2015 - wee Nip Medal Competition - Round 8
19th september 2015
report Alan Smedley
Nine Wee Nippers took to Emberton Park’s watery stage for this month’s gathering of radio yachtsmen. The organizer Alan Smedley had injured his thumb whilst maintaining a somewhat larger vessel the previous weekend and had been given strict instructions not to get the dressing wet. Fortunately for all, EPSC ‘model boat section’ secretary Colin Davies was able to carry out the pre-race task of buoy laying, this assignment being rather complicated by the club dinghy having collected more than an inch of rain water, and Alan’s shore side directions of left a bit, out a bit, down a bit. After steadfastly completing the mission Colin, with wet feet and pants, (at least it wasn’t Alan’s thumb) resolved to repair his buoy laying boat.
A very light NE wind had been forecast and the fickle zephyrs remained from this direction for all of the morning. Conditions such as this certainly separate the men from the boys and John Simmons showed his metal from the start with win after win. Whilst valiant attempts were made by second place challengers Mike Ewart, Tom Steel and Geoff Raygada; it was not until the 6th race that Mike Ewart regained his Mojo and John’s seat was over throne.
A break for lunch in the clubhouse gave the chance to add a midway buoy to the upwind leg and provide some variation to the course so a willing club Commodore, Luke, offered to dryly transport Alan and buoy in the club safety boat. Luke also had another plan that had worked successfully in the past to disperse problem blooms of ‘Blue Green algae’ by running up and down at speed in the dory. Unfortunately this resulted in an unsailable 9th race of the day as other kinds of previously submerged pond weed drifted to the surface of a previously untroubled course. It was pragmatically agreed at this point to finish the days racing, there being little chance of an enjoyable afternoon racing in the diminishing puffs.
Looking on the bright side of life (always) Colin Davies fixed his pre lunch, yacht radio problems and joined Tim Leese and Alan in a friendly afternoon race; once the weed had settled. Dave Pace, I think, enjoyed a mornings sail in the open air with the sun shining, and Peter Jackson an interesting tussle with Alan for the mornings 5th place. The days prize for overall winner went to John Simmons who kindly thanked Emberton’s Serena Stewardson, for turning up after a 10hr flight home to tirelessly record the results.
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