FED WEEK Report - Monday
Fickle sunshine with an ideal force 4 south westerly wind provided a record 400 competing boats with excellent racing for their first day at Federation Week. With a start near Thorney and the windward mark on the Winner, Series 1 classes had an interesting first beat, having to choose which shore to head for, to avoid the strong flooding tide. Tacking under East Head shore proved the favoured course except for the "Foiler" International Moth, sailed by Simon Payne, (HISC), whose speed over the water and with most of his hull out it, was such to make little difference to his course, crossing the finish line in an amazing 1hr 12min, almost half an hour ahead of the leading International Canoe, sailed by Gareth Caldwell, No 294 (Blithfield SC).
Two new fleets joined Series 1 this year, the RS700s with 19 boats, was won by Nick Rizzi, 904, HISC and in the RS Elite, a new keel boat, where after a good tussle between Andy Jamieson and Mike Dawe, with the latter crewed by Paul Carpenter and Peter Hickson, taking the winner's gun.
The 40 strong RS200s proved the largest fleet this year, with Paul and Caroline Fisk 626 (Emsworth Slipper SC) sailing an excellent race to win, and the Finns provided a welcome larger entry with veteran Graeme Macdonald 556 (Mengeham Rythe SC) being pipped at the finish, sailing to the wrong end of the line, allowing David McGregor 40 (HISC)to take first place, after Edward Greg was penalised for not signing out.
In the Flying Fifteens, with three past world champions in the fleet including Graeme Lillington from Australia, local sailors Gill Browning and Simon Weatherill 3818, (HISC) proved themselves clear winners.
The RS400s must be mentioned for surviving 3 rounds of a long course with Bill and Lynda Handley 1201 (Swanage) taking the gun, and the Notley Brothers 1153 (MRSC) slipping three places to sixth on the final beat.
The good breeze ensured all classes on Series 2 similarly started on time, with no recalls and Robert Godwin 179646 (HISC) took the Laser gun, with Alistair Nichol 176760 (Emsworth Slipper SC) winning the Radials.
Another new class in Series 2, the RS Fevas, enjoyed good racing with Frances Peters and Claire Lasco 825 (HISC) finishing first. The Optimists provided the largest fleet on Series 3 Course with Ben Gratton 4926 (HISC) beating Alex Mothersele 4669 (Emsworth Slipper SC) to the finish. - Robert Macdonald
|
