Simon Payne wins opening Moth event

by S Payne on 9 May 2007 A great turn out of 16 foil borne Moths gathered at Weston SC on Southampton water over the bank holiday weekend for the first real test of 2007.

The workout this weekend was pretty revealing and with the World and European Championships, in Lake Garda starting on the 25 June many people were keen to see who had benefitted most from the winter hours on the water.

But Saturday was light winds of up to seven knots with 180 degree shifts and a delay to allow the tide come in further and with the breeze wilting the premium was on early foiling and efficient low riding.

Ultimately only one race was completed and Paul Brotherton, in his first ever moth race won from current World and European Champion Simon Payne and Jason Belben in his new Fastacraft Prowler in third. Ashore after the race the dinghy park bristled with new Mistresses and Prowlers, new sail designs plus the standard kit.

Sunday was a stiff and gusty 15 to 20 knots with a huge confused chop thrown up by power boats and ships. Four back to back races were sailed and this tested the sailors physical fitness, tactics, boat speed and their boat handling ability. Race two saw Payne take the lead from Brotherton on the second lap and hold it to the finish with Belben third.

All three were sailing Fastacraft Prowler designs, but using three different sails with Payne sporting a new Pinnell and Bax, Brotherton a Hyde sail and Belben the established KA.

For many this was the first proper race since the last world championships and despite some rusty sailing skills the 20 knot plus downwind legs were great spectactor sport for the crowds on the beech.

Race three saw the leaders get the course wrong. Hard on a triangle/sausage you might think but they managed it. Anyway it was Belben who noticed first, with Alex Adams showing well in the breeze to take second. .

Race four and the breeze had built further and was doing a great job of mimicing the expected Garda conditons, and the competitors sucked on their fluid bottles for just a few short minutes as the race officer wasted no time in sending them around again.

Sam Pascoe showed incredible boat speed in his new Mistress M3 to lead around the windward mark, super fast down wind too - yet with a gung-ho riding style that promised a crash wasn't too far away meant that when it happened Payne took the lead and was never headed.

Payne extended to win confortably with Belben second and Alex Adams, surely the 'man of the match' showing great winter improvement to claim third.

Race five and Botherton, very good at getting out of the blocks early held off the rest to lead the windward mark. A massive gust saw several of the top guys take a dip and a wild sleigh ride to the gybe mark followed. After lap one Payne and Belben were out in the lead, Payne holding on despite another senior moment at the next windward mark.

And so it was that Simon Payne with three race wins won overall with Jason Belben second and Paul Brotherton third, Alex Adams fourth and Tim Ollerenshaw a brilliant fifth.

It looks like a top three is emerging with Payne (Prowler/P&B), Belben (Prowler/KA) and Brotherton (Prowler/Hyde) all capable of taking races. The next event is Stokes Bay 26/27 May, then Hayling then Garda! And these three are going to push each other hard.

How many championships do they have between them - anyone know? For the Australians, well fortunately it isnt cricket!