Flying 15 Bulwark Trophy 2010 . . .28 boats sailed out into Hayling Bay for this years Bulwark Trophy – The HISC Flying Fifteen open meeting. For Race 1 there was a Northerly breeze of 15knots. After a little drifting anchor problem causing a postponement of the first start Race Officer, Jamie Jameson reset a good line and triangle/sausage course. The fleet were well behaved and got away nicely at the first attempt. Dave Lucas/Mark Longstaff in 3937 and Charles Apthorp/Alan Green in 3957 emerged as leaders and after a good tussle in the oscillating breeze, Apthorp/Green eventually broke through and won comfortably from Lucas/Longstaff. Russell Peters/Tim Hall in 3911 came in third. Race 2 and the northerly breeze had started to increase. Another good triangle course and line were set but this time the fleet were a bit eager and a general recall was required. Race Officer Jamie rightly went for the black flag on the subsequent attempt and the fleet were away with just one BFD casualty and that was the BIFFA class president Adrian Tattersall/Tim Smart in 3914. Greg Wells/Mark Darling in 3920 started in the middle of the line and tacked immediately onto a good shift and pressure. Gill Browning/Simon Weatherill in 3955 did likewise at the committee boat. These two were first and second at the windward mark and both stormed off down the excellent reaches in a breeze that was now giving great planning conditions. Behind them Apthorp/Green in 3957 and Tattersall/Smart in 3911 were battling it out. Peters/Hall passed Apthorp/Green and started to close on the leaders. Wells/Darling had enough lead though and went on to win but Peters/Hall was able to get through Browning/Weatherill just before the last windward mark and finish second. Browning/Weatherill were third and Apthorp/Green 4th. So overnight 3 boats were tied on 5 points. Wells/Darling, Apthorp/Green and Peters/Hall but with Browning/Weatherill and Lucas/Longstaff ready to pounce. Race 3 dawned with a northerly breeze of less than 10 knots and a warmer day. The breeze was very shifty and there were lots of holes. It was going to be a difficult day. Jamie set a good challenging windward leeward course and a good line. The fleet were still half asleep and were all well back at the start. Lucas/Longstaff picked their way up the first beat and led nicely at the windward mark with Browning/Weatherill and Wells/Darling in pursuit. At the end of the 2nd beat Browning/Weatherill took the lead but out of the left came Andy Jameson/James Grant in 3862 to round hot on Browning/Weatherill’s transom. Jameson/Grant passed Browning/Weatherill on the final run to the finish. Browning/Weatherill took 2nd and Lucas/Longstaff just held off Wells/Darling to take third. The scene was set for a cracking last race as there were now five boats in contention for overall honours. Wells/Darling, Apthorp/Green, Peters/Hall, Browning/Weatherill and Lucas/Longstaff. Again Race Officer Jamie did well to set a course with reasonable start line in light northerly wind which was now oscillating with 30 - 40 deg shifts. The boats that worked the left of the challenging first beat came out well on top. First round was 3937 Lucas/Longstaff, 3914 Tattersall/Smart and third 3951 Roger and Barbara Palmer. The early leaders headed right on the run and slowly made their way downwind with little pressure in the sails. Halfway down the run boats that had gybed on the mark and headed left seemed to have found more breeze and closed with the leaders. Roger/Barbara came inside and moved ahead of Tattersall/Smart. Lucas/Longstaff lead around the leeward mark and headed right in search of pressure and clear air which proved successful and they went onto win the race and with it the Bulwark Trophy. Roger and Barbara Palmer held on to second despite the advances of Jameson/Grant in 3862 who had sailed the shifts well to move up to third. It was a great win for Dave Lucas and Mark Longstaff from Grafham against the tough local competition. Dave normally crews the boat and he announced at the prizegiving that he is obviously not so good a crew as Mark Longstaff! A great weekend was had by all. Thank you to HISC and to Jamie and his race team. - GW
Flying 15 Bulwark Trophy 2010 - Leading scores |
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