The first cup series of the year was raced in a F5-6 southwesterly sea breeze which had appeared out of a warm and cloudless sky. Steve blasted away in his RS700 knowing that he needed to almost lap Neil over 4 laps to beat him on handicap and win the coveted Watler Cup. With it’s silver coating nearly worn off it looks almost like real gold. It was not to be. Things we going so well until a major and slow capsize on the 3rd gybe giving Neil a comfortable win. Jason looked in contention until a late equally slow series of capsizes left him in 3rd position. Trev, racing a Laser for the first time, and second sail in one, did magnificently to finish 4th having completed a full range of capsizes and found that it is quite hard to bear away in a Laser and stay upright with full kicker in a force 6 gust.

The second race with the tide turned, waves picking up and big wind shifts inshore caused Steve some grief and both Neil and Jason were too fast to catch. Trev continued through the full range of capsizes, including righting the boat with no dagger board, before deciding to call it a day.

Jason was sailing a Radial, but as there were no other slow boats the Centripump Cup couldn’t be raced. He opted to count his results as in a full rig but the places would have been the same if worked out as a Radial.

Results

Four competitors took to the water (initially five, but Lawrence took a cautious view and decided not to compete).
The wind was blowing a healthy force 4-5 from the south west and race officer set a longish course towards the Barry Pin with a beat from the dropped flag buoy with downwind and a reaching leg back through the line.

On starting the wind immediately dropped , making the course too big. Jason and Neil Chasing each other and Carmel close on Jake’s transom.
Lap two saw Jason ahead on the downwind leg, and Neil, in his glee at seeing Jason hit the mark, also hit the mark !. Neil managed his 360 quicker but was still caught again by Jason who was first over the line. The toppers of Jake and Carmel went round in close formation, Jake getting there first.

In between races the wind picked up, and the lasers planed up and down the start line, and then it promptly dropped again for the now shortened course. Race two saw Neil getting the best start and getting over the line first. The toppers were more spread out this time but with Jake still in the lead and over the line first.

Results

Results

Results

Results

Dry conditions with a cool north westerly breeze greeted the 5 sailors who began preparing their boats for races 15 & 16 of the Spring series. 4 Lasers & a Topaz (being sailed by Trevor) made up the fast & slow fleets. OD Nigel set a course for the purists, opting for beat & run legs which would quickly sort out the wheat from the chaff.

All 5 boats jostled for position at the start of the first race with the 4 Lasers getting off to a close start but Robin pushed his luck a bit too much and got called back for being over the line. Steve went back in sympathy whilst the others sailed on. It was Andrew who made it to the windward mark first closely followed by Jason, Robin, Steve and Trevor.

The gusty conditions made the downwind legs interesting, especially as it was against an outgoing tide increasing in strength. After 3 laps (2 for the Topaz) a mistake by Robin allowed Jason to sneak through as the final mark was rounded & the finishing order was decided with Andrew winning, closely followed by Steve, Jason, Robin with Trevor already finished.

With the tide & wind gradually increasing in strength from a Force 3-4 to Force 4-5, the second race saw further fighting for position on the start line & with at least 3 boats judged to be over the line when the starting claxon went, the race committee volunteers of Nigel & Danny (in the rescue boat), Bob & Alun (in race HQ) decided a general recall was necessary.

The second time round saw the 4 Lasers getting off to another close start and it was Steve & Andrew leading the way to the first mark. Jason grappled with his boat, the wind & the tide and fell behind the others and after 3 eventful (for some) laps, Steve showed his superiority in the stronger wind & tide conditions and crossed the line first ahead of Andrew, Robin, Jason with Trevor managing to stay in contention in the Topaz, having completed the required 2 laps for the slow fleet.

Thanks to all the Duty volunteers, inc ODD Nigel with his camera & Jean on the slipway for another enjoyable Sunday morning of sailing at SCC.

Another couple of races dominated by Lasers, but we seem to get a different selection of sailors out each week and all but 3 out of the 20 boats entered so far need more races to qualify.

Steve leads the Fast fleet with Jason in second. Carmel leads the Slow fleet.

Results

Two afternoon races in a breeze which played games. Slow from the North increasing and turning north east eventually settling to the east and dropping off.

First race saw the fast fleet go to four laps and the slow boats to three. Danny had the best start and maintained himself ahead of the other lasers all race.

By the second race the wind was more easterly. Laurie almost missed the start. There was a good deal of shouting on the line as everyone jostled for position. The first leg was a good beat for this race and the first three lasers had very close racing. The wind eased with the race going to three laps for the fast boats and two for the slow fleet.

On handicap, Nigel finished ahead of the Lasers but with most of the fleet out for the first time this year there’s no change to the overall positions except for Jake moving up to 4th in the Fast fleet.

Its still only April and although the sun was about there was still a chill when afloat.

Results

With last week being cancelled due to excessive wind today’s race was on the cusp of being cancelled due to the lack of it. The wind started coming in from the west. It then turned south and by the end of the second race was a good force 4. The sun also graced us with an appearance.

Four boats were out, two lasers, one laser radial and a topaz. A triangular course was set by the OOD Teilo Richardson. Andrew physically lead each race from the start, but Carmel snuck ahead in the second on handicap. Both races went to five laps.

Results

Neil had a couple of blistering starts but capsizes let Steve and Jason through. Robin and Carmel also competed on capsizes with Robin getting the better for last place.

Results

Four intrepid souls set forth in 18kts of wind to tackle a simple triangle course. Neil and Andrew led the field away from the start and fight up the beat to the first mark before a tangled foot led to Andrew capsizing and Neil shot clear off down the run.

Then the conditions started to narrow down the field. Andy retired and a second capsize for Andrew (and a bang to the head from the boom) at the end of first race, meant the second race consisted of two boats. Laser vs Topaz. But it was a short race to let Neil capitalise on the absence of Steve before they were called in to ensure there were still enough people to recover the rescue boat.

Results