You were a brave lot today! Whilst the weather conditions on paper were absolutely perfect, it was certainly a chilly one. The race box was cold enough so I can imagine that it was pretty nippy on the water. On the plus side, the wind was almost perfect. Even better was that so many of you turned out on a cold October day so late into the season. This is something we could have only dreamed of a few years ago.

The one area where, us in the race box, have seen the most improvement over the past year, is at the start. Last year, starts were not very competitive with most sailors a long way from the line. Today showed us, yet again, how much this has changed. Every sailor was up there jostling for position with almost all boats close to the line and at speed as the gun went. This is making for much closer and more exciting racing. The only thing we have to remember is the rules in these close quarter situations, the more competitive the racing is, the more of these situations we will see. Peter’s email this week showing us what can go wrong shows how important it is to avoid a collision at all costs!

Peter G was on fast form today and led from the start flying both upwind and downwind. Behind him though, the competition was fierce. With just one point separating the top 3 boats, it is all still very much to play for. The first beat was very tactical and close, leading to some close quarter sailing at the first mark. From what, we could see, everyone made it round without collision so well done. Malcolm Hill led the charge downwind behind Peter with Martin chasing his tail. Just a minute separated the next 5 boats at the end of the first lap.

The main chasing fleet

Racing was also tight within the access fleet. Kim had a tricky start allowing Jake to march into a strong lead. He wasn’t having it all his own way though with Keith just 8 seconds behind him at the end of the first lap. Fay and Louise were fighting hard not far behind either.

The Access’s fighting around buoy D

The wind dropped a little on the 2nd lap leading to longer lap times from the entire fleet. The racing became closer and closer in both fleets giving Mike and I a busy time in the race box. Just 10 seconds separated boats 2-4! The battle in the access fleet became extremely close as Kim recovered from a technical mishap on lap 1. Jake covering her up the final beat to try and keep her behind him. We couldn’t call it in the race box but ultimately Jake timed the finish beautifully beating Kim by 3 seconds.

The bigger boats completed a 3rd lap, Martin was able to get away from Malcolm and David but still could not get the advantage over a minute. Peter W finished strongly on the final lap, as did Mike Blatchford. Despite sailing the slower boat, the bigger boats just couldn’t shake him off, leading to his overall victory in the race (on handicap). Only Peter G completed a 4th lap, a masterclass in how to sail the 2.4 in some breeze.

So that’s it from me, that was my last race report of the season! It is half term next week and I am away so I am gutted but I won’t be there to see you pick up your prizes. Thank you to all of you for making this season the fun that it has been. I have said this a number of times but when Peter, Bob and I sat down with the idea of getting some racing started, we could not have imagined what it could have become. Not only the on the water sailing, which improves race to race, but also the camaraderie that you have built up off the water. It really makes us want to keep doing it and keep making it better. Good Luck next week, I look forward to hearing all about it and seeing the photos.

So onto next season – please give us your feedback on how we can improve the racing, for the group overall or for you individually. Have a great winter and see you for Race 1 next year. Don’t forget to say your prayers to the wind gods in advance!

The Race Results were:-

1. Mike Blatchford (Liberty)
2. Martin Newman (Martin)
3. Malcolm Hill (Martin)
4. David Mason (2.4m)
5. Jake Jones
6. Kim Sparkes
7. Peter Gregory
8. Fay Watson
9. Peter Wagner
10. Keith Eeles
11. Louise McSweeney

The curse is over. I was at the race and there wasn’t either no wind or gale force winds! In fact, what a gorgeous October day to have a race on and so much better than was forecast. 

I hope this means you’ll also be happy with having me again next week! With only 3 races left of the season, it is still all to play for, especially at the top of the leaderboard, where a number of racers could still win the series overall.

Firstly, I hope that you found the group discussion prior to the race with Mike and Peter beneficial. We will make sure that all the information from that is put into a document prior to next season as a reminder for those that were there and for info for those that weren’t. I think the most important thing to remember about sailing and the WS Racing is that, ‘Everybody should be safe and enjoy their day and what happens on the race course, stays on the race course’. We’re never going to all agree after an incident on the water but let’s leave it there.

Anyway, back to this week, 13 boats were on the start line with lots of familiar faces including the very familiar face of Mr. David Mckee (303 Yellow #6) joining us for the first time in quite a while. The start went smoothly with everyone clear but more importantly, it was competitive and you were all really close to the start line, just not over it! This lead to a competitive first leg, particularly given the near perfect wind conditions that we had. At the first mark (B), there was a lot of bunching but you all made it safely round. Here is a video starting just after the Start Gong. (Great sight! Ed)

The 2^nd leg saw the battle begin between David Mason (2.4m #109) and Mike Blatchford (Martin #125). At the end of the first leg, there was just 4 seconds separating them. The 303’s were having an equally competitive battle with a minute separating 6 boats. (Great racing everyone. Ed)

And here is a video of the group just behind the early leaders as you ran downwind from  Mark C to  Mark D and rounded D on your first lap: (Very nearly a capsize from David Mckee at 1min 35secs! Ed)

The wind picked up in the 2^nd lap leading to some very quick laps, particularly from the larger boats. Mike Blatchford had the bit between his teeth and forged ahead of David Mason, pushing and pushing to extend that lead with every lap. From 4 seconds on the first lap, the gap had widened to 44 seconds in the 2^nd lap. Whilst the gap widened slightly within the access fleet, there was still only 1 and a half minutes separating the top 5 303s.

Here are a few more photos taken during the race:

Mike and david away…from chasing pack

Keith, Louise and Jake

Mark and Fay

Martin storming along..

Imogen and Colin

Ten of the 13 starters were able to go on and complete a third lap, another quick lap with the wind maintaining its strength. Mike continued to turn the screw, increasing his lead to a minute and a half. Malcolm was not letting them have it all their own way catching them up considerably on the 3^rd lap. The rest of the 303s finished on lap 3 still competitively racing and keeping Peter and I on our toes in the race hut getting all your finish times so close together.

Final leg from J to Finish Line for Jake, Fay, Peter, Louise, Keith and Imogen

Just 3 boats completed a fourth lap, Mike again increased his lead over David. Malcolm pushed David all the way to the line closing the gap to just 8 seconds.

Another great race on a beautiful day. This changed the top 3 of the series overall so there is still so much to play for in the last 2 races of the season (And keep an eye out for the Lady from the Reeds! Ed) .There are a number of racers with 4 finishes to their same during the series. Five finishes qualifies you for an overall result so if you can make it down to one of the two final races, we’d love to see you. I can’t quite believe we are down to the final two races, it has been a memorable season with the most consistent high numbers of entrants per race that I can remember. Thank you to all of you for making it so special.  See you next week!

Result

1. Mike Blatchford – Martin
2.  Malcolm Hill (and his crew Douglas)  – Martin
3.  Martin Norman – Liberty
4.  David Mason – 2.4m
5.  Mark Cayzer and John Masters – 303
6.  Peter Wagner – 2.4m
7.  Fay Watson and James Thomas – 303
8.  Jake Jones – 303
9.  Louise McSweeney – 303
10. Tom Phillips and  Peter Moore – 303
11. Keith Eeles – Liberty
12. Imogen Fletcher and Colin Barnes – 303

And in the afternoon some of you stayed on for more fun and games on the water….some of which was caught on camera :

For the first  WS Race in October, the weather was overcast, the temperature mild and the wind coming and going. Nevertheless there was sufficient wind (blowing from the SW) to enable the tenth race of the Summer Series to be held. The early arrivers had an opportunity to sail around the course and test the wind, others arrived just in time to sail to the Start Line…where 16 Racers were sailing around up and down, waiting for the 3 Minute Gong. The race started on time at 11.30 and Malcolm Hill (Martin #125), David Mason (2.4m #109) and Jake Jones (Liberty #23) nailed the start as can be seen here a second before the gong sounded…

and then the you can see in the video what happened to them and some of the other sailors in the leading part of the fleet as they beat up to the first Mark A.

(Very interesting viewing if you pick on one boat and watch it progress…or not, as the case may be! And see how  little wind flurries give one or two boats a sudden boost to their speed whilst others near by struggle to keep moving forward.  So very frustrating when that’s YOU!! Ed)

The usual suspects started to get their noses in front and the video ends with David Mason well on his way to the first Mark A, closely chased by Peter Gregory (2.4m #148 – AKA The Red Torpedo). And due to their decisions on where to tack, Peter ended up heading for Mark A but meeting David coming into the Mark on a starboard tack. This meant that Peter had to give way to David but in the event David chose to round the mark immediately and Peter left him lots of room both to go round the Mark and then to reach across to the second Mark B. But once these two Marks have been rounded and the downwind leg to Mark D was underway, The Red Torpedo gradually gained the upper hand leading to Peter rounding Mark B first.

A collision course…?

David starts to round Mark A

Peter allows David lots of room at the Mark

But…Peter makes it down to Mark D first

Martin Newman (Martin #126) was the next to round Mark A and he was being closely tracked by Mike Blatchford (Liberty #22 Yellow), Jake Jones (Liberty #23 White) and Peter Wagner (2.4m #108) and they can be seen here approaching and rounding Mark A and then chasing after Martin and finally running downwind towards mark D after gybing around Mark B…

Second wave of sailors at Mark A

Chasing Martin’s Martin…

Sorted and on the way to Mark B…

Full bore downwind on way to Mark D…

Then another wave of sailors arrived at Mark A, Imogen Fletcher and Meg (303 # 9 Blue sail), Steve Farmer (303 #1 White) and Fay Watson and James (303 #10 Red). All quite close together but in almost balletic fashion they sorted themselves out to round the Mark as can be seen here..

Who will be first around Mark A?

Imogen’s away to Mark B…

Once Peter Gregory completed his first lap some 90 seconds ahead of David Mason in second place, he continued to pull out a significant lead over the rest of the field. He completed  his third lap 3 minutes ahead and was the only helm asked to complete 4 laps.  The wave of boats following David Mason in his 2.4m,  as he was chasing Peter Gregory, initially comprised the 2.4m of Peter Wagner,  the two Martins of Malcolm and Martin,  and the two Liberties of Mike and Jake. Unfortunately for Malcolm his challenge was thwarted by equipment failure that put him way back down the field.  That left the field clear for Martin in #126 and he held  onto third place on -the-water for the whole race.

David away from the fleet

Ann battling away…

Mark chasing Mike…

Peter Wagner in his 2.4m sailed into fourth place followed by the two Liberties and then Kim Sparkes in her Access 303 Yellow sails #6  and just 18 secs behind came Mark Cayzer and his crew Tony Merrick by the time they finished the second lap.  But during the third lap, Kim split the Liberties , finishing the third and last lap 1 minute behind Mike and 90 seconds ahead of Jake.  These  seven helms were the only ones to complete three laps. The remaining helms had their own battles with each other and with the shifty wind. Mark Cayzer  and Tony Merrick 303 Blue sail #2,  Imogen Fletcher and Meg Warren 303 Blue sail # 9 and Fay Watson  and James Thomas 303 Red sail #10 were vying for position at most of the Marks and eventually came home just  90 seconds apart and ahead of Steve, Louise and Kelly.  Ann Frewer stuck to  the task in her 2.3 to complete two laps.

A great contest throughout the fleet. Well done to all! Ed.

Race Result with Time Difference behind  (in seconds per lap) 

1, Kim Sparkes (303)

2. Mike Blatchford (Liberty) – 10s

3. David Mason (2.4m) – 30s

4. Jake Jones (Liberty) – 3s

5. Martin Newman  and Sebastian (Martin) – 15s

6. Mark Cayzer and crew Tony Merrick (303) – 20s

7. Peter Gregory (2.4m) – 10s

8. Imogen Fletcher and crew Meg Warren (303) – 5s

9. Fay Watson and crew James Thomas (303) – 18s

10. Peter Wagner (2.4m) – 0.5s

11. Steve Farmer (303) – 6s

12. Ann Frewer (2.3) – 19s

13. Louise McSweeney (303) 

14. Malcolm Hill and crew Di (Martin) – plagued by gear failure

15. Kelly Tripp and crew Jane (303)

Tom Phillips did not complete the full course.

We arrived at Chipstead wondering if there would even be a ripple on the water this week. At 8.45, there was hardly enough breeze to move a sail as we started to launch and rig the fleet.  What a contrast to the whirlwind conditions of last Thursday! The Trustees were confident that the forecast wind would arrive in time for the Race at 11.30 but , based on the evidence thus far, there was some discussion about the direction from which it would blow.  The forecast was SW so we agreed to set up the course from the normal Start Line of Buoy K to a  Distance Marker Flag, then upwind to Mark A,  a reach across to Mark B, downwind to Mark D and then back upwind to cross the Start Line.

We had a 15 entrants milling around on the start line and staying clear of each other. The 3 minute gong sounded at 11.27 and Race 9 of the Summer Series started at 11.30 as can be seen in the video below. Check out how the different tactics worked out for those helms that started close to the right hand end of the Start Line on starboard tack, those in the middle of the Line (mainly on port tack), and those close to the left hand end of the Line on port tack. The danger of starting out on port tack is that if you fail to get away strongly and so do not have enough space to sail  across the bows of competitors , you must tack or sail around the back of the boats on starboard…

As can be seen in the video, Mike Blatchford’s (Liberty #22) decision to steal a march on his opponents by starting very close to the left end of the Line was thwarted by a drop and a shift in the wind just as he was on his final approach. At the other end of the Line, Peter Gregory (2.4m #148) swept in on a starboard tack which saw him arrive first at the windward Mark A…but he had to make his final approach on a port hand tack which meant that Martin Newman’s Martin # 126 had the right of way as it approached Mark A on starboard tack. So Martin got round Mark A first and he led Peter Gregory as they headed across to Mark B. Peter was the windward boat so he had to ensure that he didn’t drop down on Martin. They rounded Mark B together but then Peter Gregory started to pull away on the downwind leg and round Mark D with a healthy lead as can be seen here:

Fleet makes its way to Mark A

Who is going to round Mark A first?

Mr Gregory in the Red Torpedo!!

On maybe not…who is coming up here?

And Martin Norman gets in front of Peter Gregory to round Mark A first!

The wind remained blowing mainly form the SW and gradually gained in strength as the Race progressed. This enabled lots of duels to take place right through the fleet both on the beat from Mark D to Mark A, as well as the run from Mark B to Mark D. Once Peter Gregory had broken away during the first lap, the leading pack comprised the two Martins of Martin Norman (#126) and Malcolm Hill (#125) and the 2.4m’s helmed by Peter Wagner (#108) and David Mason (#109). Kim Sparkes in her Access 303 #6 Yellow Sail was mixing it with Mike Blatchford in the faster Liberty #22. Here are some more pictures showing the various little duels going on during the Race during a beautifully sunny autumnal day….

Just as the clock moved towards 30 minutes, the Race Hut started gonging finishers as they completed their second laps and asking 6 boats to complete 3 laps and Peter Gregory staying out there for 4 laps! (How does he do that? Ed)

Here are the two 2.4m’s of David Mason(#109) and Peter Wagner (#108) finishing their Races…just 13 seconds apart!

David Mason finishing….

Peter Wagner finishing…

Any here are two final photos…one shows what happens when you don’t tie a good knot to secure the Commando and the other shows a very content group of WS sailors and volunteers enjoying each other’s company having lunch on the patio outside the clubhouse (What a great scene! Ed)

My boats floating away…

What a great day we had!

The final Result was:
1. Kim Sparkes (303S)
2. Martin Norman (Martin)
3. David Mason (2.4m)
4. Malcolm Hill (crew Tony Merrick) (Martin)
5. Peter Wagner (2.4m)
6. Peter Gregory (2.4m)
7. Imogen Fletcher (crew Di) (303D)
8. Mike Blatchford (Liberty)
9. Fay Watson (crew James Thomas) (303D)
10. Mark Cayzer (crew Peter) (303D)
11. Louise McSweeney (303S)
12. Ann Frewer (2.3)
13. Sophie Absolom (crew Don) (303D)
14. Rowan Nichols (crew Brigette) (303D)

and Jake Jones (303S) and Tom Phillips (303S) DNF

In recent weeks the challenge for WS Racers has been to complete at least a single lap of the course set because there hasn’t been very much assistance from the wind. Well this week the challenge was the same but, rather there being too little wind, the Racers had to contend with a strong and very gusty wind arriving from a variety of directions but mainly the SW, which required competence, bravery and resilience to keep their boats moving forward. The strength of the wind, with gusts approaching 30 knots, meant that the Trustees did not make a final decision to allow the race to take place until around 1030.

Martin Norman, Mark Cayzer and Peter Wagner had arrived at the lake shortly after 10am, keen to battle the elements. They were able to get out on the lake after the Trustees’ decision and were  joined by Fay Watson, David Mason, Louise McSweeney, Jake Jones, Sophie Absalom, Kim Sparkes and Malcolm Hill.  Due to the conditions, the Session Manager, Steve Thomas, ensured that some Helms were paired up with experienced crews, namely Tim Phillips, Mike Coleman, Tony Merrick, Mike McKenzie and Helen Fairfax. Thanks to them for enabling our keen Racers to take to the water and enter Race #8 of the Summer Series.

The first boat out on the water was Wealden Sailability’s new Drascombe Longboat. This was her first outing with WS Clients aboard and she looked magnificent – as can be this seen here:

The star of the Start was Jake who hit the line in his 303 #2 as the gong sounded and he quickly had a substantial lead over a chasing pack comprising Martin (Martin #125), Fay (303 #9), Malcolm (Martin # 126), Peter (2.4m #108) and Sophie (303 #1). He managed to continue making the pace beating into a very hard SW wind as those behind him battled the wind and each other up to the windward Mark A. Here are two photos showing Jake (blue sail) absolutely flying away from the fleet after the Start (Well done Jake! Ed)…..

Jake’s storming start…

Which he holds onto…

Just after the three minute Start gong had sounded, David Mason (2.4m #109) had an altercation with another  dinghy(Unidentified apparently! Ed)  during the  pre-start melee up and down the start line, and this resulted in some damage to David’s  boat. John King was quickly on the scene in the safety boat and was able to get David’s boat to the pontoon with words that David thought were “I think that’s the end of your racing today!” The countdown for the Start of the Race continued whilst the damage was assessed. The Race started!! Fortunately for David, Steve Thomas managed to rig up a temporary solution to his boat’s problem and he joined the race – starting a few minutes late. Maybe it was just brilliant sailing or more good fortune, but the angle of the wind enabled David to sail just two tacks from the port end of the start line to the first mark (Buoy A) and as can be seen from this sequence of photos, he came into the mark on a starboard tack (hence having right of way) and squeezed himself in front of Malcolm, Mark, Jake and Kim, to round the first mark in second place.

Martin gets round A first..

Who will be second?

It looks like Jake has it….but who’s that storming up on starboard tack?

What a recovery by David Mason – Bravo!

It was a shame that the tough sailing conditions meant that Sophie (303 #1), crew Helen, was not enjoying herself and decided to retire (Great effort Sophie. And a good call to retire if the racing is no longer enjoyable! Ed).    With the wind remaining strong as they rounded the second mark (Buoy B), Martin Newman and David Mason started the downwind leg towards the Leeward mark (Buoy D) with Martin in the lead and David a little way behind.  Martin managed to maintain his advantage and stayed ahead around the Leeward Mark D. But, by the time the two leaders had battled their way into the wind, back up to Mark A, David had overhauled Martin to round the Windward Mark first and appeared to be pulling out a good lead. There were lots of individual duels going on across the lake and personal ones.  Jake and Mark sailed  their 303s around the course in their own ways but coming together at the Windward Mark, it could be seen how equal they were. And as the race progressed they were mixing it with the leaders and back marker. And Louise McSweeney on her own in 303 #5 was finding the conditions were making it very difficult to set the sails so that she wasn’t either being knocked over by the gusts or getting stuck in irons and blown backwards.  The result was that she was caught by the leaders  on their second lap after they rounded the Leeward mark and set out  to beat into the wind again. (Nevertheless Louise stuck to her guns and finished the Race – bravissima! Ed).

Mark and Jake….so close!

Louise about to be caught by the leaders!

Mark, Jake and Louise mixing it with the leaders!!

All the time, Kim Sparkes had been sailing in her usual under-the-radar style and could be seen pulling ahead of the other 303s and getting close to Malcolm in his Martin and Peter Wagner in his 2.4m so it was no surprise to us in the Race Hut that once the lap times had been calculated and despite the fact that the Race Controller saw fit to ask Kim to sail one more lap than the other 303s (After the Race, Kim said that  her final lap had really tested her resolve since she was very tired. What spirit. Ed), Kim won the Race ahead of Martin who had stayed close enough on the water to David’s 2.4m and was thus placed second. The rest of the results are shown below.

After the Race, all the WS Racers were congratulated on their brave and sterling performances. A senior sailor was heard to say that many members of Chipstead Sailing Club would not have ventured out in such windy conditions.  (What a commendation! Well done to you all. Ed)

Results of Race Summer Series #8

1. Kim Sparkes (303S)
2. Martin Newman (Martin)
3. David Mason (2.4m)
4. Jake Jones  and crew Mike Mckenzie (303D)
5. Mark Cayzer and crew Mike Coleman (303D)
6. Malcolm Hill and crew Tim Phillips (Martin)
7. Fay Watson and crew Tony Merrick (303D)
8. Peter Wagner (2.4m)
9. Louise McSweeney (303S)

Sophie Absolom and crew Helen Fairfax (303D) retired.