First racing of 2012
Thanks to Ralph Kee for the report.
Manx Sailing and Cruising Club’s first dinghy race of the new year took place at West Baldwin reservoir on Sunday, January 8.
A record fleet of 17 dinghies took to the water in light drizzle, which stopped within 10 minutes, allowing the sun to come out for the second race.
The wind, having a bit of west in it, was gentle and fluky by the dam, as opposed to nonexistent further up the reservoir which led to some very close racing both on the water and on corrected time.
In race one Rob Cowell and Phil Hardisty (RS200) built up a large lead by the end of the first lap, only to sail into a bald patch and watch as three others led by Mike Pridham (Laser) catch up and overtake. By the end of the race half the fleet finished within three minutes of each other and, after handicaps, Mike Pridham came in first, Simon Pressly (Laser) second and in third place Andrew and David Williams (aged six) sailing in his first race.
In the second race it was Pressley who managed to stay ahead on the first lap followed by Ali Hinds (Radial), taking time out from university team racing for Oxford. By lap two Pressley’s lead was even larger, but at the last mark on the final lap he came to a virtual halt only to be swallowed up by the rest of the fleet. Pridham made the line first, closely followed by Andrew Dean and Jenny Lantry (RS200) with Pressley in third.
On corrected time second, third and fourth were separated by only three seconds. Changing fortunes saw Owen Williams, aged 10 and racing at Baldwin for the first time, come in ahead of his dad!
Many thanks to Pete Hinds for OOD and Donald and Aifric for the safety boat. For full results, see the MS&CC website.
