Visitor’s victorious in Papercourt’s RS200 Open, 2011
In a day of light winds, visitors David & John Beaney (Castaways) and Kevin Druce & Lydia Frew (Datchet) managed to finish in first and third places overall, with Jon Paton & Sue Michelmore proving to be the only ‘home boat’ in the top three and second overall.
A bright but almost windless morning welcomed 10 boats to Papercourt’s RS200 Open on 16th October. As a result, morning races were postponed and lunch taken early in the hope of the forecast light breeze arriving. Unfortunately the light airs which did arrive were even less than forecast, but Andrew Boyce and Phil Johnston kindly took to the water to prove to the rest of the fleet that it was sailable and a first warning signal was given around 1.15.
Race Officer Mike Ball set a windward mark, spreader and a leeward gate to offer some tactical choices and 3 back-to-back races were held in the afternoon. The first tactical choice was a wrong one for Boyce / Johnston and Key/Key who realised shortly after the start that they’d picked the wrong end of the line as the rest of the fleet edged ahead, led by David and John Beaney. In both the upwind and downwind legs it proved very difficult to pick spots on the lake which had wind, but the Beaneys and Paton / Michelmore had managed to pull away and would go on to take first and second place. This left a ‘chasing’ pack downwind which included Druce/Frew, Tozer/Corcoran and others, scattered evenly across the lake trying to find any air. More by luck than anything, the Keys managed to carry some way to move up to 3rd place by the leeward mark, only to touch it coming out of a roll-gybe. In their subsequent circle, Druce/Frew were able to pass them, as did 3 more boats, but Kevin and Lydia held on for the rest of the lap and the end of the race.
A similar pattern occurred for the second race, but this time with enough breeze for most boats to try their spinnaker. The best demonstration came from Grose/Cantello, suddenly finding a puff on the left side of the lake which filled their kite and carried them most of the way through the fleet to the leeward mark, slightly behind the same three leading boats.
The third race started with a more promising breeze from the South, but this again didn’t last and by the second lap, many in the fleet were again left frustrated. Fortunes shifted slightly at the front however, with some of the home fleet able to make their presence felt. Jon and Sue were able to take first place and Sam and Kirsty third. Given the conditions and the ever ‘shifty’ nature of Papercourt in light winds, full credit must go to the Beaneys and Kevin & Lydia, together with the club’s thanks to them for making the trip and helping the event be a success despite the conditions.
Prizes were generously sponsord by Guildford Marine (www.guildfordmarine.com) and awarded to the top three places, Bill and Sally for Endeavour and Peter and Stephanie bringing up the rear. Special congratulations are due to David and John Beaney for their first win in an Open event.
With grateful thanks to PRO Mike Ball and also to the gallant galley crew for an excellent lunch and tea, we look forward to a hopefully windier but no less successful day next year.
Papercourt RS200 Open 2011 – Final Results
Sail |
Helm |
Crew |
Club |
R1 |
R2 |
R3 |
Pos |
|
1150 |
David Beaney |
John Beaney |
Castaways |
1 |
1 |
|
1 |
|
849 |
Jon Paton |
Sue Michelmore |
Papercourt |
|
2 |
1 |
2 |
|
1295 |
Kevin Druce |
Lydia Frew |
Datchet SC |
3 |
3 |
|
3 |
|
487 |
Sam Tozer |
Kirsty Corcoran |
Papercourt |
5 |
|
3 |
4 |
|
1377 |
Bill Grose |
Sally Cantello |
Papercourt |
4 |
4 |
|
5 |
|
976 |
Fraser Hayden |
Connie Hayden |
Papercourt |
6 |
|
4 |
6 |
|
636 |
Peter Lytton |
Alyson Lytton |
Papercourt |
|
5 |
7 |
7 |
|
483 |
Tom Key |
Tessa Key |
Papercourt |
7 |
|
8 |
8 |
|
1088 |
Andrew Boyce |
Philip Johnston |
Papercourt |
|
8 |
9 |
9 |
|
332 |
Peter Entwistle |
Stephanie Billington |
Papercourt |
|
9 |
10 |
10 |
