Blithfield Barrel 2022/23 - Week 2
by Alan Skitt, Andy Watterson & Ted Kurcaba 2 Jan 2023 23:55 PST
13 November 2022 - 12 February 2023
Blithfield Barrel 2022/23 Round 2 © Iain Ferguson
The weather forecast for Round 2 of the Blithfield Barrel on 11th December did not look promising for the event, with far fewer competitors expected to arrive at Blithfield Reservoir in Staffordshire compared to the 30+ boats competing in Round 1 in November, and so it proved on the day.
Early on in the morning it was touch and go whether we would get in any races at all, as it was bitterly cold and the wind was very light and variable, and frustratingly patchy across the Reservoir, and sailing conditions further hampered by poor visibility.
However we were delighted by the support from our long standing keen Barrelers from as far as Leeds and Swindon, with Phil Benn making a determined journey from Bowmore SC in adverse conditions on the day.
After the briefing at 11:15, only 8 boats set out for the start line in the vicinity of mark no.4, with many more spectators and the Blithfield Barrel organising team watching from the warmth of the clubhouse, outnumbering the competitors by more than two to one.
The Race Officer and Rear Commodore, Andy Watterson, set the line with just a tad of port end bias, and the small and well-behaved fleet got away at the first time of asking. Andy Couch in his Phantom quickly established a commanding lead that he comfortably held to the end of the race, despite the shifty wind. Local sailor, Tom Chadfield in his Supernova came home 2nd and David Moore in his Wanderer 1810 was 3rd, followed by Doug Rankin sailing a Supernova 4th.
Following a sumptuous lunch crafted by Peter Slater, the club's resident Goodyear Chef de Cuisine, the fleet returned to the water to an inspired but short windward-leeward course - a somewhat unusual occurrence at Blithfield, but necessary due to the dying wind. The race followed a similar pattern, but David Moore reversed the previous result, getting a good start and coming in first (on handicap), with Andy Crouch second and Steve McCarthy, finally finding his form and the location of the marks in the fog, slipping into 3rd place in his new GP14 crewed by Gareth Thomas and followed over the line by Doug Rankin in 4th.
Round 2 Results: (top three)
1st Andy Couch (Blithfield) Phantom 1456
2nd David Moore/B.Taylor (Blithfield) Wanderer 1810
3rd Doug Rankin (Blithfield) Supernova 1277
Full results on www.Blithfield.org.uk
Our thanks go to the Club sponsors, Krupps UK Ltd and Hartley Boats of Derby, the Blithfield 2022/23 Barrel sponsors, and we welcome everyone back to Blithfield later this month, on Sunday January 15th for Round 3 of the premier Midlands winter series.
Competitors need to get in six out the the possible 8 races in the series with 2 discards allowed, therefore round 3 later this month and round 4 in February are essential for the final points tally.