Comet open meeting at Merthyr Tydfil Sailing Club

Comet open meeting at Merthyr Tydfil © A Cridge

After a week of near relentless heavy rain and showers we were very pleased to have a forecast of brighter weather with a fair wind from the north.

Pontsticill Reservoir can rise quickly, the previous weekend we'd moved the safety boat pontoon clear of the shore, but were surprised to find it well offshore in at least three metres of water, in a 100+ hectare reservoir you can estimate retention of 3MT of water. But that's all the more water for sailing on after struggling in the mud just a few weeks ago.

We had a fair turnout with just seven entrants this year including five visitors; maybe the terrible weather through the week combined with heavy wind sailing the previous day in Gloucestershire didn't help. For those of us there though the conditions were good and improved as the day went on.

All races we held around the same course, 10, 8, 7, X, Line. A "near perfect RYA wind" coming more or less from the top of the map (north). Come along one day and experience the "downwind effects" of Pen-y-Fan and its neighbours for yourselves. As the briefing was held and the first race approached the wind had picked up and was very gusty, the cat's paws of the gusts suggesting them to come from a little more easterly, as that race ended and we sailors had lunch, the wind moderated and was yet lighter and "interesting" for the final race.

Race 1

As the gusts increased in intensity, unfortunately Henry Jaggers (800) of Beer Sailing Club chose to retire prior to the start. Your author decided that there may be contamination on the hull so took advantage of a gust to put the boat on its side to windward in order to clean the bottom (not sure it made too much difference, see below).

With a small fleet the start was prompt, relatively uneventful and close, all boats crossing the line without further incident.

Upwind to the first mark the tacking battle was relatively close but with the nature of the gusts in this race as soon as the reaches were in play, gaps opened up. With Chris Robinson (867), of Burghfield S.C. completing the first lap in the lead, followed by Ben Palmer (597), of Baltic Wharf S.C. rounding behind. Then followed Alun Bevan (694), Tata Steel S.C.. There was no change as the race progressed its three laps. Chris finishing first, Ben second, Alun third.

All sailors returned to shore for a bite of lunch and a chat. During which time the gustiness of the wind abated; we all waited for a club sailor who'd chosen to go out solo in an RS Vision to need help. He didn't, it had calmed down a bit.

Race 2

With the conditions that bit more moderate all seven Comet sailors started the second race with a good close tacking battle upwind and close racing on the reaches and runs. Chris Robinson did manage to complete the first lap in front, but only by three seconds from Ben, who were closely followed by Mark Govier (667), Merthyr Tydfil S.C. only two seconds ahead of Alun Bevan and Henry a short way back.

Henry chose to retire. But by the end of the second lap Chris had pulled out his lead to eighteen seconds and further extended that to thirty seconds at the end of the final lap. Chris first, Ben second, Alun third and Mark fourth.

Comet open meeting at Merthyr Tydfil - photo © A Williams

Race 3

Chris had the luxury of being able to pack his boat away early and chose to do so. The six remaining boats started the final race, and this time all completed the course. With yet lighter wind, but odd shifts (even for us locals), perhaps due to bounces from the banks of the reservoir there were some confusing moves taking place and interesting tacking covers at times but on the first lap Ben was ten seconds ahead of Henry, who was fourteen seconds ahead of Alun with Mark just 12 seconds back.

But at the end of the second lap, Henry had squeezed in front of Ben by four seconds with Alun and Mark slipping back a little. At the finish Henry crossed the line in first, 27 seconds ahead of Ben followed by Alun and, more than a frustrating minute later, by Mark.

Thanks

Thanks go out to the visitors, organisers, caterers, and safety boat crew (barely needed except to move marks) and all who helped at the club on the day and earlier.

More photos on Facebook

Overall Results:

Comet open meeting at Merthyr Tydfil - photo © A Williams