Manx Sail Racer

Thanks to Ralph Kee for the report.

For the first time in this winter’s dinghy series at West Baldwin Reservoir, the sailors faced strong winds and cold weather.

The south-easterly wind blew up the lake from the dam at anywhere from 10 knots to 20-plus in the gusts, enabling the use of the whole lake with a good blast up it and a solid beat back down.

Out of 15 starters in race one it was Angus Jolly (Laser) who caught the ‘magic’ gust on the downwind leg to break clear of the following pack of Lasers and RS200s.

He managed to repeat this on the following two laps to finish well ahead on the water and on corrected time from Rob Cowell and Phil Hardisty (RS200), with Mike Pridham (Laser) in third.

Best junior was Ffinlo Wright (Tera) who sailed well in the conditions to make fourth on corrected time. Owen Williams found the conditions hard but managed to hold on for 13th place. It does get easier, but it doesn’t get any warmer!

From a reduced fleet of nine in the second race it was Ralph Kee (Laser) who managed to get through the shifty wind in the lee of the dam first, closely followed by Dan Roberts and Kristian Cowin (Fireball), Rob Cowell and Angus Jolly a further four seconds down and closing.

However on corrected time it was Kee in first place followed by Jolly in second and Cowell in third.

Many thanks to OOD Pete Hinds and MS&CC’s Commodore Gordon Dickens, ably assisted by Dawn in the safety boat.

Results

Race One: 1, Angus Jolly; 2, Rob Cowell/Phil Hardisty; 3, Mike Pridham; 4, Ffinlo Wright; 5, Andrew Dean/Jenny Lantry; 6, Ralph Kee; 7, Brian Quayle; 8, Chris Hill; 9, Ted Holden/Keith Holden; 10, Jerry Colman/James Penn; 11, Dan Roberts/Kristian Cowin; 12, Paul Melling; 13, Owen Williams.

Race Two: 1, Ralph Kee; 2, Angus Jolly; 3, Rob Cowell/Phil Hardisty; 4, Mike Pridham; 5, Andrew Dean/Jenny Lantry; 6, Brian Quayle; 7, Ted Holden/Keith Holden; 8, Dan Roberts/Kristian Cowin; 9, Paul Melling.