Border Counties Midweek Sailing round 5 at Redesmere Sailing Club

A total of 22 boats participated in this round including five boats with six young sailors taking advantage of this event being held during the school holidays.

Unfortunately with the high pressure system currently over the UK, there was never likely to be much breeze for exciting racing. As the briefing was being held some breeze did ripple the water, but by the first start time there was just sufficient for Race Officer Peter Baldwin to set a fair start line, but it did take some time for all of the fleet to reach the first mark. The Supernova of Pete Coop led on the first lap, with Pete Chambers also in a Supernova close behind.

However there were two Solos (Ted Garner and Phil Proctor) not too far back pushing the first two on handicap. A number of the slower boats were struggling to keep their boats going in the light and shifty breeze and so the race was shortened with five boats only completing one lap and the leaders two.

Garner took the win on handicap, with Coop second and Proctor third. Average lap times were used to make the racing as fair as possible, but it still took 20 minutes for all boats to finish.

After lunch it was more of the same wind wise with a delay for boats to get to the start area for Race 2. Soon after the sequence was under way a light breeze from the West filled in (having been Northerly) and so the start was postponed and the committee boat moved to a new start location. Any breeze then disappeared and sailors had to wait for a new breeze to fill in and the Committee Boat to return to another location close to its earlier position.

On the way to the 2nd mark - Border Counties Midweek Sailing round 5 at Redesmere - photo © E Rhodes Photography

Race 2 finally got under way an hour later than hoped for with a very light 2 knot breeze from the NNW. Once again Coop and Chambers were fighting out at the front of the fleet by the end of lap one (and minimal breeze), but Tom Brindley in an ILCA 7 was close behind. Once again, only two laps were completed by the bulk of the fleet, with Coop first over the line and on handicap, Brindley second and Garner third.

Once all of the boats had finished a new start sequence was begun for Race 3, in very similar conditions, but with a reduced fleet of 11 boats. All boats managed to complete two laps of the course this time with most of the slower boats having dropped out. The race belonged to Brindley who held the lead from the first mark through to the finish, he was followed by the Supernova of Frank Lafferty and the Comet of Steve Bellamy.

On the finish and on handicap, it was Brindley first followed by Bellamy and Phil Blakeman (Solo).

At the prize-giving, Club Commodore commended the Junior sailors for completing two races in very difficult conditions and presented each with a small prize. Prizes were then awarded to first double hander, Dave Thomas and Shan Stapley (Shotwick) in an Enterprise and the top three overall places to 1st Tom Brindley (Redesmere) in a Laser. Second was Pete Coop (Winsford Flash) in a Supernova and third Ted Garner (Budworth) in a Solo.

Dave Thomas thanked the club for hosting the event and all the volunteers who helped make the event run on what was a beautiful summers day, but with little wind for sailing.

The next round of the series is at Nantwich and Borders SC on Tuesday September 6th. More info available at bordercountiesmidweeksailing.wordpress.com/venues-and-dates

Overall Results:

Waiting for the wind at start - Border Counties Midweek Sailing round 5 at Redesmere - photo © E Rhodes Photography