Blithfield Barrel 2022/23 - Week 4

Blithfield Barrel week 4 © Alastair Reid

The weather conditions for round 4 (race 7 and 8 of the series) of the 2022/23 Blithfield Barrel were not promising.

But the non-existent wind at 0930 soon filled in with a nice steady 5-6knots breeze from SE, registering on the clubs weather station, but shifting 20 degrees all day, most annoyingly just before the start, but the OD held his nerve, the shift fell correct and squared the line and 26 boats started race no.7 at 1200 on the nose.

Blithfield's own Andy Couch in Phantom 1456 showed the way round with James Goss in Merlin 3814 hot on his heels, but it was Mike Senior in Raceys Rocket, a 30 year old wooden GP14 took the 1st position prize on handicap.

Blithfield Barrel week 4 - photo © Alastair Reid

After an excellent lunch of locally sourced, high energy sausage and mash; prepared by the club's own resident Goodyear chef de cuisine Peter Slater, the fleet were well fortified to take on a further 2 laps of the arduous course around the reservoir set by the OD Steve Leney.

For Race 8 at 1400, the line looked good and square but one boat covered the committee boat close to with 15 seconds to go blocking the view of the OD so the other 25 competitors decided the OD wouldn't notice if they piled over the line a tad early, so a general recall was called with a restart under black flag after which the fleet were as good as gold.

Blithfield Barrel week 4 - photo © Alastair Reid

This time Ian MacDonald stormed ahead in his Osprey 1285 with Jon Gibbons on the wire not to be caught, forcing Mike Senior into 2nd place with James Goss and Chris White in Merlin 3814 in 3rd place.

David Moore in Wanderer 1810 bagged some good point is round 2, races 3,4 with a 3rd and 1st and a 6th position in today's race 8 would put him in good stead in the overall rankings.

So at the end of the day, the final positions for Round 4, race 7 and 8 were;

1st GP14, 13417 - Mike Senior and Ollie Goodhead (South Staffs)
2nd PH, 1456 - Andy Couch (Blithfield)
3rd Merlin, 3814 - James Goss and Chris White (South Staffs)

And the overall results for the 2022/23 Blihfield Barrel winter series were;

1st GP14, 13417 - Mike Senior and Ollie Goodhead (South Staffs)
2nd PH, 1456 - Andy Couch (Blithfield)
3rd Wanderer, 1810 -David Moore and B.Taylor (Blithfield)

Blithfield Barrel week 4 - photo © Alastair Reid

The clubs thanks go to all the members who have contributed to make the racing enjoyable for all the competitors, including today;

• On the Committee boat Steve on the hooter and flags with Gill and Heather noting line infringements and lap times
• In the protest room (happily with nothing to do), Bill on loan from SSSC
• On Safety, Keith and Brain with David and Andrew
• On the Results computer, Sylvia
• Photographers, Alastair and Pav
• In the Galley and on the tea urn, Peter and Ted
• The after race cakes, Gill and Karen
• The bar team, Andy, Keith and Ted
• Pulling it all together again, Andy Watterson, the Rear Commodore

The Club wishes to thank its club sponsors throughout the year Krupps UK Ltd, and especially Hartley boats, Richard and Mark, probably the best boat builders and chandlers in Derby, for their continued support of Blithfield Sailing Club, and their generosity throughout the series with prizes and welcomes everyone back in November for the 2023/24 Barrel, the premier winter sailing series in the Midlands.