Datchet Report and Results.

[Ken]

Happy to be on the podium again after a long absence which is why I am writing the report. Amazing sunshine greeted us all to a welcome return to Datchet Water Sailing Club. On my arrival and as so often has been the case this year Dave Bourne and myself are one of the first to arrive, Dave quickly got the kettle on and coffee was served, tradition you must keep up David. The club’s facilities are second to none and the ease of registration and the club friendly atmosphere along with sailors arriving from all parts of the country from 3 classes made for a pleasant morning of catch up and good banter.
Racing started at 1pm with a light shifting breeze, the OK ‘s were 3rd away which helped if you were watching the Larks and Wayfarers sail their first beat to pick which way might just pay. Richard Burton sailing a borrowed GBR 2151 rounded first closely followed by Simon Davis and Ken Carroll. Richard opened up a gap of some 25yds but fell foul of the sailing instructions. Please do not sail through the line on the down wind leg. Some confusion reigned for a brief moment which allowed Davis and Carroll to slip through and sail away on the next beat. Places changed between the pair but Simon finally got the better of Ken with a tighter rounding of the last mark to sail to the finish. Keith Byers sailing his nice shiny boat crossed the line a good third. Poor Richard he finished 9th (must read the instruction in future. :roll: )
Race 2 and the wind was dropping slightly in the heat of the day but with the heat also came more wind shifts making the upwind leg really hard to read. Ken Carroll took an early lead from Richard and the pair opened up a small lead. Behind the pair, on the downwind legs places were changing in the bunch of boats so close to each other after the hard slog to the windward mark. Carroll slightly quicker than Burton down wind and also in a little more breeze it seemed, opened up a 25yds lead. On the last beat and 100yds from the mark Carroll took a gust which came from nowhere and completely on the wrong side of his sail which created an involuntary tack, a bang on the head, a half a boat full of water and losing his place to Burton. Richard won, Carroll second and, sailing from the very back of the fleet gained by sailing on his own in his own wind and in a completely different direction to everybody else, Deryck Lovegrove finished third.
Race 3 the wind was still really light and difficult to read. much the same as the others but for the results, Richard won and our very own Mary Redddyhoff second and new member Luke Gower sailing Burtons old boat in third. We finally came off the water at 17.45 hrs hungry, ready for a few beers and looking forward to watching Rugby.
Sunday and with a little more breeze, it soon became apparent Richard who had gone home the night before for his very own rugby party was nowhere to be seen. We later found out he did not wake up until 10am and then it was over 1 hrs drive to the club. DOH!
Racing started at 10.15hrs. Dave Bourne who was not in the hunt for anything on the Saturday showed his skill (he told me to say that) by winning all 3 races. Simon Davis sailed consistently well taking 2 seconds and a third, Finn Gheury also sailed better in a bit of breeze taking some good results. Alan Atkin had some good races pushing people all around the course. A difficult days sailing really but enjoyable. It was good to meet new people, Colin Meddows-Smith, Luke Gower, and a quick visit from John Hammond .
All in all it is good to have Datchet back on the calendar we need to retain this event. We must keep the sunshine but please Finn sort the wind out next time. Thanks Finn before I forget, for sorting the BBQ sat night.
Don’t forget Ardleigh open on the 10th October and South Staffs on 18th October and Alton Water winter series starts on 25th October.
Results
Ist Simon Davis, 2nd Dave Bourne, 3rd Ken Carroll, 4th Keith Byers, 5th Deryck Lovegrove, 6th Alan Atkin, 7th Mary ReddyHoff, 8th Richard Burton, 9th Fin Gheury. 10th Rodney Tidd, 11thLuke Gower, 12th Colin Meddows-Smith.
Cheers, Ken.

[davecooper]

Podiumed?? Congratulations Ken.

Dave

[Ken]

@davecooper wrote:

Podiumed?? Congratulations Ken.

Dave

The Podium was not painful I can assure you Dave :oops: but the sailing was hard work.

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