ALBACORE OPEN MEETING, MAIDENHEAD
SAILING CLUB,
Sunday 17th April
Twelve Albacores turned out
for the first open meeting of the season at Maidenhead Sailing Club on the 17th
April. The sailors were greeted with bright sunshine and light southerly winds
which steadily increased throughout the day, although remained somewhat shifty!
Three races were sailed, with some interesting courses.
In the first of the three
races a short course was laid for the very light breeze, however this increased
and six laps were eventually sailed. Neville Herbert and Steve Penfold (Tamesis
SC) were first to the first mark and just increased their lead each lap to win
by some 5 minutes after 1hr 20 minutes of racing. Second to fourth positions
were changing throughout the race, with relative Albacore newcomers Orlando
Gledhill (Datchet SC) crewed by local Colin Simmons eventually claiming second
place, just ahead of Norman Halstead and Ruth Birkett (South Cerney SC) in
third. Fourth went to local boat Derrick Williams and Julie Maidment.
After lunch races 2 and 3
were held back to back in a freshening breeze and a longer course was set
requiring interesting decisions to be made about which side of the islands to go
up the beats. Race 2 was again won by Herbert and Penfold, thus winning
overall, with Matt Potter and Mark Fowler (Notts County SC) in second place who
had missed the first race of the day. Halstead and Birkett were third with
Gledhill and Simmons in fourth.
Race 3 and after a poor
start Herbert and Penfold were near the back of the fleet at the first mark,
with Potter and Fowler leading the way from start to finish. Halstead and
Birkett claimed second with Gledhill and Simmons in third and locals Gary
Windeatt and Katy Clarke in fourth. Herbert and Penfold had to settle for sixth
place.
So, for another year
Herbert and Penfold retain the trophy, with third place separated on discards
between Halstead and Birkett and Gledhill and Simmons.
Results:
1st: 6825:
Neville Herbert and Steve Penfold, Tamesis SC, 2 pts
2nd: 7143: Matt
Potter and Mark Fowler, Notts County SC, 3 pts
3rd: 6403:
Norman Halstead and Ruth Birkett, South Cerney SC, 5 pts
1st local boat:
8061: Derrick Williams and Julie Maidment, 9 pts.
View the images from the
event here
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