Solo Open at Delph Sailing Club

Wind, wind, wind

The weather forecast was for wind and it arrived. Several visitors arrived but decided not even to unpack their boats. The rest of the fleet was reticent about unpacking or even changing. The gusty force 5-6 conditions caused the Race Officer to initially postpone. Of the 13 entries, 5 visitors, only 10 actually launched for race 1. John Cronshaw (4225) was first to the windward mark followed by Louis Moulden (4445) and Tony Wright (4568), at the gybe mark Andy Couch(4459) got into the lead and stayed there to be followed home by 4445 and 4225.

After lunch the wind seemed to have eased although it had moved round, but once the fleet had launched it built higher than previously with in the end only 5 boats finishing. 4459 had reached the windward mark first and was never passed, he was followed by Mathew Ross(4518), the two having a commanding lead over third place (4445).

Race 3 was run back-to-back with only 5 boats starting, three boats went at the 1minute leaving S.Thomas (4471) and 4445 to start at the correct signal. 4471 lead for most of the first lap but was passed by 4445. 4459 and 4518 made efforts to catch up the lost time ( about 1½ minutes. 4459 passed 4471, this then lead to a nail biting finish as 4459 failed to get to 4445 only by a fraction of a boat length at the finish line.

Thanks must go to the Race Team and safety team who were busy all day.

Overall Results:

1st 4459 Andy Couch (RYA) 2pts
2nd 4445 Louis Moulden (Delph SC) 3pts
3rd 4471 S.Thomas (RLSC) 7pts
4th 4518 Matthew Ross (Hollingworth Lake) 8pts
5th 4327 Stephen Denison (Hollingworth Lake) 8pts
6th 4568 Tony Wright (Delph SC) 16pts