Round 6 Wee Nip Challenge at two Islands RYC Sat 6th August
Events in August always run the risk of poor attendance due to holidays and other family commitments and when this is combined with a weather forecast that promised floods of Biblical proportions, it was little surprise that we only managed to attract six skippers, four representing Abington Park and one each from two Islands and Emberton park. The weather forecast had moderated overnight and indeed we started in fair conditions, no rain and a nice westerly breeze, which meant that sailing from the spit was the option of choice.
Keith bell set a very decent course , which included all points of sailing, often on the same leg, but that’s not unusual with a westerly wind blowing over the island and houses. Six boats started but an early boat failure for Tim Leese left him free to do the scoring, which under the circumstances wasn’t a particularly arduous task, with only five boats on the water.
Racing at the front of the fleet was much closer than the results may show and it was pretty nip and tuck between Geoff, Keith and Peter with some very close finishes. Tom took a couple of wins in races five and seven but was not quite as consistent as the leading three.
By about 11:30 the clouds had begin to roll in and the rains came albeit quite lightly. Having already completed nine races it was decided that it would be prudent to call an early lunch and battery change break, whilst we sheltered under the trees.
As the rain petered out we resumed racing for another hour or so but by race fourteen the sky started to darken with distant rumbles of thunder. A well judged two more races saw us finished and packed away before the heavens opened whilst we worked out the scores in the dry of Pete’s car.
In the end it was always going to be difficult for either Two Islands or Emberton Park to win, with one skipper per club, so the winning club this time was Abington Park, with Murdock going to third place man, Tom Steel.
Geoff Raygada.
Events in August always run the risk of poor attendance due to holidays and other family commitments and when this is combined with a weather forecast that promised floods of Biblical proportions, it was little surprise that we only managed to attract six skippers, four representing Abington Park and one each from two Islands and Emberton park. The weather forecast had moderated overnight and indeed we started in fair conditions, no rain and a nice westerly breeze, which meant that sailing from the spit was the option of choice.
Keith bell set a very decent course , which included all points of sailing, often on the same leg, but that’s not unusual with a westerly wind blowing over the island and houses. Six boats started but an early boat failure for Tim Leese left him free to do the scoring, which under the circumstances wasn’t a particularly arduous task, with only five boats on the water.
Racing at the front of the fleet was much closer than the results may show and it was pretty nip and tuck between Geoff, Keith and Peter with some very close finishes. Tom took a couple of wins in races five and seven but was not quite as consistent as the leading three.
By about 11:30 the clouds had begin to roll in and the rains came albeit quite lightly. Having already completed nine races it was decided that it would be prudent to call an early lunch and battery change break, whilst we sheltered under the trees.
As the rain petered out we resumed racing for another hour or so but by race fourteen the sky started to darken with distant rumbles of thunder. A well judged two more races saw us finished and packed away before the heavens opened whilst we worked out the scores in the dry of Pete’s car.
In the end it was always going to be difficult for either Two Islands or Emberton Park to win, with one skipper per club, so the winning club this time was Abington Park, with Murdock going to third place man, Tom Steel.
Geoff Raygada.
Pictures by Geoff Reygada
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