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The weather was very kind
providing sunshine and superb sailing conditions.
As has become tradition the
event opened with a Pursuit Race, run for 60 minutes over a course
that covered the two parts of the reservoir. Charlie Walters with
Dougal Cram in a 505 made an excellent start, in the wrong fleet!!,
as there was a little confusion about the Gold/Silver split. Richard
and Mark Hartley in their new Osprey led the way at the finish
closely followed by Nigel Skudder and Keith Hills in a Laser 2 with
Peter Bennett and John Skelton in a Hornet third and the FD of Peter
Doran and Richard Phillips fourth.
Then followed two races
around a trapezoid course with a beat around the outer loop. In the
first the lead boats missed the “loop” first time round so they were
playing catchup! Sailing very consistently Nigel and Keith won both
these races with Nick Jones and Arthur Butler in an Osprey second in
the first race and Charlie Walters and Dougal Cram second in the
second race. With the wind blowing around 16 to 18 knots there were
some spills around the course.
Sunday, again bright and
sunny, with about 7-8 knots of a rather shifty wind from the west,
started with two triangular courses. The front runners on the water
were Toby Dale and Jamie Whittaker, Peter Doran and Richard Phillips
in Flying Dutchman with the 505’s of Ross Short and Charlie Walters
and the Hartley’s Osprey close behind, however when the handicaps
were worked out whilst the Hartley’s were first Nick Jones and
Arthur Butler were second, also in an Osprey with Ross Short third
in the first race. In the second Charlie Walters got the bullet and
first on handicap with the Ospreys of Nick Jones and the Hartley’s
second and third.
The last race, round a ‘P’
course, in about 12 to 15 knots, provided some superb fast reaching
for all the classes. Again the bigger boats had the lion’s share of
the honours, although the Laser 2 of Michael Clapp and Mark Bond
scored an excellent fifth.
There were lots of prizes
thanks to our very generous sponsors. Superspar, Craft Insure,
Marlow Ropes, Harken, P&B, Sailing Shirts, + a bit of wine from
Fastsail.
Queen Mary SC were excellent
hosts making everyone very welcome and running a brilliant regatta.
The event now in its 4th
year unfortunately had a low turn out of just over 30 boats. Notable
absentees were the Fireballs who had just one representative on each
day. Those who were not there missed a fantastic weekend’s sailing,
lets hope the numbers return for next year’s SGP.
Stephen Parry
Fastsail Chairman |
