Category: Reports

Race 1

This week was the final week of winter series and in the singlehanders fleet the points situation was extremely close with any one of four helms in with a shout for overall honours. After a few weeks of full off or full on conditions the forecast looked to be following the same old pattern with 20 -30 mph winds from the NW predicted. This presumably deterred some from attending but despite the occasional gust the wind appeared quite manageable and with bonus of the sun making an appearance conditions looked quite good! Despite this a few still opted to enjoy tea and freshly baked cakes in the clubhouse but 8 intrepid helms ventured out for an all singlehander race.  With the wind coming from the NW the race team set a simple triangle course comprising of marks 5, 3 & 6.

 Ian Ayres (Solo) nailed the first start to lead up the beat to mark 5, opting to go to left.  Tamsin Highfield (Streaker) opted for the right hand side hooking up on a nice lift to round the windward mark first, closely followed by Mike McNamara (Harrier), Ian and Roger Wilson (Solo). Tamsin and Mike gradually extended their lead crossing the line in that order. Ian and Roger continued their battle for the rest of the race with Ian holding on to cross the line third. On corrected time Tamsin took the win by 38 seconds, with Ian and Roger taking the next two places.

Race 1: 1 Streaker 1493 (Tamsin Highfield), 2 Solo 5232 (Ian Ayres), 3 Solo 5259 (Roger Wilson)

Race 2

In race two Mike crossed the line with speed to lead up the beat. However, despite being last to cross the line Stuart Highfield (Laser) worked the shifts well to lead at the mark unfortunately rounding a bit too close and touching it resulting in a penalty turn. Mike took over the lead with the rest of the fleet just a few metres behind as they headed for mark 3.  Roger opted to run low to avoid the wind shadow of the bank and looked to be leading as the fleet approached the mark but Mike held on to round first but hot on his heels was Roger and Phil Highfield (Streaker). Mike extended his lead on the reach to mark 6 and the next beat. Unfortunately on approaching mark 3 he caught probably the biggest gust of the day and shipped some water allowing a charging Phil to take the lead which he held to the finish line followed by Roger. On corrected time just 34 seconds separated the first four boats, Phil making it a family double finishing seven seconds ahead of Roger with Ian third.

Race 2: 1 Streaker 1493 (Phil Highfield), 2 Solo 5259 (Roger Wilson), 3 Solo 5232 (Ian Ayres)

Winter Series Results

Once the day’s results were added to the overall series the positions were very close. Race 1 honours went to Ian Ayres with Mike McNamara second and Kevin Postlethwaite third.

The situation was even tighter in race 2 with two points separating the first three boats, Phil Highfield finishing on five, Roger Wilson on six and Mike McNamara on seven.

It was a Wayfarer 1,2,3 in the Multisail Winter series with David Houghton & John Symonds taking first, John Saddington & Dennis Manning second and Bob Sparrow & Chris Gibbons third.

Single handers  (26)

Race 1: 1 Solo 5232 (Ian Ayres), 2 Harrier 70 (Mike McNamara), 2 Solo 4896 (Kevin Postlethwaite)

Race 2: 1 Streaker 1493 (Phil Highfield), 2 Solo 5259 (Roger Wilson), 3 Harrier 70 (Mike McNamara)

Multisail fleet (11)

Race 1: 1 Wayfarer 10000 (D Houghton & J Symonds), 2 Wayfarer 11111 (John Saddington & Dennis Manning), 3 Wayfarer 10213 ( Bob Sparrow & Chris Gibbons)

Race 2: 1 Wayfarer 10000 (D Houghton & J Symonds), 2 Wayfarer 11111 (John Saddington & Dennis Manning), 3 Wayfarer 10213 ( Bob Sparrow & Chris Gibbons)

Next week the club holds its Winter Regatta after which the Frostbite series commences.

After a short delay for some deliberation a small fleet of seven boats set out for the one and only race in definitely top end racing conditions at Rollesby Broad on Sunday January 13 th .

Several competitors were so keen they decided to start racing 5 minutes early; with only two starting at the proper time Race Officer Chris Mann felt sympathetic to the others and abandoned for a proper restart. With a wipe-out squall taking out the entire four strong Laser contingent in the last minute before the restart – led in performance by Daniel ‘I can stand my Laser on its bow!’ Bull – none of them made it to the windward mark …..

Ian Ayres (Solo) and Tamsin Highfield (Streaker) started overlapped on starboard but mid-beat had to duck Matt Boreham (Solo) who had taken the opposite route. Ayres reached the windward mark a couple of boat lengths in front; Highfield tried to pinch the mark and on a lighter day would probably not have got rolled in to windward as the wind backed on her!
Boreham had to take a rapid avoidance action and the race looked decided. Ayres slowly extended away but Boreham had a brief ‘wet moment’ allowing Highfield to catch up before her second capsize left her narrowly in third.

Having spent nearly an hour on the water to get in a 30 minute race the fleet retired for an early and well needed lunch!…..

• 

• 

Single Handers
Race 1 (7 entries)
Ian Ayres (Solo)
Matt Boreham (Solo)
Tamsin Highfield (Streaker)

Perhaps encouraged by the relatively mild weather; and certainly by the excellent catering; an impressive fleet of 30 dinghies, including 5 visitors, came to the line for the annual New Year’s Day open meeting at Rollesby Broad SC.

With the wind direction not quite cooperating, a long opening fetch was set with the start line at the far end of the broad. Daniel Bull put his Laser somewhat riskily at the more sheltered windward end of the line, with Paul Wren (Phantom) and Ian Ayres (Solo) starting mid line but above the main pack of boats that ended up losing out by covering each other. Wren led round the first lap from Bull and Ayres. Only Mike McNamara in his Harrier managed catch them on the water to finish second with Ayres taking a big handicap win. Veronica Falat (Steaker) led Ben Falat in his Phantom for much of the race to take third at the front of a close knit pack.

The wind increased for a shorter race 2 giving the faster craft a chance to stretch out in front.

Veronica sailed really well to hold on to the transoms of the faster boats and take the narrowest of wins (3 seconds) from Ben with Wren 3^rd, McNamara 4^th and Ayres 5^th, just 27 seconds covering these five on handicap…

The sun came out in the afternoon as the wind rose a little more. Daniel Harvey and Andy Smith nailed the start in Wayfarer 1804 to be third behind Richard Fryer (RS300) and McNamara round the first two marks. Ben Falat worked his way through well as the faster three craft took out a big lead on the water. McNamara won with Dave Houghton enjoying the heavier breeze to bring his Wayfarer home second ahead of the Falat family; Ben followed by Veronica in third and fourth.

Overall Results (30 Entries)

1. Mike McNamara (Harrier) – 3 pts
2. Veronica Falet (Streaker) – 4
3. Ben Falet (Phantom) – 5
4. Ian Ayres (Solo) – 6
5. Paul Wren (Phantom ) – 7
6. Dave Houghton (Wayfarer) – 11
7. Phil Highfield (Solo) – 11
8. Richard Fryer (RS300) – 14
9. Matt Boreham (Solo) – 15
10. Daniel Bull (Laser) – 16
11. Tamsin Highfield (Streaker) – 20
12. Terry Palmer (Solo) – 21
13. Val Hanson (Wayfarer) – 22
14. Stuart Highfield (Laser) – 25
15. John Saddington (Albacore) – 26
16. Daniel Harvey (Wayfarer) – 27
17. Bob Sparrow (Wayfarer) – 28
18. Steve Leigh (Solo) – 29
19. Keith Sykes (Laser) – 30
20. Richard Brown (Radial) – 32
21. James Letts (Laser) – 34
22. Phil Alison (Solo) – 37
23. Mike Horwitz (Solo) – 37
24. Chris Codling (Radial) – 41
25. Vince Steele (Solo) – 44
26. Phil Harlow (Wayfarer) – 48
27. Tom Quale (Laser) – 50

At Rollesby 29 boats launched for the seasonal pursuit race.  Eight Lasers formed the largest class taking part. Winds were light and a course was set going round the outside of the marks on the Broad. Steve Witby in his mini sail started  first but on the second lap the chasing solos and streaker had caught up. The leaders started to open out the field by lap three and Michael McNamara in the harrier had worked his way through to the front. In the middle of the fleet some bunching of boats occurred and two groups of the lasers went round close together. When the race timed out McNamara remained in the lead to take the Bent Vase trophy. Roger Wilson and Kevin Postelthwaite followed in solos with Tamsin Highfield’s streaker forth. Dave Houghton and John Symonds in their Wayfarer were onto  Highfield’s transom but did not have time to go past.

The second race was for the Watson Cup where two handed boats were to be sailed by the helm only. This only attracted three entries and Val Hanson lead the way round in a wayfarer. Ian Ayres in his Leader was close behind but a navigational error at the end allowed Hanson an easy win.

Fifteen single handers went out for the third race with McNamara’s Harrier leading all the way. A good performance by Keith Sykes in a laser saw him second on the water and on handicap well ahead of Wilson’s solo in third.

RESULTS
Pursuit Race (29)
1. Harrier M. McNamara,
2 Solo 5259 R.Wilson
3. Solo 4896 K.Postlethwaite
4. Streaker T. Highfiled

Watson Cup (3)
1. Val Hanson

Single Handers (15)
1. Harrier M. McNamara,
2. Laser K. Sykes
3 Solo R.Wilson
4. Laser J. Letts

A sunny day saw 23 boats on the water for the winter series races. A light wind down the length of the Broad gave rise to mixed fortunes with large gaps between front and back of the fleets.
The eight boats in the multi sail fleet included a turn out of six Wayfarers. David Houghton and John Simmons in a Wayfarer used their spinnaker with usual aplomb to pull away and win both races.
The fifteen single sail boats consisted of eight Solos and a mix of other dinghies. Mike McNamara, in his Harrier, lead round the first race but did not get far enough ahead, giving a win to Kevin Postlethwaite in a solo, followed by the streaker of Phil Highfield and solo of Roger Wilson. In the second race McNamara built up a substantial lead to take an easy win in front of Highfield and Wilson.
Six boats stayed out for the afternoon combined alcommers race. McNamara in the harrier and John Saddington with Dennis Manning in a Wayfarer pulled clear of the rest. McNamara was first on the
water but not far enough ahead, giving Saddington the win by 5 seconds on handicap.

Results
Multi Sail Races 1 and 2 – (8)
1, W10000 David Houghton & John Simmons
2. W11111 John Saddington & Dennis Manning
3. W 10213 Robert Sparrow & Tony Gibbs.

Single Sail Race 1 (15)
1. Solo 4896 Kevin Postlethwaite.
2 Streaker Phil Highfield.
3 Solo 5259 Roger Wilson

Single Sail Race 2 (15)
1. Harrier Mike McNamara.
2. Steaker.
3. Solo 5259

Combined PM Race
1. W11111,
2. Harrier.
3. Solo 3941 Steve Leigh

Twenty boats came to the starting line on a bright December day at Rollesby. The fresh breeze coming over the trees along the Broad meant some difficult course setting and blustery conditions, giving plenty of thrills and spills.

The single sail fleet had sixteen boats turn out, the nine solos being  the majority class. In the first race Mike MacNamara in his harrier crossed the finish line in front, neck and neck with Roger Wilson in his solo.  The solo wonon handicap with Ian Ayre’s solo second and Dan Bull third in his laser radial.  In the second race MacNamara had a better lead but could not make the podium on handicap with Roger Wilson againtaking first spot followed by Phil Highfield in a streaker and Matt Boreham in his solo.

The small multi sail fleet consisted of three wayfarers and aD1.  A sudden drop in the wind made atricky start in race 1 but Dave Houghton and John Simmons got away in  their Wayfarer and stayed well in front.  In the second race John Saddington and Dennis Manning stayed on Houghton’s tail for three of the four laps but did not get past.

RESULTS

Multi Sail races 1 & 2 (4)  1. Wayfarer D Houghton & John Simmons,  2 Wayfarer  J Saddington & Dennis Manning.

Single Sail (16)  Race1  1 Solo 5259 R. Wilson, 2 Solo  5232 Ian Ayres,  3 laser Radial Dan Bull. 4 Solo 4896 K. Postlethwaite

Single Sail (16)  Race 2  1 Solo 5259,  2 Steaker Phil Highfield,   3 Solo Matt Boreham.  4 Harrier M. MacNamara

A good south westerly breeze, which rise for race 2 causing several capsizes, greeted the fleet for Rollesby’s Winter Regatta on 2^ndDecember.

The direction meant a long initial beat down the broad, which later in the day needed splitting in two, and a run / broad reach back which at times proved an exciting ride. Continuing their excellent form in what became a Wayfarer fleet race, David Houghton & John Symonds flew their spinnaker with great effect on the run of race one for a comfortable win from John Saddington & Dennis Manning. This however was their undoing in race two asa double capsize with kite up let the Saddington & Manning through and they took the meeting.

The single handers were much more mixed up! Mike McNamara unsurprisingly led the fleet round in race one in his Harrier, however hot on his transom throughout was Phil Highfield’s Streaker who won comfortably on handicap, Ian Ayres and Matt Boreham in Solos led home the rest of the tight pack some way back in 3^rd and 4^th.

The wind rose for the start of race two before briefly rising to some people’s survival limit on the second lap. McNamara led up the first beat from James Letts (Laser) and Highfield, whilst Daniel Bull had also joined the front pack in his Laser Radial. On the second run McNamara capsized (adopting anew coaching position – mid- broad on a centre-board?) and Bull took off to win by a good margin from Highfield with Carl Buck (Laser) also enjoying the down wind ride for third.

Only single handers took to the water after lunch and the fleet was tightly packed for a perfect false start 5 minutes early! Keith Sykes caused some mayhem at the restart, putting his Laser in a rapidly disappearing gap but thankfully all remained upright. Bull and Highfield enjoyed some excellent match racing, just in front of the Solos, doing the same thing.Highfield piped Bull on the line but not on handicap and the first five finished with tired limbs in regatta order, Bull, Highfield, Ayres, Boreham and Whitby……. with Sykes also finishing.

Multisails (5 entries)

1. John Saddington & Dennis Manning (Wayfarer)
2. Dave Houghton & John Symonds (Wayfarer)

Single Handers (15 entries)

1. Daniel Bull (Radial) – 2 pts
2. Phil Highfield (Streaker) – 3
3. Ian Ayres (Solo) – 6
4. Matt Boreham (Solo) – 9
5. Steve Whitby (MiniSail) – 9
6. Carl Buck (Laser) – 11
7. Bob Hawkings (Solo) – 12
8. Keith Sykes (Laser) – 15
9. James Letts (Laser) – 18
10. Mike Horwitz (Solo) – 20
11. Phil Alison (Solo) – 22

Those who looked out at the flat water before the start of raceone and opted not to rig probably thought themselves wise until they missed out on an exciting ride through a squally race two and a pleasant race three at Rollesby for the completion of the Autumn series.

Mike McNamara must have taken note of some of his own instructing (elsewhere in the Broads) as he produced two good starts in his Harrier to lead round the course in both the mornings’ single hander races. Given the very lightwinds for race one he was probably surprised to win on handicap; with John Saddington (Solo) and Tamsin Highfield (Streaker) leading home the main pack in second and third. Second place gave Saddington the series without having won a race.

The sky darkened and the breeze kicked in for race two and there were several calls for water at the three downwind marks as the pack compressed and stretched out behind McNamara whilst the gusts came and went. Steve Whitby brought his MiniSail home in mid-fleet to take second on handicap and the series; he didn’t win a race either!; with Phil Highfield third in the family Streaker.

In the Multisails Dave Houghton & John Symonds (Wayfarer) had already won both series but were pushed harder than usual by Ian & Sharon Ayres in their Leader. These two finished nearly half a lap clear in race one after escaping the rest early on the downwind part of the course. As the wind picked up for race two Richard Foster & Tony Ingram brought their Xenon to the front and as these three boats arrived overlapped and planing with kites up at the first gybe of race two there was a moment of ‘it’s not like Rollesby’ panic before a successful synchronised rounding! Houghton & Symonds eventually stole just enough distance to win by a few seconds from the Ayres’. 

McNamara continued his good form after lunch to win from Ayres (now in Solo mode) and Saddington and take the afternoon series.

Multisails
Race 1 (7 entries)

1. Dave Houghton & John Symonds (Wayfarer)
2. Ian & Sharon Ayres (Leader)
3. Bob Sparrow & Steve (Wayfarer)

Race 2 (6)

1. Dave Houghton & John Symonds (Wayfarer)
2. Ian & Sharon Ayres (Leader)
3. Richard Foster & Tony Ingram (Xenon)

SingleHanders
Race 1 (13 entries)

1. Mike McNamara (Harrier)
2. John Saddington (Solo)
3. Tamsin Highfield (Streaker

Race 2 (14)

1. Mike McNamara (Harrier)
2. Steve Whitby (MiniSail
3. Phil Highfield (Streaker

Mixed PM Race 3 (9)

1. Mike McNamara (Harrier)
2. Ian Ayres (Solo)
3. John Saddington (Solo)

Autumn Series Results Overall

Multisails
Race 1 (15 entries)

1. Dave Houghton & John Symonds (Wayfarer) – 3
2. Bob Sparrow & Steve (Wayfarer) – 7pts
3. Daniel Harvey & Andy Smith (Wayfarer) – 8

Race 2 (18)

1. Dave Houghton & John Symonds (Wayfarer) – 4
2. Bob Sparrow & Steve (Wayfarer) – 9pts
3. Jim Anderson (Wayfarer) – 19

SingleHanders
Race 1 (27 entries)

1. John Saddington (Solo) 7 -pts
2. Tamsin Highfield (Streaker) – 8
3. Matt Boreham (Solo) – 12

Race 2 (29)

1. Steve Whitby (MiniSail) – 8
2. Ian Ayres (Solo) – 9
3. Phil Highfield (Streaker) – 13

Mixed PM Race 3 (13)

1. Mike McNamara (Harrier) – 4
2. John Saddington (Solo) – 8
3. Ian Ayres (Solo) – 13

Eels Foot Series (41 Entries)

1. Ian Ayres (Solo) – 8
2. John Saddington (Solo) -8
3. Ian Hanson (solo) – 13

The fine weather and slightly lighter breeze than the previous week brought out a fantastic turnout at Rollebsy Broad on Sunday 18^thwith 38 sailors taking to the water at some point during the morning.

In the multisails; Chris Sallis & Matthew Frary won both raceson the water in their Tasar; but they couldn’t pull out enough of a lead overthe pack of five Wayfarers, Dave Houghton & John Symonds wrapping up the Autumnseries with a week to go by winning both races on handicap. Bob Sparrow &Steve completed the podium places with a third and a second place.

The short first beat meant the eighteen boat single-hander fleet remained more mixed up on handicap. Mike McNamara (Harrier) and David Frary (Finn) managed to break clear of the pack in race 1. Steve Leigh in his OK led the mid fleet pack before a navigation error brought him back into the clutches of Tamsin Highfield’s Streaker and John Saddington & Ian Ayres Solos. After pulling well clear on lap 2 a further course reading error by Ayres cost him the race, giving Saddington third; Steve Whitby hung on to the back of the pack in his MiniSail to take fourth.

It looked like the same service at the first mark in race two; but some smart downwind sailing by Phil Highfield (Streaker) and Gareth Thomas (Phantom) meant these two had the lead after a lap, with Ayres in closest pursuit. McNamara did eventually get clear on the water but could only count 4^th on handicap with Highfield well clear of the rest and Whitby again in close enough proximity, this time for second.

The weather was even nice enough to entice eight boats back out after lunch!

Multisails

Race 1 (7 entries)
1. Dave Houghton & John Symonds (Wayfarer)
2. Chris Sallis & Matt Frary (Tasar)
3. Bob Sparrow & Steve (Wayfarer)

Race 2 (8)
1. Dave Houghton & John Symonds (Wayfarer)
2. Bob Sparrow & Steve (Wayfarer)
3. Chris Sallis & Matt Frary (Tasar)

SingleHanders

Race 1 (18 entries)
1. Mike McNamara (Harrier)
2. David Frary (Finn)
3. John Saddington (Solo)
4. Steve Whitby (MiniSail)

Race 2 (17)
1. Phil Highfield (Streaker)
2. Steve Whitby (MiniSail)
3. Ian Ayres (Solo)
4. Mike McNamara (Harrier)

Mixed PM Race 3 (8)
1. Ian Ayres (Solo)
2. Mike McNamara (Harrier)
3. John Saddington (Solo)

Who has the fastest survival mode, was the order of the day at Rollesby Broad this Sunday; following a delayed start to observe two minutes silence at 11 am.

The singlehanders made up the majority of the sailors on the water, with Chris Toothill rightly leading the fleet round the course in his Phantom in both races. However an ability to stay upright was more important than outright speed and Ian Ayres led (all be it by a long way) a trio of Solos to handicap victory with Phil Alison and John Saddington having survived the rather scary long run second and third.

A zig-zag downwind with several gybes proved a more stable course in race two, favouring the Lasers of Keith Sykes, who worked really hard in the later stages to catch Stuart Highfield, as they enjoyed some great planing reaches; neither however could quite get far enough ahead of Ayres as he won by a handful of seconds.

In race one for the multisails, Dave Houghton & John Symonds put their Wayfarer into hyper-drive by flying their spinnaker and left the opposition lagging far behind. The only other finishers were Daniel Harvey & Andy Smith with a somewhat more cautious but very seaman like performance. When Houghton & Symonds performed their ‘once a year’ capsize before the start of race two the rest of the fleet elected to stay ashore, only to watch them very nearly repeat the feat on lap two!

Multisails
Race 1 (5 entries)
1 Dave Houghton & John Symonds (Wayfarer)
2. Daniel Harvey & Andy Smith (Wayfarer)

Race 2 (2)
1 Dave Houghton & John Symonds (Wayfarer)

Single Handers
Race 1 (11 entries)
1. Ian Ayres (Solo)
2. Phil Alison (Solo)
3. John Saddington (Solo)

Race 2 (8)
1. Ian Ayres (Solo)
2. Keith Sykes (Laser)
3. Stuart Highfield (Laser)