Kestrel Open at Lakeside Sailing Club

Action from the Lakeside Kestrel open © Lisa Hobbs

Action from the Lakeside Kestrel open © Lisa Hobbs

Twelve teams entered the Lakeside Sailing Club Kestrel Open 2004 over the weekend of 22-23 May in light and shifty winds ranging from F1 to F3 and from NW to NE – often flipping between these directions on the same leg of the course.

Race 1 on Saturday saw 2 home boats sailed by Ernie Miller & Liam Pike and Dusty Miller & John Ellingham get off to a good start at the starboard end of the line. Half way up the the first beat the wind backed 30 degrees giving a significant advantage to boats who started nearer the port end of the line. Miller/Ellingham soon recovered from this set back and led to the finish to win by over 2 minutes. Paul Jarvey & Kate Hearsum came in second, with Dave Hearsum & James Jarvey third and Miller/Pike fourth.

Race 2 started in a stronger wind with the favoured end of the line changing several times in the run up to the start. This time it was the port end of the line that looked best at the start but another nasty shift part way up the beat turned the placing around giving the advantage to boats starting nearer the starboard end. Jarvey/Hearsum soon pulled out in front and led throughout to finish first followed by Miller/Pike, Hearsum/Jarvey then Miller/Ellingham.

Race 3 began at 11am on Sunday in a gentle but still shifty F2 breeze. The starboard end of the line was favoured for the start and several boats were identified as OCS. Miller/Ellingham returned to the pre-start side of the line but Hearsum/Jarvey who were also OCS failed to do so. They led on the water by a considerable margin for most of the race, only to be scored OCS at the end of the race. Jarvey/Hearsum were next over the finish line and therefore scored first place again. Miller/Pike and Miller/Ellingham had a close battle throughout the race swapping places numerous times, with Miller/Pike taking advantage of a vicious shift on the penultimate lap to pass and hold on to second place across the line with Miller/Ellingham third.

Going into the final race Jarvey/Hearsum were guaranteed first place overall scoring 2,1,1. Miller/Ellingham and Miller/Pike were tied for second and third with Hearsum/Jarvey only two points adrift in fourth place, meaning any one of three boats could potentially take second place overall depending on the result of the final race.

Following a good start from Jarvey/Hearsum in the final race, they finished first, closely followed by Miller/Ellingham in second, Hearsum/Jarvey third and Miller/Pike six seconds behind in fourth place.

Prize giving took place outside in the sun, with prizes generously given by the event sponsor Lakeside Leisure, of buoyancy aids, sunglasses, boots and gloves.

Overall Results: