In light fickle conditions and tides not to be ignored 7 Albacores,including the 4 newest in the class, competed for the Parkstone Albacore over the August Bank Holiday weekend of 28 to 30 August.

All were nearly shown the way home by Guernsey sailor David Le Page and his crew Lynne Hamilton ( for whom the tidal conditions were a mere bagattelle!) sailing Jo Cool, a 20 year old Rondar rescued from a tomato grower's field. Only in the last race after much place changing was the battle of the "Cools" finally decided in favour of Peter and Judy Fontes
in Cool Dude who just managed to pip Le Page at the penultimate mark and hold on to win that race and the Regatta overall by one point.

The Regatta also constituted the first part of Poole Week in which the unusually light conditions continued and which the Fontes also went on to win beating 12 times former winner John Herbert into 2nd place after an exemplary display of sportsmanship from him during the Tuesday race when after the Fontes  boat had been swamped and capsized by a large
soliton wave from the wash of a passing car ferry,  he stood by them until they were able to resume sailing again.

Following Poole Week the Fontes and Richard Gray and Mike Bright from Parkstone joined the British contingent competing in the US Nationals and Albacore Internationals at Rehoboth in Delaware.Although the tricky but virtually non tidal conditions did not suit them as much as the more experienced inland sailors in the 65 strong fleet and they were only
able to manage mid fleet positions,(with some close but not close enough glimpses of eventual winner Michael McNamara) they were able to persuade US Champion and International runner-up Barney Harris to ship his
Albacore to Poole to"have another crack at the Mack"both at the Looe Nationals from 27 August 2000 and the Albacore Internationals at Torquay in 2001. As part of his preparation for Looe Barney hopes to compete in Poole Week 2000 from 20 to 25 August. Guernsey have also promised a full team on their way to Looe. There should be some hot competion.

Results:
Parkstone Mini Regatta.

1st Peter and Judy Fontes 7984 Parkstone YC
2nd David Le Page and Lynne Hamilton 6911 Guernsey YC
3rd John Phillipo and Chris Black 7524 Parkstone YC.

Poole Week
1st Peter and Judy Fontes
2nd John Herbert et al 7987 Parkstone YC
3rd David Le Page and Lynne Hamilton."

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Chichester Yacht Club - 26th September

The Chichester Open saw just eight boats come to the line. Turnout was reduced due to boats being on their way to the Internationals in Rehoboth, Delaware and also possibly by the weather forecast. The conditions were stirring. After a week of gales and rain squalls the weather brightened on the day and the wind dropped to a force 4 to 5 as racing began. By the start of race three it was up to a force 5+ and increased through the race complete with the usual Chichester shifts. There were a number of capsizes.

In race 1, Steve and Annette Wilson led off the line and held the lead to win by a good margin. Trevor and Ann Smith were closest in pursuit and took second place with Richard Littler third and the Brothwell brothers fourth.

In race 2, the Smiths found the better side of the first beat and were first at the windward mark with the Wilsons close on their tail. A very windy reach saw the Smiths under pressure at the gybe mark and the pressure turned into a graceful capsize. This allowed the Wilsons through to win again followed by Richard Littler & Colin Pullinger and Michael Brothwell and his brother.

By the start of race 3 the wind strength had something to do with 'old boots'. In a reduced fleet the Wilsons were again first at the windward mark, closely pursued by Richard Littler and the Brothwells. By the end of lap two Richard had passed the Wilsons who subsequently retired exhausted but victorious overall. Richard went on to win follewed by the Brothwells.

It was most encouraging to see the Brothwell brothers sailing so well in a strong wind. They are only lightweights and given the wind strength performed exceptionally well. Bexhill is clearly a good training ground.

Overall Result:

1st    Steve and Annette Wilson, 7922 'Virtual Reality', Chichester Y.C.  2 Pts.
2nd   Richard Littler and Colin Pullinger, 7765 'Call me Al', Chichester Y.C.  3 Pts.
3rd Michael and A. Brothwell, 6513 'Humbug', Bexhill S.C.  5 Pts.

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Strathclyde Loch, 1st Scottish traveller - 9th May

Three visitors added to the 6 local boats to provide the class start for the first of the Scottish traveller series although the wind was fairly fresh it was very variable and saw Crawford Reid and Laura-Ann Downie steal the lead on their home waters over Dick Downie (no relation) and Jim Sinclair. Neither however had any intention of allowing any kind of a break to develop and fought a hard challenge throughout the race which saw Dick Downie pull a tactical winner by forcing Reid to cover both Sinclair and Derrick Gibbon to windward thus allowing him to break through to leward and finish ahead of Reid, Gibbon and Sinclair, only 17 seconds separated all four.

After lunch it was back afloat to a stiffening breeze and two races back to back. Jim Sinclair settled more to the conditions and although positions changed throughout both races, it was he who was first up the last beat on both occasions leaving Downie and Reid to chase 2nd and 3rd respectively.

OVERALL RESULTS.

1st 6956 Jim Sinclair and William Howarth (East Lothian Y.C.)
2nd 7420 Dick Downie and Linda McMullin (Royal West of Scotland B.C.)
3rd 6703 Crawford Reid and Laura-Ann Downie (Strathclyde Loch S.C.)

Special mention goes to the local boats of Jim McKinstry 1717 sailing his Alb for the first time and Angela Harkins and her newly redecked 5830 which lost a hatch cover in an unexpected capsize and recorded a DNF.

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South Cerney, Spring Tuning 8th May & Open 9th May

May 8^th was the date for this years Albacore Spring Tuning event held at South Cerney and opened out to the rest of the local club. Although the wind was rather gusty and at times strong, Michael McNamara oversaw the event with his usual aplomb.

Despite many capsises the day was a clear success. All those present were put through their paces and it was impossible to have left without learning something to improve performance whatever sort of boat was being sailed.

The following day saw 6 visitors join 11 local boats to race for the South Cerney trophy and the Albacore Spring Tuning Trophy. They were greeted by a dry but overcast day with a force 2-3 Southerly breeze that freshened quickly and veered as the day wore on.

Race 1 saw Martin Cockram take an early lead closely followed by Richard Thompson and then Mike Johnson. This became rather well spread out with Cockram taking the race by a very wide margin. The onlookers on the bankside were however kept entertained by a race long battle for 4^th place between Jean Simmons, Norman Halstead, and Jonathon Weekes which was eventually settled in that order.

Two boats managed to leave the second start on port tack - one by a beautiful demonstration of confidence, opportunism, and control; the other by the simple expedient of ignoring all the boats on starboard. Cockram and Thompson reached the first mark together and bore away on to the reach amongst much shouting which resulted in Cockram performing a 720 turn only to be forced into retirement for the rest of the event due to a torn mainsail. Thompson went on to win the race followed at a safe distance by first Halstead and then Weeks.

Halstead hit the front early in race 3 followed by Simmons and Johnson. Thompson soon fought through to 3^rd and the race seemed settled until Halstead decided to demonstrate the underwater gybe on the penultimate lap. Simmons went on to take the gun with a recovering Halstead in 2^nd and Thompson 3^rd.

Overall result: 1^st Richard and Jenny Thompson (RTYC), 2^nd Norman Halstead and Sean Wiltshire (SCSC), 3^rd Jean and Derek Simmons (SCSC), 4^th Mike and Lesley Johnson (SCSC), 5^th Jonathon Weeks and David Humphries (MSC)

Kimberley Trophy: Mike and Lesley Johnson

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Winsford Flash - 25th April

After a week of light winds it was all change on April 25 when a good Force 3-4 made the Albacore meeting at Winsford Flash SC a day to remember. Judy and Paul Armstrong made sure of the series, winning the last two races.

The first race started with a heavily biased line by the lake shore causing a few problems, but Dave and Anne Bancroft made no mistake to have a comfortable lead round the first mark, a lead they held to the finish, followed by Armstrong, and Paul Lennie and Judith Twambley.

The second time out the wind was gusting, catching a few people out and causing four capsizes. Armstrong was soon in the lead, with Bancroft in close company for the first two rounds until a capsize put paid to his chances. Armstrong sailed well clear to win followed by Lennie, and Nick Kouyoumidjian and Ray Johnson.

The wind moderated a little for the last race which was led for the first round by Bancroft but Armstrong, after swapping the lead three times, finally took first place and the series. Bancroft finished second with Howard Garner in third place.

Overall Results: 1st Judy and Paul Armstrong (Scaling Dam SC), 2nd Dave and Anne Bancroft (Winsford Flash SC), 3rd Paul Lennie and Judith Twambley (WFSC), 4th Howard Garner and Ben Edwards (WFSC), 5th Nick Kouyoumidjian and Ray Johnson (WFSC), 6th Clive Plane and Simon Duggan (WFSC).

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Maidenhead - 11th April

The Maidenhead SC open meeting sported 11 Albacores; all local boats. Conditions were ideal with a gusty f3 and beautiful blue skies. The wind swung between SW and NW so the Race Officer was challenged to provide a good beat.

The first race started without incident and Trevor Smith profited from the pre race practice to find the right line to the first mark closely followed by Jonathan Weekes and Phil Tindall. Phil’s son and daughter (Tom and Kate) came next in their first outing in an Albacore.  A couple of marks later on the beat to the SW Weekes chose the right hand side and laid the mark ahead
of Smith. Tindall followed these two as they pulled away from the fleet with no further place changes.

The course was changed for the second race to allow longer beats. An over eager fleet lined up for the start but forced a general recall. At the second start they got away cleanly and Weekes found the right route to the first mark. Smith and Tindall followed. At the long downwind leg Ron Vass (crewed by junior Patrick Quilter) pushed into 2nd place but fell back as the wind lifted on the beats. Weekes stayed ahead to win the race and the series followed by Smith and the Tindall family!

The third race followed immediately and again Weekes found the windward mark first with Gary Windeatt ahead of Tindall. The wind dropped but at the next long beat a series of vicious shifty gusts caused havoc to the fleet. Smith untangled himself first from the involuntary tacks to take the lead which he held to the end whilst struggling to hold off Weekes and Tindall.

Overall result:
1st J Weekes and D Humphries 7906, 2nd T and A Smith 7754, 3rd P Tindall and
R Box 7513, 4th T and K Tindall 6849
 
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Bexhill - Southern Areas - June 5th and 6th

Bexhill SC hosted the Albacore Southerns on June 5-6, and weather forecasts for the area reduced the numbers.

On Saturday afternoon Captain Beaky burst over the starting line, only to be beaten into third place by Richard and Jenny Thompson, followed by Richard Gray and Richard Bowers. Weather conditions varied from south-westerly Force 4 to south-easterly Force 1.

Sunday morning brought strong westerly winds of Force 4-5, gusting 6 in the squalIs. Thompson led the fleet, followed by Gray who, in turn, was overtaken by Simon Baber and Ian Simkins in very fierce conditions. The race officer set the leeward mark about one mile out to sea - so it was planing all the way out and down the reaches in gusts of Force 6. In this race Andrew Brothwell and David Wells, both Bexhill juniors, with a combined weight of 18 stone and a combined age of 31, sailed with remarkable skill. Who says an Albacore is an old man's boat?

In the afternoon race the fleet was reduced to three. 'Infatuation' became dismasted before the start, leaving 'Hitch Hiker' to battle it out with the Thompsons. The former won, both boats having capsized at least once in the tough conditions.

Overall Reaults:1st 7512, Richard and Jenny Thompson (Royal Torbay YC), 2nd 7145, Simon Baber and Ian Simkins (Lee-on-the-Solent SC), 3rd 7985 Richard Gray and Richard Bowers (Parkstone YC).

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Covenham Albacore Open 26/27th June

Mike Mac returned to his magic Albacore for the first time in nearly two years and proved that sailing an Alb is like riding a bike. Four races sailed; four races won.

A bright and breezy day welcomed the crews of ten boats who were to battle for second and minor placings, whilst Mac viewed the sailing from the comfort of his transom. The fleet was both topped and tailed by Macs as Frank, the McNamara sire, also made a guest appearance crewed by his grandson Simon.

For the first points race held on the Saturday afternoon a safety boat led the way round the course for the benefit of those unfamiliar with the reservoir buoyage. For those more familiar, after passing the leeward mark the lead safety boat continued with apparent purpose towards a further buoy, and was followed by the leading visitor. The second boat was a local sailor who grabbed his chance to hit the front as the safety boat made a timely turn towards the mooring jetty. Now it was Mac's turn to work his way back to the front from fourth as two other boats had also managed to move up a place. In a fairly constant 4/5 with tacking and gybing when appropriate, and huffing and luffing as required, the race reached its conclusion with you know who in first place, followed by the soon to be septuagenarian Terry Smith beaming from ear to ear.

Race two was held on the following morning after the annual Summer barbie, from which there were few early risers. Peter Snowdon was one exception having driven down from Ingleby Barwick for the day. Richard Watkinson, 1985 National champion also decided to join the fun, although Summer appeared to have ended. The Ingleby Barwickian crewed by John Challen took his place at the head of the rest of the fleet, whilst Mac sailed around the unusually shaped course chuntering about triangles.

Race three caused a stir as Peter Snowdon took the lead and was by no means eager to surrender it. But the inevitable came to pass. Simon Challen and Sally Cottingham took third place having wrested it from David and Nicholas Hammond who made good use of their newly acquired boat.

Race four, and Mac at last got a triangle. But after a very heavy shower which started on the race officer's signal, the windward mark became the leeward mark, and the gybe mark became the windward mark, with a pronounced one-sided beat, as the wind changed from West to South. The minor places changed with John Chambers proving his worth by challenging for, but eventually losing out on, third whilst sailing a borrowed old wooden tub.

And so to the prizegiving, when the visitors having eaten and drunk their fill then took all the prizes. A good weekend had again been enjoyed by all, and himself described Covenham reservoir as a lovely piece of water. What does he know?

With three races to count the placings were: 1st 6493 Mike McNamara & Alastair Fry (Grimsby & Cleethorpes) 2nd 7416 Peter Snowdon & John Challen (Scaling Dam) 3rd 7920 David & Nicholas Hammond (Ogston) 4th 6823 Simon Challen & Sally Cottingham (Covenham) 5th 18?? John Chambers & Kristian Drummond (Grimsby & Cleethorpes) 6th 6824 Terry Smith & Steve Manders (Covenham)

Paul Pike, Covenham S.C. (Al 6447 Dolly Winches)

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Scaling Dam - Albacore Northern Areas

A small but very competitive fleet of Albacores met at Scaling Dam SC to race for the honour of being Northern area champion over the weekend of June 12-13.

Light and fickle breezes made the race officers job a difficult one on Saturday, and after a short practice race the fleet made a clean start for the first points race. Peter Snowdon and John Challen led at the windward mark but was soon passed by Keith Caush and Alex Scoffin who went on to win. By the finish, on a shortened course, both David and Nick Hammond, and Dave and Anne Bancroft had also passed Snowdon.

Sunday was a much brighter day. However, a light westerly breeze was cancelled out immediately after the start by a sea breeze from the east. The beat became a reach and then a run. Caush, who had been over the line at the start, managed to catch the rest of the fleet within 200 yards of the start, but could not make his luck count. Snowdon took first place with Hammond second and Bancroft third. Terry Smith from Covenham SC took a well deserved fourth.

The last two races were sailed back-to-back and, although still gusty, the wind had settled in a westerly direction. The stronger breeze suited Snowdon who won again in the third race but only after a tacking duel with Bancroft on the last beat. Hammond was third with Caush and Ken Richards from Scaling Dam in a dead heat for fourth place.

Four boats still had a chance of winning going into the last race. Caush made the best start with Bancroft second and Snowdon third. A mistake by Caush on a run allowed three boats through and a lift on the next beat gave Snowdon the lead. This is how they finished with Simon Challen from Covenham SC taking third and Hammond in fourth.

Overall Results: 1st 7416, Peter Snowdon and John Challen (Scaling Dam SC) 3pts, 2nd 7908, Dave and Anne Bancroft (Winsford Flash SC) 7, 3rd 7920, David and Nick Hammond (Ogston SC) 7, 4th 6960, Keith Caush and Alex Scoffin (SDSC) 10.

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Perth Sailing Club 3rd.Scottish Traveller

Only two visitors turned up for this event on 26th/27th June despite the promise of a good attendance from boats from the surrounding area. One visitor was Dash sailed by Gordon Scott and Martin Sherrit from Montrose SC who regularly attend our Regattas and the other was Ptarmigan sailed by Crawford Reid and daughter Jacqueline from Strathclyde Loch. Whilst this was the Reid’s first visit to Perth SC, Ptarmigan was no stranger having been sailed at Perth for many years by Tim Tindall. A total of eight boats entered for the week-end but unfortunately some could not sail all of the races.

The first race was an all class handicap practice race held in a force 2/3 S. Easterly that varied in strength and direction all afternoon. Bill Dunlop sailing Evandra made an emergency tack at the start, tore a tendon in his arm and had to retire from the event. Jim Donald and Gary Tait sailing Quackers took an early lead which he held for most of the race from a hard pushing Crawford Reid who eventually broke through and took first place followed by Quackers.

The first travellers race saw Walter and Irene Cumming in Ondine get off to a flier hotly pursued by Crawford Reid, Robin MacArthur and Chris Watson in Cordon Bleu and Gordon Scott. On the second round Crawford got past Walter and went on to cross the line first. Walter held off Robin to take second place. Jim Donald suffered the consequences of a bad start and had to work hard to finish fourth ahead of Gordon.

Sunday saw a complete change in the weather, gone were the fine conditions, wind and visibility. After a brief postponement, the first race started as the weather improved and the wind filled in from the West, but it was so light that only one round was sailed. Crawford Reid Port tacked the fleet at the start and was never caught.

The wind picked up to force 2/3 for the last race. Ondine led for three rounds by which time the ebb was in full flow. As a local, Walter Cumming knew that the quickest way to the windward mark upstream was to short tack up the North shore. Unfortunately Crawford did not know this, tacked up the middle of the river and took about 20 boatlengths out of Walter's lead!!! He then passed Walter at a wing mark, and held this lead to the leeward mark rounding it about 5 boatlengths ahead. On the short beat to the finish Crawford sailed across the river to the North shore. On rounding the mark Walter found that the wind had changed enough to lift him upriver. Crawford came across and tacked to cover but Walter had enough Speed to sail through his lee, lee bow him and cross the line haIf a boat length ahead.

Overall Results: 1st. Ptarmigan 11/2 Points 2nd. Ondine 23/4 Points 3rd. Quackers 6 Points. 4th Mirage John and Alan Ferguson 8 Points 5th.Cordon Bleu 9 Points 6th. Dash 10 Points

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Halfway Open 12-13th June 1999

Local boats were joined by 1 visitor from Maidenhead SC. Starts were at 11.00 with two races being sailed back to back. Saturday was light airs and some rain sailed on 6 laps of a triangle course with the second race being shortened. Sunday Sunny with light airs sailed on a 'P' shaped course.
 

Helm	Crew	Sail No.	Club	Race 1 (practice)	Race 2	Race 3	Race 4	Position
Alex Moon	Ingrid Moon	6683	HYC	1	1	1	2	1st
Rick Paxman	Matt Maudsley	7915	HYC	2	2	3	1	2nd
Jim Percy	Chris Clarke	7771	HYC	5	3	5	3	3rd
Trevor Smith	Ann Smith	6918	MSC	3	6	2	6	4th
Graham Ollett	Nick Ollett	7767	HYC	8	4	4	4	5th
George Mellon	Steve May	7506	HYC	4	8	6	5	6th
John Payne	Ken Carter	6855	HYC	6	5	7	9	7th
Fred Paxman	Lee Roberts	6936	HYC	DNS	DNS	8	9	8th

 
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