Our
meeting was well supported this year with 9 local and six visiting
boats, from as far away as Essex. Most competitors were in Herons,
both crewed and single-handed. Yeadon’s John Wheble was the only
Mirror sailor present. Conditions were disappointing with very light
and fluky winds from the south-east.
Race
1
After
a delay waiting for wind, Race 1 got under way in very light airs.
Local Tony Dufton (YSC) took a kind of ‘slow flyer’ off the
start, heading well out to starboard of the fleet looking for more
wind. It almost paid off – Tony was second at the first mark behind
Matthew Pickett (Up River YC), with Andrew Molyneux (Huddersfield SC)
third.
Round
the course Molyneux made up ground on the leaders, taking over first
position after the first complete lap, with Matthew Pickett also
passing Tony Dufton. Tony found a bit of breeze and regained second,
only to lose it again when totally becalmed.
By
this point these three were well ahead of the fleet. At the last mark
before the finish Molyneux and Pickett were level coming in to the
turn. Andrew Molyneux just got round first and won with Matthew
Pickett second and Tony Dufton third.
Race
2
For
race 2 the same course was used, the wind was if anything lighter and
more fluky than ever. It was noticeable that those who could keep
their boat moving in the conditions came out on top. Sailing
single-handed was also probably an advantage.
At
the start Tony Dufton (YSC) tried the same tactic of moving out to
starboard but it didn’t work this time. He sat in a ‘hole in the
wind’ for some time. The start took quite a while, some boats
taking well over five minutes to cross the line.
At
the first mark Matthew Pickett (Up River YC) was first, followed by
YSC’s Andrew Cowling in a club Heron and Andrew Molyneux of
Huddersfield SC. Pickett began to move well clear downwind, and
Molyneux overtook Andrew Cowling to take second. Paul Barnes (Notts
County SC) came up and took over third place. At one point Molyneux
was sitting totally becalmed while Barnes and Kieron Wright (YSC)
were steadily creeping up behind him. However he got going again and
came second behind Matthew Pickett, with Jim Robinson of Huddersfield
SC third.
Race
3
For
the third race the wind swung round to North-east and showed signs of
picking up slightly – but only to F1-2. The course was changed
accordingly. The start was very slow as the wind died away again.
The
solitary Mirror in the Fleet (John Wheble, YSC) got an excellent
start but shortly got becalmed. Tony Dufton of YSC was first to the
windward mark with R. Stevenson (Huddersfield SC) second and Andrew
Molyneux third. Both Molyneux, and Dave Butler with crew Emily Clixby
(Welton SC) managed to slip past Stevenson into second and third
places.
Molyneux
took over the lead at the windward mark, but was in turn passed by
Dennis Beard of Yeadon SC coming from behind. On the second lap a
light breeze sprang up and boats began to sail properly for the first
time.
Andrew
Molyneux retook the lead and after another short two-lap race he won,
with Dennis Beard second and Matthew Pickett third.
Overall
results
First
place overall, and the club’s trophy, went to Andrew Molyneux of
Huddersfield SC, followed by Matthew Pickett of Up River SC in
second, with Jim Robinson of Huddersfield SC coming third and Dave
Butler/Emily Clixby (Welton SC) fourth. The first Yeadon boat was
sailed by Dennis Beard in fifth place.
The
Mirror prize was taken by the only competitor, John Wheble of Yeadon
SC.
Prize
for the first double hander went to Dave Butler and Emily Clixby of
Welton FC.
There
was also a prize for the competitor who drove furthest to the event,
won by Matthew Pickett (and his Dad!) who drove from Essex to join
us.
Thanks
are due to the Commodore and Heron class captain at Yeadon for
organising the meeting, and to the catering volunteers and officers
of the day who did us proud.
Nick
Mannix
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