Javelin Open at Rutland Sailing Club

Javelin 467 taken at the Rutland open © Martin Hollingshead

Javelins arrived at Rutland Water on the weekend of 11th & 12th September for the penultimate open meeting of the year. The fleet arrived at the race area in winds gusting near a F5 to start the first race. Gavin & Nick Johnson were first to the windward mark closely chased by Paul Ross and Dave Wilkes with Mike Pickles and Richard Fisher close behind. Ross/Wilkes overhauled the Johnson’s on the first spinnaker reach to take the lead which they maintained to the finish with Mike /Richard 2nd Nick Faulkner & John Meachen 3rd.

Race 2 Was in steadier winds with Ross/Wilkes leading only to tip it in at the first gybe and snap their tiller leaving Nick Faulkner & John Meachen clear to take an impressive win from Gavin and Nick followed by Richard Smith and Guest crew Becky Cross (weighing in at 8 stone!) taking 3rd proving that the Javelin can be competitive in a breeze whatever your crew weighs. Race 3 was in similar conditions and the race was fought out between the Johnson’s and Ross/Wilkes with the Johnsons taking the victory in a gusting wind from Ross/Wilkes with Richard and Becky notching up another good 3rd place despite the strong breeze.

After listening to the howling gale that blew through Saturday night the crews looked at the water on Sunday and those that hadn’t broken bodies and boats the day before decided to stay ashore.

Thanks go to Rutland Sailing Club for hosting another great open meeting.

Overall Results: