Winter Series report, races 1-4
Thanks to Ralph Kee for the report. Check the Manxsailracer Gallery for images from races 3 and 4 and the MS&CC website for full results.
With fair weather and a brisk westerly breeze, sailing resumed on West Baldwin reservoir on Sunday, December 11. Manx Sailing and Cruising Club have been given permission to run the popular and long running Winter Dinghy Series after a break of about five years. Conditions were sailable but due to the north/south orientation of the sheltered valley, with a flukey but light patchy breeze.
In race one a fleet of nine was lead home on corrected time by Mike Pridham (Laser) with Dave and Emily Batchelor (RS 200) just five seconds behind in second. Island Games competitor Simon Pressly (Laser) was a further 20 seconds behind in third. Race two was convincingly won by Pressly, with Pridham in second and the vastly experienced Keith and Ted Holden (GP 14) in third. At the other end of the experience scale, 10-year-old Ben Batchelor sailed steadily in his Tera but really needed more wind for his tiny sail.
The second round took place on December 18 in bright sunshine and a northwesterly wind, setting up a light but variable breeze running down the valley. A slightly larger fleet was lead home in race one by Russell Collister (Laser), with Pressly second and Ffinlo Wright sneaking into third place in his Tera Pro. Race two was led largely by Pridham, but in the last downwind leg he was ‘Injebrecked’, running out of wind as the rest of the fleet held the breeze to catch up, dropping Pridham to second behind Pressly with Brian Quayle (OK) in third. Another notable performance was Jim Whitelegg, sailing his tiny Gull dinghy to good mid-fleet places.
Many thanks to Pete Hinds for OOD and Donald Edwards and helpers on the safety boat. The series’ next round will be held on Sunday, January 8 starting at 10am. For further information please call Ralph Kee on 817010.
Don’t forget the annual Frostbite Regatta held on Boxing Day for the Quayle Tankard - mince pies and goodies will be provided. Start will be at 11am at West Baldwin, aiming for a midday finish. It’s an excellent way to blow away Christmas cobwebs.
