Sunday 8th March saw sailors from Castle Cove and Lyme Regis Sailing Clubs join us in the first of the Triangle and Chaser events. At first, we all thought the weather forecasters had got it wrong as the sun was shining and a decent westerly breeze, however, by the end of the day we experienced all four seasons – from sunny balmy breezes to violent squalls with horizontal rain.
Race one saw three boats from Lyme, nine from Castle Cove and nine from Sutton Bingham get away first time for a windward/leeward course using buoys 9 and 2. The new PY handicaps were used which put Simon Hawkes – K1 (CCSC) in first place, our own Richard Frost – Solo in second and Jerry Rook and Jake Stowe – Albacore (LRSC) in third place.
Lunch was served by Julia Green assisted by Merv Clark with the afternoon races being run back-to-back. Race two saw a well disciplined start with Chris Jones – RS Aero 7 leading for most of the race and winning on handicap, Simon Hawkes came second and Richard Frost third. As the remainder of the fleet were finishing a ferocious squall caused capsizes and all sorts of problems for helms trying to reach the finish line.
Race three saw several helms putting their boats away or retiring early. Simon Hawkes again was first, Jerry Rook was second and Pete Barnstable and Chris Bottomley – Kestrel (sailing for CCSC) were a creditable third.
Commodore Merv Clark received a substitute Banbury Chaser Cup (LRSC are still looking for the original cup) as the home team beat LRSC. The Triangle was won by CCSC with 32and a half points, second SSBC with 46 and a half and LRSC third. Full results are on the Club’s website courtesy of Richard Frost. Merv presented prizes to the top three helms and crew (Simon, Jerry and Jake and Richard) and a special prize to Issy Glazebrook who finished all three races in a RS Tera Sport and came 16th out of the 21 boats that competed.
Thanks were extended to Julia Green for running the galley, OODs Steve Joyce and Adrian Mitchell, Race Officers Phil Bailey and Nigel Leveridge and to all who competed in the event.
The next Triangle event will be held at Castle Cove on the 31st May with the final event at Lyme on 27th September.