlikely to reach Mark 1 within 10 minutes or complete the course within 30 minutes, even if a new consistently better wind were to arrive soon, which was possible but unlikely. So a decision was made to abandon the race.

Instead of the planned race, there was an offer to the fleet to participate in a paddle-assisted race. The 3-2-1 and Start Gongs sounded and Mark Cayzer could be seen encouraging more and more effort from his crew Paul Phillips such that they gradually built up a solid lead over the trailing fleet. Mark maintained his lead and – surprise, surprise – the faintest of breezes could be seen helping him increase his lead but it failed as quickly as it had arisen and Mark was seen paddling right up until he crossed the finish line. Well done to Mark and all the other WS Racers below who turned up to race today:

• Ben Gubb
• David Mason
• Fay Watson
• Geoff Taylor
• Imogen Fletcher
• Keith Eeles
• Lewis Atkins
• Malcolm Hill
• Mark Cayzer
• Martin Norman
• Mike Blatchford
• Peter Wagner
• Tom Phillips

I am sure that we all hope for better weather next week. See you then.

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.

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).