Winsford Flash Sailing Club

Report on Albacore Open

Sunday, 03 November 2002o:p>

The day started bright and breezy for the last open meeting of the 2002 season, only seven boats registered with disappointingly no visiting boats being among them. First race got underway just after eleven o’clock, the lead was quickly taken by Nick Kay, with club commodore Paul Lennie not far behind, Steve Dawson soon overtook Paul Lennie. A slight misjudgement on inner mark causing Ken Ayrton and Henning Caesar to do penalty turns. The leading boats soon had a one mark lead, with Paul Lennie retaking second place coming around the next mark, Nick Kay slowly drew out half a lap lead on the following boats, second and third place was being heavily contested. Nick Kay being the final winner followed by Paul Lennie and Steve Dawson.

Second race saw the easterly wind picking up, Nick Kay again rapidly drew out a one mark lead, Paul Lennie closing the lead down, so by inner mark only a short distance separated the two lead boats, The following boats had now paired of with Henning and Ken Ayrton jostling for third and fourth place. Darkening clouds bought some rain and an attractive rainbow arched over the Flash, Nick Kay now had regained a one-mark lead, and three boats jostling for position behind him. By the latter stages of the race Paul Lennie had again closed down Nick’s lead with both boats tacking side by side down the Flash, a jibe by Nick Kay saw a run for the inner mark, which allowed Nick Kay to regain the lead. Suddenly the wind died a death for the two leading boats, allowing the following pack to close the gap. Ken Ayrton beating Henning Caesar on the inner mark. Nick Kay again won followed by Paul Lennie and Henning Caesar.

A bit of concern was raised by the news on Radio~2 issuing an immediate gale warning for the whole of the United Kingdom. But as we looked across the mirror calm Flash, the arching rainbow and the blue sky one wondered if this was some sort of lull before the storm. So everyone went for tea and cake while the OD contemplated the course for the third and final race.

All seven boats started the final race even though Nick Kay had already won overall, with three boats on eight points the second and third positions where available for the taking. Henning Caesar took the lead with the rest of the pack close behind, by inner mark Henning Caesar had a slightly increased the lead, it was now becoming obvious that Henning Caesar was going for second place overall, hoping to knock Paul Lennie down a place. By the middle of the race Paul Lennie had taken the lead Henning Caesar not far behind, was being chased by Ken Ayrton. Second lap saw Henning and Ken side by side for a while, but by the next lap Henning had again formulated an eight-length lead. The shortened race was sounded, the flag raised, Paul Lennie could be seen tacking and jibing towards the finish at inner mark, Henning Caesar half a mark behind with Ken Ayrton a few lengths behind his stern. At the finish Paul Lennie won followed by Henning Caesar and Ken Ayrton.

The overall final positions where:

Pos	Sail No	Helm	Crew	Club	R1	R2	R3	Pts
1	7990	Nick Kay	Carl Jefferies	WFSC	1	1	4	2
2	7909	Paul Lennie	Pam Gott	WFSC	2	2	1	3
3	7763	Henning Caesar	Roy Symmers	WFSC	5	3	2	5
4	7986	Ken Ayrton	Sandy Mill	WFSC	4	4	3	7
5	6836	Steve Dawson	Kim Pickering	WFSC	3	5	5	8
6	7914	Simon Duggan	Lindsey Nurny	WFSC	6	7	6	12
7	7753	Chris Nurny	Lara Nurny	WFSC	7	6	7	13

Prize giving saw some confusion as the trophies, had been mixed up. One competitor complained that his trophy stated fourth place, until it was pointed out that he actually was fourth!

So at the end of the day it was time to adjourn to the bar and to contemplate and discuss what had been, during the previous season and to look forward to how well everyone and myself are going to perform in the forthcoming 2003 season.