Classic And Vintage Dinghy Open at Shearwater Sailing Club

15 travellers and locals for the Classic and Vintage open at Shearwater © Pat Jones

15 travellers and locals for the Classic and Vintage open at Shearwater © Pat Jones

A poor forecast deterred several boats from travelling to Shearwater for the Classic and Vintage meeting but a turnout of 15 travellers and locals saw a weekend of contrasts.

Saturday was a joint event with the classic Merlin fleet and the beautifully restored Merlin, Diabolo (214) owned by Nick Price joined Ben Marshall’s Fat Marce(2529) on the start line alongside Iska (6), SpriteFull (507) and Half Cut(2121). The rest of the fleet was a representation of most of the classic designs of the past including Mirrors, Albacores, GPs, Lark 40 and a Graduate.

The weather was gusty but dry and the heavy squalls that drove down the lake began to take their toll. First retirement was Roger Devereux in his GP14 deciding that his elderly father didn’t need an early bath. He was quickly followed by Chris Barlow in Merlin 6. Nick Price turned his boat into a swimming pool and many of the rest of the fleet followed suit. Garry Rucklidge who travelled from Aberdeen to sail the borrowed SpriteFull had a couple of swims but finished the race.

The second race had plenty of starters and saw Rupert Whelan in Firefly 2324 lead the fleet, which diminished rapidly as the gusts took their toll and kept the rescue boat busy, resulting in only Rupert and Ben (Merlin 2529) being the only finishers.

Traditionally this event has a high wind day and a light day and this year was no exception. Sunday dawned with a light southerly which gave a very shifty wind with the occasional nice breeze. With some of the Merlins gone home a more mixed fleet turned out.

Sunday is also the “Cotton Sail Challenge”, a trophy presented by Chris Barlow which requires boats to carry cotton or original sails from pre 1965.

Rupert Whelan in the Firefly took line honours in the first race and on handicap followed by Iska (Merlin 6) and Sandy and Pat in Merlin 2121.

The next race saw Iska stranded in a wind shadow that followed her round the lake leaving Rupert to sail away to another win followed by Bob Corfield and Sue in Albacore 1576 and Hornet 191 in 3rd.

The final race saw Hornet 191 with line honours and the win on handicap followed by Paul Athay in his Graduate and Chris Barlow in Iska third.

Overall Results:

1st Rupert Whelan, Firefly 2324 (Saskia)
2nd Roger Devereux, Hornet 191 (Shoestring)
3rd Paul Athay, Graduate 2929

Cotton sail Challenge:
1st Hornet 191
2nd Merlin 6
3rd Merlin 507

Thanks to SSC and the Galley team for the “Best tea of the Year”