Northampton Sailing Club Solo Open Meeting - Midland Area Series

by Neil Pitcher on 7 Jul 2009 Report from the Northampton Sailing Club Solo Open Meeting - Midland Area Series, held on the 4th July 2009.

Race 1
Wind speed 2-3 freshening from the South West with big shifts up the first long beat, which brought a general recall saving Rob Gardner who capsized on the gun. Neil Wilkinson, 4578 from Shustoke, worked his way up the middle capsizing on a tack (new reverse jammer) and with a quick leg over onto the centre board recovered to round the mark first followed by David Liddington 4605 second, Paul Busby 4899 third, Toby Iles 5036 fourth and Andrew Smith fifth.

Last year's winner, Andrew Bonsey, was back in 10th with Ian Pinnell and Tom Castle (N’pton) just in front. After a short reach, gybe, long run and another gybe, Liddington took the lead completing the square. Wilkinson regained the lead on lap 3 taking the win from Liddington, Busby, Smith and Castle.

Race 2
After lunch with wind freshening 3-4 with gusts and shifts, the fleet started the same course at the pin end. It was difficult to read but Bonsey, Busby and Graham Wilson (Npton) lead around the first mark. Wilson’s down wind speed paid off leading round the gybe and up the second beat, but Bonsey and Busby’s weight advantage in increasing wind took the lead to the gun with Wilson, Castle and Pinnell making it a N’pton top five.

Race 3
Sailed back to back after the rescue boat handed out welcome bottles of water to the fleet. The result was wide open, any of the top four could have won the meeting. The fleet tacked off early with Bonsey’s up wind speed pulling out a lead around the first mark.

Keith Lancaster 4878 (Rugby & Daventry) rounded second, Castle third and Richard Siggers (Shustoke) fourth. Bonsey extended his lead to the gun, winning for the second year running. Wilkinson battled hard up the fleet and took a well earned second on lap 4, followed by Pinnell who had changed to a stiffer mast, and Liddington.

Results:

1ST Andrew Bonsey N.S.C.
2ND Neil Wilkinson Shustoke
3RD Paul Busby N.S.C.
4TH David Liddington Rugby & Daventry
5TH Ian Pinnell N.S.C.
6TH Tom Castle N.S.C. (junior).

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