COLDHAM HALL SAILING CLUB RACE REPORT

Start to Racing – First Race Day Report April 9th 2023

10.30 am on the dot and on a clear bright sunny Easter Sunday with the customary 5 – 4 – 1 – All clear, OOD’s, Dave & Margaret Woolston, got the first race of the 2023 season underway. The strong incoming tide and light wind initially kept the boats clear of the line until Ben Adams and Judith Robertson in Yeoman 146 ‘Felspar’ found a lift and led the remaining 3 Yeomans and 2 Wayfarers across the line. With a simple course of just two marks set the fleet headed to the downriver mark. Rounding the mark first, Felspar maintained the lead over Paul Parker and Gill Pearson, sailing Wayfarer ‘Club 2’, in second place, the rest of the boats close behind. As they headed back past the club towards the upriver mark and with the wind and tide now behind them, Club 2 managed to take advantage of the conditions to catch and overhaul Felspar. By the time they turned at the upriver buoy both boats had begun to open a sizeable lead on the rest of the fleet. With the rest of the fleet trying to catch up Club 2 and Felspar continued to get further ahead to set up nearly a half lap lead as they crossed the line towards the final buoy. Rounding the buoy for the final time Club 2 led Felspar by around three boat lengths and despite Ben’s best efforts to gain on them Felspar had to settle for second place to Paul at the line.

After teas and coffees, the second race started in much the same way and began to look like a rerun of the first. Felspar again lead the fleet over the start line with Club 2 close behind. Sailing their new Yeoman 118 ‘Diamond Lil’ Sandy & John Wells got a better start and were a half boat length behind Club 2 at the line. This time though Felspar managed to hold off Club 2 on the run back and took the second mark in the lead. As these leading two again began to open the gap on the rest of the fleet Dave Greenacre and Gary Corbett in Yeoman 143, ‘Kingfisher’, and Mike Roll and Asher Minns sailing the second Wayfarer, ‘Yarebeat’, having managed to pass Sandy & John earlier fought for third place position. Leaving Stuart Lee and Jane Yeats in Yeoman 72, ‘Millchic’, following behind with a lot to do to catch up. After rounding the penultimate mark and heading back down on the run Club 2 again managed to overtake Felspar but by the time they had rounded the final mark and headed for the finish Felspar had caught up and they were set for a close race to the line. Ben opting for the leeward side of the course whilst Paul went for the more windward side, they were close together approaching the line but Ben’s choice seemed to be the better one and with a slightly clearer wind he crossed the finish line just ahead of Paul. Kingfisher following close behind to take third place.

The third race got underway with a slightly freshening of the breeze and at the start klaxon Dave Greenacre helming Kingfisher with Gary came from behind the others at the line to surge past and take an early lead. Managing to maintain the lead for the first lap but with Club 2 chasing close behind. Unfortunately, following a breakage of the jib sheet on Kingfisher, which severely hampered their race allowing Club 2 to take the lead. With their lead being further eroded and they dropped further back down the fleet. Club 2 followed by Felspar taking first and second at the line closely followed by Mike Roll in Yarebeat in third place