D-Zero open meeting at Grafham Water Sailing Club

Mandy Horton wins the D-Zero open meeting at Grafham © Neil Washington

Fifteen D-Zeros entered the Open Meeting hosted at Grafham Water Sailing Club on Sunday 29th September 2024. Ultimately, with the forecast showing a degree of danger of very strong breeze, twelve boats took part with five visitors joining the Grafham-based boats.

Racing was set to take part on the same track as the days club racing albeit with the D-Zeros given the first start and thus a clear track ahead of them. Course configuration was trapezoid.

With the briefing done sailors made their way to the race area. Most found the breeze much lighter than anticipated leading to the race officer, Peter Curtis, having to postpone race one to allow the fleet to gather. Fortunately, as the start sequence got under way, the pressure filled in to around 7-8kts. Clearly everyone was very keen as, with a minute to go, most of the fleet were already on the line leading to an inevitable general recall.

The second attempt at a start was clean and race one was under way. The first windward mark saw local sailors Neil Washington, John Aston and Mandy Horton rounding ahead of the chasing pack a little under seven minutes after the start gun fired. This order was maintained down to the leeward mark. The lead boat suffered a couple of serious boat handing failures on the second beat allowing John and Mandy through.

After three laps and around forty-five minutes of sailing, race one concluded with John, Mandy and Neil holding on to the top three spots.

By race two the breeze had begun to fill in and, with the wind direction remaining stable, the same course was sailed. First boats to the windward mark were visitors Gavin Fleming and Gordon Stewart closely followed by local sailor Ben Stevens with John, Mandy and Neil not far behind. Coming onto the run in sixth place Neil went across to the right-hand side of the run chasing pressure.

This strategy worked leading to him being able to challenge Gavin for water at the mark onto the fourth leg and take the lead. The breeze steadily increased throughout the race with Neil soon seeing his lead come under threat from a hard charging Gordon, who was clearly enjoying the increasing breeze. By the end of the third beat Gordon passed Neil to take the lead onto the final three off-wind legs. Once again Neil sailed a good run to retake the lead which he managed to hold to the finish.

Top three for race 2: Neil, Gordon and John.

During the slight delay between races two and three, while the course axis was altered, the wind began to show its true intentions filling in to mid to late teens with plenty of gusts over 20kts. This was enough to send a few boats in for an early shower. Once race three was under way Gavin Fleming powered up the first beat to lead at the windward mark, followed by Gordon, John and then Mandy.

Mandy found a great turn of speed on the long broad reach, to pull through to third at the gybe mark, where John executed a neat capsize. On the second beat, Gavin capsized letting Gordon into a healthy lead with Mandy following: if these positions held then Gordon would be the overall event winner.

However, Gordon too capsized at the second gybe mark, leaving Mandy to take the lead which she held to the finish. Top three for race 3: Mandy, Gavin and Gordon.

With the results published Mandy's consistent sailing throughout the day, and a well sailed race 3 while all others fell in around her, led to her winning overall with John and Neil both close behind on four points but ultimately John taking second overall for being brave enough to see the day out in race three.

Post-race discussion saw many smiles and positive comments of the sailing and conditions. Happy sailors and a testament to the venue and the excellent race management by Peter Curtis and his team.

The D-Zeros meet again for the Inlands at Yorkshire Dales SC on the weekend of 12th/13th October.

Overall Results: