2015 - wee Nip Medal Competition - Round 4
23rd May 2015
report Peter Shepherd
Abington Park MYC was the setting for the fourth round of the Wee Nip Medal competition in the Main Lake, with an inconsistent and extremely light shifting wind consistencey was the order of the day.

Thirteen skippers came to race, Peter Shepherd sat out to officiate, with the shifting conditions required a couple of course changes to keep the event rolling along.
By the time the lunch break came around there were four skippers in with a shout of winning, the ever present Keith Coxon (55, Glen Keith), John Simmons (17, Pinch) who had started to come good after a dodgy start, Paul Risdale (53, Pig's Nose) who had put together a consistent set of results and joining them for the first time Trevor Thomas (58, Glendower) who had found the perfect set up and was practicing being smooth in the turns the perfect tactic in the light wind conditions.
By the time the lunch break came around there were four skippers in with a shout of winning, the ever present Keith Coxon (55, Glen Keith), John Simmons (17, Pinch) who had started to come good after a dodgy start, Paul Risdale (53, Pig's Nose) who had put together a consistent set of results and joining them for the first time Trevor Thomas (58, Glendower) who had found the perfect set up and was practicing being smooth in the turns the perfect tactic in the light wind conditions.

Keiths scorecard wasn't peppered with the usual bullets. consequently six different skippers got the chance to have their moment in the sun, apart from those already mentioned, the always a pleasure to sail with skippers from Emberton Park SC, Alan Smedley (77, Glencoyne) and Colin Davies (42, Blackadder) took three wins between them.
Some skippers struggled more than others with the conditions, amongst those who made heavy weather of it were some of the more prominent skippers Mike Ewart (36, Ardbeg), Peter Jackson (30, Red Rooster),Tom Steel (68, Johnnie Walker) & Richard Doleman (48, Drambuie) I am sure they will be back for more another time hopefully with some more favourable conditions.
Some skippers struggled more than others with the conditions, amongst those who made heavy weather of it were some of the more prominent skippers Mike Ewart (36, Ardbeg), Peter Jackson (30, Red Rooster),Tom Steel (68, Johnnie Walker) & Richard Doleman (48, Drambuie) I am sure they will be back for more another time hopefully with some more favourable conditions.

Geoff Raygada (57, Black Prince) had a steady if unremarkable day's sailing, and Peter Wood (any boat will do) and Derek Lane (16, Bowmore) battled it out at the back until watching men play with their odd shaped balls became more enticing for Derek, which only leaves the top four afternoon sesion to report.
John Simmons 17, came good and put together a string of good results in the middle of the session, however his position in the final three races and the aforementioned poor start left him to much to do.
The unluckiest skipper of the day Paul Risdale 53, came to grief on a twiglet in race 15 which meant he had just a few too many high scores from early on than three discards would allow otherwise I think second place would have been assured.
Trevor Thomas 58, allowed a couple of early race wins to get away from him and much like Paul had just a few too many higher scores to put the pressure on Keith.
That just leaves Mr Consistancy himself Keith Coxon 55, whilst he didn't score his usual plethera of race wins was only once outside the top 5 and with his three discardsgone every counting score was a fourth place or better.
It was all very close throughout the fleet and hopefully you will all come back for more at the next event in this series which is 27th June 2015 at Two Islands RYC.
For the eagle eyed amongst you the overall table has changed to bring it into line with the scoring system favoured by Acersail, you might have lost a couple fo points here and there but so will everyone above you so not to worry. The first of the discards ahs also been included which has shaken the table up quite considerably.
John Simmons 17, came good and put together a string of good results in the middle of the session, however his position in the final three races and the aforementioned poor start left him to much to do.
The unluckiest skipper of the day Paul Risdale 53, came to grief on a twiglet in race 15 which meant he had just a few too many high scores from early on than three discards would allow otherwise I think second place would have been assured.
Trevor Thomas 58, allowed a couple of early race wins to get away from him and much like Paul had just a few too many higher scores to put the pressure on Keith.
That just leaves Mr Consistancy himself Keith Coxon 55, whilst he didn't score his usual plethera of race wins was only once outside the top 5 and with his three discardsgone every counting score was a fourth place or better.
It was all very close throughout the fleet and hopefully you will all come back for more at the next event in this series which is 27th June 2015 at Two Islands RYC.
For the eagle eyed amongst you the overall table has changed to bring it into line with the scoring system favoured by Acersail, you might have lost a couple fo points here and there but so will everyone above you so not to worry. The first of the discards ahs also been included which has shaken the table up quite considerably.