Author: Keith Sykes

A beautiful sunny morning greeted the competitors for Rollesby Broad’s Solo and Single-hander open meeting on Easter Sunday, only the wind direction was not ideal creating shifty conditions but it was at least strong enough to give a reasonable first beat all day.

The Solos completed four races; Mark Maskell (Blackwater) set off as he meant to continue by leading from the start with John Saddington (Rollesby) his closest pursuer at the first turn. The rest of the pack was very tight and there were regular changes for any boat jumping from 10th to fourth and just as quickly back again! Steve Bishop (Girton) was a little unlucky to be in the pack but once clear set off in pursuit of the leading twosome; eventually nailing the short beat at the farther end of the course to take a narrow win. Ian Ayres (Rollesby) recovered from being OCS to take third by overtaking Pete Matthews (WOBYC) a few meters from the finish..

Maskell won race two by a large margin after sailing away from the first mark on his own private puff! Bishop and Ayres slowed each other by arriving at the mark together but slowly cleared the rest with Saddington leading the pack home in fourth.

After lunch a slight change of course clearly suited Maskell as he won both races, in the third his long term closest challenger was Roger Wilson (Rollesby) before Bishop and Saddington came through on one of the long reaches.

The final race proved the closest. Maskell again looked clear with Ayres and Matthews in pursuit before Bishop spotted an in filling shift at the bottom of the beat on lap two and took several places, bringing through Terry Palmer (Upper Thames) with him. The leading pair pulled clear as the pack played snakes and ladders until the last lap when Maskell had just enough to hang on for the win. Matthews came from behind to gain an overlap on Ayres at the last mark and this time held on for third.

Six Streakers joined a mixed single-handed fleet and proved how keen they were by needing a general recall in race 1! Tamsin Highfield (Rollesby) had a good first beat but couldn’t live with the ultimate speed of visitors Veronica Falat (WOBYC) and Ian Bradley (Ouse Amateur). These two swapped places twice within the last 30 seconds of the race with Falat coming out on top.

Bradley had much less problem winning race 2 after picking the right side of the first beat with Falat and Mark Langston (Beccles Amateur) taking the minor places. Having decided their meeting would be only three races Falat set off with determination in race 3 but the shifty beats meant Bradley and Langston could never be written off until the last beat which Falat sailed almost straight up whilst they had to tack several times to reach the finish line.

Mike McNamara in his Harrier perhaps unsurprisingly won the mixed fleet, though he did have to come from behind after race 1. Steve Whitby in his MiniSail took second on count-back from Daniel Bull’s Laser.

Overall Results:

Solos:

1. 5779 – Mark Maskall (Blackwater); 3pts
2. 5649 – Steve Bishop (Girton); 5
3. 5232 – Ian Ayres (Rollesby Broad); 10
4. 5443 – John Saddington (Rollesby Broad); 12
5. 5001 – Peter Matthews (WOBYC); 13
6. 5259 – Roger Wilson (Rollesby Broad); 16
7. 4258 – Ian Hanson (Rollesby Broad); 17
8. 5724 – Terry Palmer (Upper Thames); 22
9. 5648 – Simon Strode (Rollesby Broad); 24
10. 3941 – Steve Leigh (Rollesby Broad); 27
11. 5496 – Ron Laurie (Harlow Blackwater) 30
12. 4405 – Mike Horwitz (Rollesby Broad); 35
13. 4864 – Chris Mann (Rollesby Broad); 37
14. 4180 – Phil Alison (Rollesby Broad); 42

Streakers:

1. 1972, Veronica Falat (WOBYC); 4 pts
2. 2121, Ian Bradley (Ouse ASC); 5
3. 1920, Mark Langston (Beccles ASC); 10
4. 1568, J Blankley (Beccles ASC); 13
5. 1490, Tamsin Highfield (RBSC); 14
6. 1723, Ian Mansfield (Alton Water SC); 17

Mixed Fleet:

1. Harrier 70, Mike McNamara; 3 pts
2. MiniSail 4220, Steve Whitby; 7
3. Laser 207011, Daniel Bull; 7
4. Phantom 1212, Chris Toothill; 11
5. Laser —-, Steve Vaughan; 13

The Spring series at Rollesby started with the first “Eels Foot Race” of the year. Fourteen boat set out but, as the wind died after the start, the short beat across the Broad turned into a torturous affair. Mike McNamara in his Harrier with Ian and Sharon Ayres in their Leader came round the windward mark ahead of the rest. After a slow broad reach down the Broad the wind picked up and once through the cut, the fleet had a good sail in the bigger Broad. McNamara lead the fleet home. The Leader and the Hansons in their Wayfarer were not far behind having made good use of spinnakers. Handicap results gave the Ayres a win with McNamara second and Val and Chris Hanson third.
The second race with a figure of eight course saw a clear win for McNamara with Ian Hanson in a solo second and the Leader third.

Three Lasers and a Wayfarer stayed for the afternoon race. Keith Sykes
Laser took the win two second infront of Bob Sparrow and Steve in the Wayfarer.

Don’t forget its Mike Macs – Rules talk this Wednesday

To kick off the season, and at the request of several Wednesday Sailors, Mike McNamara has agreed to give a talk on the racing rules on the previous Wednesday evening i.e. 17^thApril.

We would intend this kick off at 7 and Mike has promised to aim it at those who have done a little racing but would benefit from knowing more than just the port / starboard rule!

Rollesby held their Spring Regatta on Sunday. In the pouring rain, at the start of the morning, it did not feel like spring but eleven single handers turned out. As the rain stopped a fresh breeze developed from the north blowing down the Broad and the fleet was treated to some good sailing conditions.
In race one John Saddington in a solo and Matt Boreham in his laser got clear of the rest. Boreham crossed the line first but Saddington took the win on handicap with Steve Whitby in his mini sail second.
In race two Boreham gained a substantial lead on the first lap and was not to be caught. The solo of Ian Hanson made second with the mini sail third. With mixed results and a discard available the regatta win was up for grabs in the third race. With an increasing wind the lasers lead the way with a win by Boreham, the mini sail second. The results reconciled gave Boreham the
trophy with the mini sail second and Ian Hanson in the solo third.
Results Spring Regatta.

1. Laser Matt Boreham
2. Mini Sail Steve Whitby
3. Solo Ian Hanson

FYI — Car Number Plate – AU14 HKN, Found on floor now in Club house