Payne flies to victory at HISC Moth Open

by Andrew Friend on 21 Apr 2009
Simon Payne in the new Mach 2 convincingly won the Hayling Island Moth Open, winning with six firsts. Second was Mike Lennon and in third Andrew Friend. Payne and the Mach 2 revelled in the windier conditions Sunday cruising to victory in all of the four races.

Hayling Island sailing club played host to the International Moth class last weekend as 20 competitors traveled down to the south coast for the second open meeting of the season.

Competitors were greeted by mild hazy conditions on the Saturday and merrily set off flying out into the Solent. Simon Payne in the new Mach 2 convincingly lead from the start of the first race, leaving the rest of the positions to be fought out between the remaining boats. Mike Lennon taking second in his bladerider and Mike Cooke sneaking past Ian Fosdike and Andrew Friend at the last minute to take third in the new Aardvark Ninja.

As the day progressed the wind proceeded to become patchier… a day of ‘snakes and ladders’ sailing ensued, with those who could get foiling (and stay there) winning out. Race two was again lead by Simon Payne flying sooner, and for longer than his rivals to take the bullet, followed again by Mike Lennon, with Jason Russell in his Prowler coming in third.

Race three saw the fleet struggling to fly with places shifting more than the wind… Andrew Friend managed to find the pressure on the final run overtaking the fleet to take the win, closely followed by Mike Lennon and Mike Cooke in third.

Race four saw more of the same, with Mike Lennon taking 1st, and a near photo finish between Simon Payne and Ricky Tagg determining second and third respectively.

On Day 2 the competitors were greeted by fresher conditions on the Sunday morning heading out downwind to a breezy and choppy race area. Simon Payne and the Mach 2 revelled in the windier conditions cruising to victory in all of the four races, followed in the first two by Mike Lennon and Andrew Friend in second and third.

Race three saw the Prowlers of Rod Harris and James Roche battling it out to take the second and third places. The final race was again won by Simon Payne, followed by Mike Lennon and James Roche in third.

In all an exciting weekends racing with excellent showings from all of the designs, the new Mach 2 showing some serious pace, not to mention the new Aardvark Ninja flying early and fast on the Saturday, and top results from the Bladeriders, Prowlers and M3.

Overall results, winning with 6 firsts Simon Payne from HISC, 2nd Mike Lennon (HISC) and in third Andrew Friend (QMSC.

International Moth - HISC Open

1st 3381 Simon Payne HISC 8 pts
2nd 3243 Michael Lennon HISC 13 pts
3rd 4102 Andew Friend Queen Mary SC 29 pts
4th 3467 Richard Harris Parkstone YC 37 pts
5th 4088 Jason Russell HISC 44 pts
6th 3207 Tim Penfold HISC 56 pts
7th 3376 Jonnie Hutchcroft Worthing YC 59 pts
8th 4076 Tim Boon HISC 63 pts
9th 3428 Tim Ollerenshaw Grafham Water 72 pts
10th 4103 James Roche HISC 98 pts
11th 3371 Mike Cooke Bristol Corinthian YC 98 pts
12th 4094 Ricky Tagg HISC 104 pts
13th 4095 Ian Forsdike Grafham 104 pts
14th 3230 Tom Whicher HISC 105 pts
15th 3043 Doug Pybus Queen Mary SC 119 pts
16th 3119 Olivier Vidal TBA 123 pts
17th 4096 Simon Propper Grafham Water 128 pts
18th 3273 Christian Kirchner Datchet Water SC 135 pts
19th 3152 C Anstead Queen Mary SC 142 pts
20th 3253 Michael Airey Datchet Water 154 pts
20th 3259 Gerold Pauler SLRV 154 pts

Next event for the International Moth -

Moths fly to Heathrow for the next instalment of the 2009 season! Moth Inlands taking place at Queen Mary’s on the 9/10 May.