SAILING
YARMOUTH SC
THERE was a decreasing Force 3-4 easterly wind late on Saturday afternoon for the second race of the August series.
Helen Sceales again led the Picos in the handicap class around the course to take first place, with Naomi Wickens as her crew. Georgia Kearns was second and Dominic Suckling third.
In the Scows, Peter Giles took an early lead which he maintained to the finish, avoiding various mishaps by the sailors behind him. Melinda Measor, promoted to second after Roger P-E had to take a penalty, took the silver with Roger in third.
Coming at the end of Oppie week, Sunday’s race in the Oppie Only series was very well supported with Agatha Davies gaining first place, Max Bradley was second and Charlie Sellers third.
On Sunday there was a Force 2-3 south-westerly wind giving two good beats on the laps.
In the handicap class, Helen gained her second victory of the weekend with George Suckling second and Tim Lee third. Melinda, Peter Giles and Roger were soon out in front of the Scows and stayed there for the whole race with Paula Sheaf fluffing her chance of overhauling Roger at the penultimate mark. Melinda maintained her first place, Peter was second and Roger third.
BEMBRIDGE SC
FiINE weather favoured those taking part in the second of the club’s Cadet and Oppy weeks.
With nearly 100 children on the water, there were bound to be a few who are not as keen as the rest to learn to sail, but overall it was another very successful week (trophy winners can be found on the results page).
In addition to this, the club hosted its popular Scow Week.
There were nearly 40 women enjoying themselves, some learning the basics with D. Orange, a large middle group with Charles Evans working on their skills and drills, and a top group with David Swinstead honing their racing skills.
Congratulations to Francesca Morgan, who won the top group racing trophy, and to Katherine MacInnes who was overall first in the middle group races.
Meanwhile eight Redwings started the week with two days of racing, managed by SVYC.
After a closely contested eight races, the overall winner was Mary Luxmoore-Styles with George Greenwood second and Meri Benham third.
The annual BSC versus SVYC race was level pegging after the first two sets of races, and in the afternoon, the Bembridge team — led by Bruce Huber — took overall victory for the first time in eight years.
There was no One-Design racing on Saturday due to the strong easterly breeze, but an excellent turnout of ten boats on Sunday. Mark Grzegorczyk led the way closely pursued by James Row. Susie Beart was third two minutes later.
BRADING HAVEN YC
WITH Olympic fever running high, nine fast handicap boats took to the water last Sunday for the last race of the evening series this year.
Even the weather seemed to be celebrating our proud Olympians with almost ideal conditions, only spoiled by the low tide which caused a few upsets, as one or two boats bottomed out in the charge up the harbour, led once again by the Laser of Simon Cooper.
Behind Cooper a bevy of boats vied for position but as the fleet turned for the beat back towards the shore the field began to settled down with the Europe of Giles Easter being overhauled by Roger and Gill Herbert in their Wayfarer and Richard Coleman settling into fourth. Despite tactical sailing around the second lap, the positions remained unchanged with Cooper taking the gun a full minute ahead of the Herberts, who despite a brave effort lost out to both Easter, second and Coleman third on handicap.
The turnout for the slow handicap was once again disappointing with only three boats taking to the water, Anne Barlow and Robin Lobb resuming their personal battle alongside Rob Orr.
Orr was forced to retire, leaving Barlow to chase Lobb around the course, employing all her skill in keeping the amount of clear water between them to a minimum. Lobb eventually took the gun nearly eight minutes ahead of Barlow but Barlow’s tactics had paid off winning on handicap by over a minute.
Ian Thomson and James Hall stepped in at the last minute as race officer and assistant and without them a great evening’s sail would have been lost.