Personal Handicap Pursuit Races

I threatened to do it and I did. The pursuit race on Saturday was based on personal handicaps (as well as PY) so each helm had an individual start time. The consensus was that, despite appearing to verge on chaos, it worked surprisingly well and is worth repeating!

The main conclusion is that there needs to be a 'synchronize' stopwatches event and a white-board with individual start times on the committee boat. There is also plenty of scope for confusion if some of the slower boats have already completed a lap before the fast boats start.

Patrick

HERON, MIRROR AND TOPPER OPEN
SUNDAY 8 JUNE 2008

Warm & sunny – Wind, as last year, light, and variable in direction.

MIRRORS

Peter Sedgewick, from Ripon, led the field throughout the race. The up and coming juniors from the home fleet, Matthew and Benjamin Lulham-Robinson, assumed a well deserved second position initially, but the greater experience of Callum Escritt, aided and abetted by his veteran crew, told as the race proceeded, and Bob Towler of Beaver achieved a worthy third place. Towards the back of the fleet, the Hide sisters (in two boats) , of Ripon, had a private but thrilling battle, which Catherine just won.

Second Race. Flushed with success, Peter Sedgewick once again took pole position, but was finally ousted by young Callum. The young L>Robinsons quietly crept through into second position, just pipping Peter at the post.

In the last race, Matthew and Ben got off to a good start, but trouble soon loomed up in the shape of the Escritt team, who then maintained their lead to the end. Peter, who had a poor start, then sailed through the fleet, finishing a worthy third.

FULL ROLL CALL

1	70503	Escritt Callum	Yorkshire Dales S.C.
2	67493	Sedgewick Peter	Ripon S.C.
3	25004	Lulham-Robinson Matthew	Yeadon S.C.
4	70056	Towler Bob	Beaver S.C.
5	70167	Hide Catherine	Ripon S.C.
6	40984	Hinks David	Yeadon S.C.
7	68366	Hide Ellie	Ripon S.C.

HERONS

Dennis Beard knows the way around Yeadon Tarn, albeit challenged by Philip Lund of Redesmere.. Then, from nowhere, appeared our veteran sailor, Chris Dufton, sailing the oldest boat in Yorkshire, who just pipped Philip at the post.

Race 2. Dennis led, this time pursued by two Yeadon veterans, Tim Gatti (of Mirror fame), and Patrick Gaunt. Pat managed to overtake Tim, and to the latter’s chagrin, who should turn up from the back of the fleet to snatch third place, but (you’ve guessed it), caveman Chris!

In the last race, Tim Gatti had a brilliant start (was over the line, restarted and arrived at the windward mark first!), and then, oh no, not that Dufton chap again. Chris took the lead, and whilst Tim shadowed Chris, Philip sneaked in to take second place

FULL ROLL CALL

1	10070	Beard Denis	Yeadon S.C.
2	108	Dufton Chris	Yeadon S.C.
3	10044	Lund Philip	Redesmere S.C.
4	7741	Gaunt Patrick	Yeadon S.C.
5	10309	Gatti Tim	Yeadon S.C.
6	10092	Polwart Calum	Derwent S.C.

TOPPER

Unhappily, a clash of event dates precluded the usual contenders from visiting us, and coupled with football injuries, there were only 2 boats on the water, perhaps the smallest attendance we have ever recorded.

Matthew Escritt of Yorkshire Dales, as expected, got away at the start, but Sarah Woffenden fought hard and managed to overtake him. But as the race proceeded, the combination of experience, weight and athleticism told its story, and Matthew eventually triumphed.


Race 2. This time our local lass showed the visitor a clean pair of heels, and a battle royal ensued, but again, youth (and a new boat) finally triumphed.

In the third race, our visitor had clearly got the measure of his opponent, and Matthew led all the way. Well sailed.

FULL ROLL CALL

1	45101	Escritt Matthew	Yorkshire Dales S.C.
2	11683	Woffenden Sarah	Yeadon S.C.

Laser & Solo Open Meeting 18 May 08

Last year a party of competitors from the other side of the Pennines had an accident on the way here and never arrived. This year they drove more carefully, but forgot to bring the wind with them. Nonetheless, we were glad to see them.

The weather was cloudy, the wind perhaps Force 2, from the North, which did not make for exciting sailing.

Race 1. Josh Moran, a rising star from nearby Otley, was quick off the mark, but Hamish Gledhill, of West Riding S.C., was right on his tail, which position was held for over 3 laps. In the absence of stronger winds, which might have allowed for more enterprising positioning on the beats, Josh was able to fend of his challenger, and he gradually extended his lead over the final laps. The sole lady contender, the lovely Wendy Jones from Dovestone S.C., had been occupying third place during the first half of the race, but was then assailed by Tim Lowe from Redesmere. They were almost glued together for a couple of laps, until Tim just squeezed ahead to take third place.

Race 2. Just a tad more wind, and a few spots of rain. Hamish had good fortune at the start, with Neil Skellam of Leigh & Lowton S.C. behind him. Local veteran John Simms, late of Otley, constituted a threat in third place, then had to battle for the rest of the race with his old Otley chum, Josh Moran, but bravely held him off, and took 3^rd place behind Hamish and Neil, whose positions had remained unchanged.

Race 3. The wind was dying, but the third race proved the most thrilling. Once again Hamish led the field, with Tim Lowe following. After 2 laps Tim managed to get ahead, and extended his lead right to the end. But the best performance of the day was by Wendy, who managed to shake off her clubmate Ian Lees, and then Neil. Wendy steadily gained ground, and finally overtook Hamish, to finish in 2^nd place, a very fine result indeed. Hamish took 3^rd place, proving to be a well deserved winner overall.

EPILOGUE

And what about the lads (John Simms excluded)! Just look at those boat numbers. New boats – new sails. How can humble (to say nothing of “mature”) Yorkshire working lads compete against young, athletic, rich visitors? Grizzled veteran Phil Graham performed very consistently. Andrew and Mick snapping at his heels. The absence of wind prevented David Statman from giving his usual display of aquatic acrobatics. Get down to the Gym, lads. We’ll show ‘em next year!

FINAL ROLLCALL

1. 185960 Hamish Gledhill West Riding S.C.
2. 186697 Tim Lowe Redesmere S.C.
3. 187497 Josh Moran Otley S.C.
4. 169090 Wendy Jones Dovestone S.C.
5. 170471 Neil Skellam Leigh & Lowton S.C.
6=. 182224 Ian Lees Dovestone
6=. 121822 John Simms Yeadon S.C.
8. 182223 Tom Goddard Dovestone
9. 180421 Phil Graham Yeadon
10. 166406 Mick Bower Yeadon
11. 160687 David Statman Yeadon
12. 83566 Andrew Cowling Yeadon
13. 149413 Gerard Kennedy Yeadon

Reflections on a good weekend !

While the Open Day was happening at the Club, two Yeadon Juniors were sailing on Rutland Water for the weekend, racing against the best RYA Zone Junior Squad Sailors from across the country in the RYA Eric Twiname Championships which conclude the hard winter’s training programme for all the Zone Squads.
On Saturday there was no sailing because there was no wind, but Sunday was better and the boats launched early and were able to get 3 races in. In a tough fleet of 28 Mirrors, Matthew and Benjamin produced some consistent results, always in the top half, coming 8th overall, which is a brilliant result, especially they are one of the younger teams in the Squads

In case you were worried it’s not all hard sailing, there was quite a bit of socialising, especially whilst waiting for the wind on Saturday, and a massive tournament of ‘Human’ Table football also took place

As they were running the races ‘back to back’ everybody would be out on the water for some time, so it tickled Heather that right in the middle of the courses there was a Portaloo sat on top a support boat so that the sailors could visit the loo between the races should they so require ! Not something you see everyday in the middle of a lake.

Good luck to Matthew and Benjamin for when they take part in their first major open Championships, the Mirror Nationals at Llandudno, over Spring Bank Holiday period

Open Day Success

The sun shone, the Club house was busy and there were lots of boats out on the Tarn, it was only the wind that forgot to turn up !

Even so, lots of people took the opportunity to be able to glide across the Tarn for the first time, chasing the zephyrs throughout the day. Most people seemed to enjoy it and there were lots of smiles as they came off the water.

Club members turned up in force to help out, telling people what we did, answering questions, fitting people out with buoyancy aids and taking people out on the Tarn. While in the kitchen Gerard, Mary and others, kept the many visitors and club members fed and watered.

Many thanks to all the club members who were able to support, and helped the day to be a success, and also to the Leeds Sailing Centre for their support too.

It looks like it could be very busy for the next few Tuesdays, so any club members with access to a two man boat, and who could come down and help would be very much appreciated !!!

Sad news about Sandra Cowling

Many of you will have heard the sad news of the recent death of Sandra Cowling.
Our deepest sympathy goes to Andrew and Luke.
Sandra was a keen sailor and a great member of the YSC - she will be sadly missed.

Her funeral takes place on Tuesday 13th May at Christs Church ,The Grove, Ilkley at 11.00am.
Flowers are requested from family only with donations to the NSPCC.

Any club member wishing to attend is welcome to do so.

You can’t rely on the weather – The Tale of Two Days

This Saturday was one of the busiest this season so far. We started off early Saturday lunchtime with a junior training session and then had a great turn out in the afternoon sunshine for the Series races.

Sunday on the other hand was just miserable in the grey and the drizzle.

Thanks to John and Sarah, who had the sunshine and to Mike and Barabra, who had the drizzle, the OODs for the weekend making most of the awkward cross Tarn winds.