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. 17thApril.
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!
The course will be run by club members in both members’ boats and our own club boats.
The course will be open to both youngsters and adults.
Sailing is perceived as being an expensive sport. Nothing could be further from the truth. You don’t even need to own a boat since we have a fleet of club boats available.
For more information all Rachel or Pete on 01953 606334.
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.
Laser Matt Boreham
Mini Sail Steve Whitby
Solo Ian Hanson
FYI — Car Number Plate – AU14 HKN, Found on floor now in Club house
This year our personal start pursuit racing starts on 24th April it is intended that racing starts at 6.30 for a Mirror (rather than 7) to allow more sailing time before the breeze dies. If you arrive a bit late you may be able to request a small delay from our friendly race team!
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. 17thApril.
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!
I intend to provide a baked potato meal around 6.45; if anyone wants to partake in this please let me know by Sunday 14thso I know roughly how many to bring!
A suitably chilly start as winter sailing at Rollesby came to its
conclusion with the final races of the Frostbite Series which warmed up to a
beautifully sunny spring day for all those who remembered the clocks had
changed! An impressive entry of 65 different craft have taken part over the
winter with 19 different Solos, 12 Wayfarers and 10 Lasers making up the bulk
of the fleet.
With the Multisail series results already in the bag for Dave
Houghton & John Symonds it was great to see Mike & Sam McNamara on the
water; showing the fleet how it should be done, though they may have been aided
a little in race 1 by Houghton’s spinnaker snagging on the first hoist. Bob
Saprrow & Tony Gibbs were not to be entirely out done by port tacking the
McNamaras in race 2 to lead until the kites went up!
Both single hander series were still fairly open; with McNamara Wayfarering and Ian Ayres on race duty surely some low point scores were available to the other protagonists. The conditions (and possibly the course) clearly suited the Lasers, as in both races Matt Boreham led the way by the end of lap one. In race 1 Dan Bull recovered well from an unnecessary restart to be second on the water however he was not far enough in front of either the Solos of Roger Wilson or Terry Palmer or the flying MiniSail of Steve Whitby who took the handicap win. Wilson’s third was enough to take the series from Palmer. In race 2 Whitby suffered a broken mast when well in contention and Bull slowly reeled in Boreham to take the win. Phil Highfield in his Streaker worked particularly hard on the third lap to drop the Solos taking second from Boreham by 2 seconds and the series win from Wilson.
Multisails
Race 1 & 2 (5 entries)
Mike & Sam McNamara (Wayfarer)
Dave Houghton & John Symonds (Wayfarer)
Bob Sparrow & Tony Gibbs (Wayfarer)
SingleHanders Race 1 (16 entries)
Steve Whitby (MiniSail)
Matt Boreham (Laser)
Roger Wilson (Solo)
Race 2 (14)
Daniel Bull (Laser)
Phil Highfield (Streaker)
Matt Boreham (Laser)
Mixed PM Race 3 (3)
Ian Hanson (Solo)
Simon Strode (Solo)
Phil Alison (Solo)
Autumn Series Results Overall
Multisails
Race 1 &2 (16 entries) – same positions
Dave Houghton & John Symonds (Wayfarer) – 5 / 5 pts
Bob Sparrow & Steve Gibbons (Wayfarer) – 12 / 14
John Saddington & Dennis Manning (Albacore) – 15 /18
An inconsistent westerly breeze meant short beats, long reaches
and increased the importance of a good start at Rollebsy on Sunday 24th
March. With the mutlisail series already sorting themselves out the tighter competition
is with the single-handers , where the winners are still open to several
sailors with only one more week to go.
Close Racing
The Solos were again to the fore, but not exclusively so. Roger
Wilson and Ian Ayres led at the first mark with Daniel Bull in his Laser for
company. On the first reach Mike McNamara took his rightful place in front in
his Harrier, eventually being joined by Dave Frary in his Finn. Neither they or
Bull could pull out enough from the two Solos who appeared to be tied together,
they were generally so close to each other; with Wilson taking the win. Steve
Whitby kept his Minisail in touch with the pack to take fourth on handicap.
Twenty seconds before the start of race 2 Clive Girling (Laser) managed
to capsize and lasso the windward line marker causing complete mayhem at that
end of the line. Wilson was the only boat with a clear run and led by around 10
lengths at the first mark from Ayres, Matt Boreham and Bull. Bull charged down
the first full reach and as the fleet tried to sort itself out, Chris Codling
showed a good turn of speed to bring his Laser into fourth with Phil
Highfield’s Streaker in close pursuit. Bull gained just enough to win by 3
seconds from Wilson and Ayres who finished over lapped.
Multisail Race 1 Start
Dave Houghton & Jon Symonds won both multisail races from Pete
& Rachel Smith. These two sailed well clear of the six Wayfarers in race 1,
but had to get past Bob Sparrow & Steve Gibbons who started late but in the
right place and tacked off first to lead round the first mark and the first lap
in race 2.
The bright conditions encouraged 13 craft back out after lunch though the wind direction altered slightly making the race somewhat processional with Wilson and Keith Sykes (Laser) splitting the Wayfarers of Houghton & Sparrow from the Terry Palmer led (7 strong) Solo pack.
Rollesby ‘Solo’ Sailors (All others more than welcome) Saturday 6th April 2 pm
Several people have asked me if I would repeat the training day I ran about 3 years ago. I have been trouble finding a suitable space in my diary! I would intend this particular session to be land based only; though nothing to stop people having a sail afterwards. To talk through set ups and maneuvers. I will be laying my boat on the lawn so we can play with control lines (could someone with a stiff rig supply a boat to do the same so we can compare the two).
If you would like to have your rig measured / tweaked I intend to be there by 1 pm (could possibly also fiddle afterwards) bring your boat, rigged but without sail to the main lawn area and I’ll try to help as best I can.
I imagine the formal session lasting around an hour – though it depends on how many questions are asked! If you you sail another single-hander I’m quite happy to talk about those too. Should be time for a sail afterwards if you are so inclined!
As I am unlikely to be traveling so much this year I hope to be able to offer a single-hander on the water session later in the season (and a separate double-hander afternoon as well).
If you have any questions please contact me directly (see below) rather than replying to this mail
A strong westerly breeze coming over the trees on the west bank
meant conditions were tricky at Rollesby Broad on Sunday 18th March,
indeed given the number of capsizes it was impressive that there were only two
retirements amongst the 15 starters.
The Solos were dominant in the single handed fleet; Roger Wilson
started fast in race 1 having shut out Daniel Bull in his Laser; to round the
first mark on a lifting wind-shift and gain an already good lead from Ian
Ayres. Bull worked hard to catch up but capsized both times that he looked like
putting in a serious challenge; meanwhile Tamsin Highfield in her Streaker was
leading the pack with Terry Palmer in close attendance. Palmer was close enough
at the finish to give the Solos a clean sweep of the podium places.
In race 2 Wilson was again away first but infringed Steve Whitby
in his Minisail and had to do turns. Phil Highfield, having taken over the
Streaker, led up the second beat pursued closely by Ayres; however a large
shift coming through the trees turned the top six upside down and it was the
lasers of Keith Sykes and Stuart Highfield who led the rapid charge back down
the broad with Kevin Postlethwaite leading the Solos. Alas the Lasers could not
cope so well upwind and Ayres spotted an early wind-shift to take the lead up
the next beat; Phil slowly closed in, especially downwind, but despite
splitting the Solos on the water could not beat Wilson on handicap.
Despite a capsize in race 1 Dave Houghton & Jon Symonds
(Wayfarer) won both multi-sail races. John Saddington & Dennis Manning
retired after suffering the same fate, whilst Bob Sparrow & Steve Gibbons sacrificed
speed for safety flying their jib rather than genoa and took (an albeit
distant) second in both races.
It was definitely a game of two halves; to mix sporting metaphors;
at Rollesby Broad this Sunday (3rd March). Race officer Matt Boreham
chose to set 4 gybes on a downwind slalom as opposed to the three previous
weeks of long runs.
Race one was bit of a damp squib (literally) as the gentle force 2
the race started in came down the broad in varying puffs accompanied by
occasional drizzle. Dave Houghton & John Symonds won the Wayfarer race by a
margin from Bob Sparrow & Steve Gibbons who only just pipped John
Saddington & Dennis Manning for second. In the single-handers David Frary in
his Finn, slowly pulled away from the fleet of 14 led by the Solos of Robert
Hawkins and Ian Ayres to take the win.
As the noon start time for the second race approached the
postponement flag was raised and hung limply from its hoist as the sailors
wandered around ashore quaffing coffee and pondering whether or not to give-up
and go home! At 12.15 a few ripples appeared on the water, the flag was lowered
and launching commenced. The first capsize (Keith Sykes in his Laser) was less
than 5 minutes away as the anticipated storm Freya arrived with aplomb.
Only three Wayfarers started; Houghton wobbled down the first short run with Saddington in pursuit; Sparrow already on third, decided to wear round at the first gybe, only to end up in the reeds. Houghton took a somewhat cautious approach from there on but was able to hold on for a narrow win from Saddington.
Race 2 Start, Ian gets away on port.
Meanwhile the single-handers were either relishing the breeze or stretching the rescue services. More than one sailor was seen to head ashore even before the start. Ayres went for the port start in a cloud of spray, he had to duck a couple of transoms, but only the Laser of Daniel Bull went with him to the right. Thomas suffered the indignity of his mast coming down recovering from a capsize after only 100yds. Bull led round the windward mark, but then put in a double capsize at the first gybe mark. Phil Highfield took the lead in his Streaker only to lose his mainsheet at the last (fourth) gybe of the lap; yes they were all still in the course. Ayres took the lead as a charging James Letts (Laser) flew into second before a wipeout broach at the leeward mark. The next beat proved less eventful but as the fleet turned downwind on lap two the wind was rising; Ayres capsized briefly at the first gybe this time, giving the lead back to Bull and Phil with Stuart Highfield bringing his Laser into contention. By lap 3 the hardy few left racing hard were starting to manage the conditions; but they were still glad to hear the shorten course signal! Bull led Phil across the line but not by far enough; Ayres was third with Stuart fourth on the water, but with Hawkins – the first finisher to stay upright close enough to take him on handicap.
