Cherubs at the Grafham Water Sailing Club Asymmetric Open 2019

Cherubs at the Grafham Water Asymmetric Open © Robert Altham

Cherubs at the Grafham Water Asymmetric Open © Robert Altham

Due to exams and it being the week after the Nationals, a diminished turnout of three Cherubs were greeted by bright sunshine and soaring temperatures and what looked like a promising breeze. With a low turnout in general all the boats were sailed in a handicap fleet consisting of half a dozen 4000s, an ISO, an RS200, an RS400 and an RS800.

Saturdays racing got under way will Andy and Jill leading the way in Usagi, spending their time chasing the RS800 and fighting to pull away from the RS400. Jamie and Georgie in Poppy spent their time trying to get ahead of the 4000s who seemed to be right where you wanted to be all of the time.

Meanwhile Martyn and Una brought up the rear of the Cherub fleet in 97-rules King Tubby. There were some big holes in the wind and it was very up and down in strength. Rarely was it a day for heading out to the extremes of the course, one minute you were making big gains but push too far and the losses were even bigger.

After sailing a few rig changes were carried out, and then all retired to the Wheatsheaf for dinner and drinks, and an attempt to recruit the RS400 sailors into the Cherub fleet.

After breakfast at the club more of the same continued patchy, shifty winds and similar rewards as a result. With all the boats having been pushing the line hard all weekend in race 6 the inevitable happened with a general recall, the second attempt got away cleanly though.

All in all a good weekend's sailing and socialising; thanks go to Grafham Water for hosting us for the weekend and to the race team for getting us racing on two very contrasting days.

Overall Results:

Cherubs at the Grafham Water Asymmetric Open - photo © Robert Altham