Please select your home edition
Edition
Henri-Lloyd Dynamic Range

The Woodhouse Trophy for Vane 36R model boats

by Tony Wilson 24 Jun 2021 10:19 PDT 12 June 2021
The Woodhouse Trophy for Vane 36R model boats © Tony Wilson

Most of the regulars were busy and unavailable, so we just had the two entries: Bob Jolly and Tony Wilson. So it wouldn't go ahead at all anyway as the wind was looking too much, forecast for 14MPH and Tony only had the big sail for 'the John's borrowed boat'.

With this the case, late as usual, Tony and Sandy dog arrived to find Bob and Eric at the boathouse admiring the 3D printed flying machine that was going to give Tony a pasting. Amazing what you can come up with from 50 rolls of PLA filament, not just key fobs, but things that actually float.

Bob had also the tall big rig attached and just as unsure to whether it would handle the conditions. Eric was happy to man the far bank, but wait a minute and another familiar to some face had just arrived. One of the John's from Keighly over Yorkshire way that also races other classes of RC Yachts but never dabbled with Vane, although has always been intrigued from his childhood memories to it's mysterious workings.

Now with two workable pairs of the blind leading the clueless, leading the blind, we were going places. "Please public don't ask us too many questions as we don't really know and the rest we'll only make up anyway".

It was choppy and fairly windy coming from the far right hand corner. Nothing to lose and a great opportunity to learn a great deal as there was no one to tell us off and the best way to understand how things work, was just do it.

Tony had allowed Bob choice to go to weather, Always best for the 3 point leg on the beat and we were setting them off initially on a starboard tack to keep them away from our helpers on the far bank, so we thought.

Both boats dithered, hesitated and as though requested and synchronised, tacked over to reluctantly make their way over to the far bank to the 'what do we do now, helpers'. With both boats struggling to vacate the far bank and just as confused to their course as their drivers, Tony shouts to open up the angles.

Bob had been instructed for 28 degrees and Tony's vane settings had been closed again back to 30 degrees. "Let's both try 40 degrees to maybe get them away from a head to wind course " shouted Tony.. Eventually half an hour later, we arrived at the far end. Bob only tangled by about 4 crab lines. This was just a practice race and we would repeat the run back down as there was no point in carrying the boats back to the start.

"Right this is what you do, turn the dial, pull a spring and twiddle the lever or something to that effect and let the boat go". So we were telling each other with conviction and excitement. Eventually again we were back to the start and ready for the real race and to see if we had made any bit of improvement.

Both boats now on 40 degrees were actually looking a lot better and closer to the norm. Bob tweaked again and brought his angle in a little closer and it went even better to win for the 3 points. Stealing the run also to gain another 2 points, it was Bob's game.

Race 2 and it was reversed, Tony flew up the lake to leave Bob and Eric behind and repeated a lovely run in virtually one attempt, to leave Bob tangled on yet another crab line. Lunch time and thank you very much John for helping out and for more than just your brief visit.

Ian now arrived to help keep up the force and the afternoon was for a third race as it was one all. We would only need the one leg, but we sailed both for Bob's victory over the day.

Bob had this time made it all the way back down without touching the sides, while Tony's boat was dancing, sinking and doing all sorts in the middle of the lake. The wind had got up and the central area was thrashing the boats about until you had fought your way through it.

Much learnt and all towards our next outing for many more to come.

Results:

1 Bob Jolly 8pts
2 Tony Wilson 5pts

Related Articles

DF95 Spring Series final event at Barton's Point
All places were up for grabs in a stiff breeze In the final Spring Series event at Barton's Point Sheppey all places were up for grabs in a stiff breeze well exceeding the forecast 13 knots. It was mainly 17-18 and often over 20 with the choice of B or C rigs critical. Posted on 29 Jun
DF95 Spring Series event 10 at Barton's Point
Penultimate event in the series for East Kent Radio SC With a southerly wind last weeks A class Nationals course was used, re-set by Dave Adams, for the penultimate East Kent RSC DF95 Spring Series event. 13 races of the planned 16 were run in 'A' rig conditions and hot sunshine. Posted on 20 Jun
IOM Summer Series Round 5 at Lincoln
More fantastic racing in tricky, shifty, gusty conditions More fantastic racing at Lincoln for round five of the summer series. It was tricky, shifty, gusty conditions for the 14 skippers who took part in Lincoln Radio Sailing Club's Sunday series round 5. Posted on 16 Jun
DF95 Metropolitan and Southern TT at East Kent RSC
The terrible twins from Broadstairs sharing the lead 16 boats entered and 16 races were run in marginal A and B rig conditions and warm sunshine. Half the entries were from East Kent who filled the first five places, Martin Crysell from Guildford being the top visitor with 2 podiums. Posted on 14 Jun
Scottish District IOM Travellers 2 at Paisley
Truly scrumptious lunch laid on at Barshaw Park Twelve skippers from throughout Scotland gathered at Paisley on a dullish Saturday morning for the second Scottish Travellers event of the season. Six Scottish clubs were represented. Up to eight different boat designs were entered. Posted on 10 Jun
10 Rater National Championships at Datchet
Sailing a single fleet for 27 races is hard work for the competitors Datchet Radio Sailing were the hosts for this year's Nationals. Datchet delivered some champagne conditions for racing what must be described as the most powerful and glamorous radio sailing yachts, the 10 Rater. Posted on 9 Jun
Vintage and Classic Marblehead racing at Fleetwood
Maybe the age of the skippers is catching up and sprinting is not the preferred option Normally we would have a fairly even split fleet from the two class of boats, sometimes favouring the Classic. This time we had a reversal with Vintage taking up the bulk. Maybe the age of the Skippers is catching up. Posted on 3 Jun
IOM Met and Southern District event at Datchet
There were family battles between father and son, or brothers Datchet Radio Sailing are the hosts for the IOM World Championships in 2026 and put on stellar conditions for this round of the district championships. The event was run by Hugh McAdoo, Jim La Roche, Phil Holiday, Richard Jones and Nigel Barrow. Posted on 3 Jun
Vane UK 36R Nationals at Fleetwood
22 skippers entered for the event, last hosted here in 1975 For those not too familiar with these: a small boat whereby the hull is of a restricted size and fits in a wooden box of 36 inches long by 11' x 8. The smallest vane yacht widely and regularly sailed at a few clubs around the UK. Posted on 2 Jun
IOM Summer Series Round 4 at Lincoln
An intense and enjoyable morning's racing Wow, what an intense and enjoyable morning's racing, June 1st, at Scotland farm was, for the 14 skippers who opted to race. Posted on 1 Jun
Cyclops Marine 2023 November - FOOTERLloyd Stevenson - Catalyst GT 1456x180px BOTTOMSwitch One Design