Since the water had been lowered to repair the Dam wall in December we have been watching to see if the water levels recover sufficiently so our Annual New's Day Race could be held. Richard, and I believe Danny the Fishing bailiff, cleared up some of the mess the Council Contractors had left us and removed a number of rocks and boulders from jetty areas that had been left that could have caused damage to everybody's boats, so "Thank you guys for that !". The water level was still low to sail middle of last week but the snow on Friday and the thaw after that will have all helped.
This morning our Commodore and the Sailing Secretary inspected the levels and with sailors keen to race for the Commodore's Bottle the decision was made that despite it was being still lower than normal it had reasonably recovered that we would go for it, sailing was back on at Yeadon!
To be fair the uncertainty of the water had put a number of people off from attending but Simon and Richard were keen to sail and Andrew and David were happy to run the race. In addition, a number of members were starting to turn up with food for the New Year's Day Fuddle and to watch the racing.
The boats were launched carefully and pushed out into deeper water before sailing off and the course was carefully set to avoid the shallower areas.
Richard got the better start and quickly established a lead over Simon however as Richard bore away to run dead downwind between 3 and 4 it all went wrong and Richard tested the water temperature! He confirmed later it was cold! Simon kept it steady and glided past Richard as he had a couple of attempts to right the boat. Richard tried chasing after Simon but Simon was sailing consistently well and making few mistakes.
Meanwhile, in the Club house, the spectating members were tucking into the Fuddle and having a good natter!
Back out on the water, Richard tested the water temperature again at least another time and Andrew and David decided to curtail the Race as Simon was getting close to lapping Richard and let them come in and join in with the Fuddle.
So Simon won the Commodore's Bottle for 2018 and Richard won a bottle of Newcastle Brown for his perseverance, and a good social time was had by the rest of us who came down! Thank you to Andrew and David for running the race and well done to Simon and good luck to him dinghy instructing with the Army this year!
The next Yeadon Sailing Club event is the Laying Up Supper on the 27th January at the Otley Courthouse - See you there!
See details elsewhere on the Website
