Stone weekend 2007

Stone S.C. Essex Dinghy Championship 2007
This article is from the Slow Flight within this Open meeting and Sundays results are part of the Blackwater Traveller Trophy Series 2007

Hurray the sun came out! And it turned out to be a full-on 5 race series sailed in 2 to 16 knots W. to S.E. in the sun, “summer had returned” The Saturday race, an all in handicap 2-4 knots on an ebbing tide called for great patience and the art of missing the fine threads of weed floating just below the surface. The windward legs against the tide, the runs and reaches with tide sorted the shaker makers out from the following fleet. The race winner was a nice bloke and lady in an ISO.
Jacko and Lorna Legs, now sailing the newish ship and totally dazzled by the shiny gel coat in the brilliant sunshine, read the line transits as back to front! And started their own race, leading start to finish and was duly awarded the ‘Two Boat Lengths Trophy’
Sundays race 2 saw a good breeze and a committee boat start in the middle of St Lawrence’s bay. The sun shone and the race turned in to a nightmare with the wind oscillating around shifts that made front end girls number calling sound like a bingo game. Neil Fultcher, sailing a Phantom, wining the start and at time a huge lead only to be wound in and under great pressure to rock the boat “I have to pump to control the rocking” but not being fit enough to do both at the same time, was hovered up by Andi Riley sailing a Laser.
Jacko and Lorna, again failing to start well, and not really showing any great skill to windward hung in to put more edge on the finishing to steal the race. Lorna, not to be out performed on the beach by Big Phil, stepped out of the boat in to 1.8 metres of water and kept her nail polish dry.
Sundays race 2 started after a long 3-course meal including cheese and biscuits, a starting and an abandoning and more delays while the sea breeze took over from the S.E.
Finally sorted itself in to a pucker race, 12-16 knots wind over tide, short legs, punchy sailing. However the start line ended up not too good with the fleet charging down the line on starboard unable to cross it but fritting the life out of the boats wishing to get stuck to the race on port. Once more Neil won the start and was well ahead at the windward mark followed by Andi with Jacko and Lorna looking for another recovery. The race was much enhanced by the catamarans flying through the fleet in every direction, good to see them at such close quarters. Once more Lorna put some good down hill moves together (even when Jacko put an added part triangle in to the sausage) to put the race in the bag for the 2nd win. Neil 2nd Andi 3rd
Monday was a gay day, more sunshine, more wind and a good course had been set starting off the club line; wind over tide N.W.10-14 knots. It must be said that Jacko now with 1 OCS and 2 bad starts was receiving ear ache from the front-end girl. A request to keep close to the race box down tide on the race course side of the line but never the less well out the way of any one wishing to race, for the purpose of (Jacko to see what the transits actually looked like and a goodly squint at the flag order) was prudent!
As it turns out Andi (Laser) now with a 2,2,3, score line and in 2nd place overall decides to open the proceedings with an attempt to block Jacko’s path back to the pre start side of the line. Carried out with some artistic body language and well-articulated bunny pie! Now unbeknown to Andi, Jacko has spent time competing against the likes off Al Warren, Jim Park, and Biddle/Little, of which Biddle/Little mastered the art of close cover tacking on the slip whilst rigging! Prerace/pre launch. Nor the fact that a newbe Merlin hotshot attempted the strangulation of Jacko via spinnaker sheets attached to the spinnaker and boat, rapped around Jacko’s neck/head on a to die for blisteringly close three sailed reaching leg at Pyefleet week. Jacko having lived in a house with two teenaged children was not fazed by either, or any such events. Inquiring of Andi if he was aware of the Hunting rule? And was smartly informed that there was no proper course! And so took part in this alternative option to getting the best start poss. on the grounds that it took the pressure off him as far as the front-end girl was concerned. (Not sure on the rights and wrongs at the time of writing)
And what of the race? Well it turns out that Jacko made a fairly good start (for once) and rounded the windward mark 1st followed by Neil and Mike Stone (Phantom). There was much bunny pie on the merits of Neil’s sailing technique down the runs and the fact that following the passing of a large motor cruiser putting up two 60cm bow waves that Neil sadly missed them! Quote Neil “I was too busy sinking” best placed reply of the weekend. The fleet spread out a bit on the shifty beats and the added pleasure of the Thames Barges and classic yachts sailing majestically up the river on the top of the tide keeps you plugged in. Jacko took the bullet, Neil 2nd Mike 3rd
Last race saw Neil lead from start to finish in 6-10 knots with a long windward leg up to Northy Island against the tide in the afternoon sun. The water was flat and streaming weed. Mike sailed a good race finishing 2nd and Jacko and Lorna having encountered another attack of Andy’s rendering of pre start Americas Cup (I’d rather sail out the back door than race) clawed back to 3rd to take the series.This was a brilliant weekends sailing in St Laurence’s Bay hosted by a club that eats and sails to the full, it was well run and well supported. The water is unique to that part of the river Blackwater and has much to offer. Sundays result goes to the Blackwater Travellers Trophy a reworking of an old series hoping to build contact between sailboat racers on the River Backwater.

Pyefleet Week 2007

(Merlin Magic Essex) part of Pyefleet Week 2007
This was not a vintage week for the weather but the sailing and the racing was full on.
Six Merlins sailed in the slow handicap flight part of the 108 boats taking part.
I can only write this peace as the way we viewed it from our place in the fleet.
The race was about who was to be top dog in the Merlin fleet. Graig and crew, new to Merlins had already become the club top rated boat and right from the start stamped authority over the fleet, winning the start and pulling out a good lead from Ozzie and Melissa, Jacko and Lorna. In the last part of the race having lost the lead but gaining a windward overlap on the hill reach became over powered and with the spinnaker sheets wrapped around Jacko’s neck, conceded a fowl and retired. Strangulation might well have occurred but was to follow later.
Race 2 and 3 also sailed in a goodly breeze saw dominance from Graig and Jane with Ozzie and Melissa threatening a win but Graig and Jane finishing with a good lead.
The gods of wind then descended and it was Thursday before racing returned.
Race 4 saw a tighter start with Graig and Jane pulling out a good lead but with Jacko and Lorna finding a way though up wind and hanging on to take the bullet.
Race 5 saw a tight start with Graig hanging on to 2nd until the wind god through a huge beast of a squall down the last run to finish splatting Team Graig just metres from the finish but still holding second place.
Race 6 the final race was win to win saw Graig winning the start but quickly loosing out only to regain it and not to be seen again. Jacko and Lorna got a bit of a gallop on down the last run to the finish but it was Graig's day with a sore line RAF, 1,1,2,2,1.
Jacko and Lorna having been lead Merlin and finishing 2nd over all for the last two years and now riding a new boat, it was race on. Sadly the lack of time spent in the boat racing and a tad bit of unfitness in Jacko’s end of the boat put them at a slight disadvantage.
Failing to start on time in race 1 meant catch up from the start. But settling down slowly pulling through to challenge the lead boat. Lorna relearning old tricks in the newly strung boat work away to take the lead on a down hill spinnaker leg. The unfortunate coming together, and Jacko’s wearing of Graig’s spinnaker was an indication that the race was on.
Race 2 saw Jacko and Lorna again fail to sort the start dropping in to 3rd place with a long gap to 2nd placed Ozzie and Melissa in a good 12 to 18 knots of breeze.
Race 3 was a tighter start with Jacko and Lorna popping out in 2nd but Ozzie and Melissa passing through the lee side and taking off big time. It was on the down hill run that Jacko finally lost the plot and following a jibe and total loss of control made an excellent entrance in to the splat the duck competition. Jacko was seen to spend a considerable time with the fishes and was heard to say how smooth and yellow the new boat was and how well it floated and that the glued on rudder fitting supported his weight well. But refusing offers of help from the passing fleet and the odd jibe about how well he floated gathered Lorna who had ruined her makeup the soggy offending spinnaker and him self back in the boat (it was noted that there was no cheer and applause as when they entered the water right out side the club house).
Race 4 saw a newly sorted sail plan in the Jacko boat. Not starting well and on the second part of the race Jacko and Lorna starting an up wind leg and lifted the weather side of Graig rounded in the lead. Once more Lorna played the kite string and the team took the bullet.
Race 5 saw at last the Jacko Lorna magic (or jam) that makes Lorna know that she’s picked the right helm (laugh I nearly did) taking an early lead and sailing free. With Jacko so keen he wished to do an additional round stopped only by a 30 mph squall and horizontal rain travelling through a now upside down following fleet and the shortened course gun, escaped another swim with the fishes.
Race 6, a need to win race, failed to happen. Gaining the lead only to lose it in the opening 400 meters and unable to up the boat pace and not till he last down hill run to the finish in the first lighter winds of the week meant runners up spot for Jacko and Lorna.
Ozzie and Melissa seemed to be on a back foot having had a good start in the new boat but feeling that the new boys in town Team Graig had won 4 out of every 5 races of late. Jacko’s arrival and long thoughtful talks on the beach saw Ozzie looking a bit more “mean” (not in Ozzie’s nature) making fair starts and having Jacko well sorted and Graig in his grasp taking the lead more than once in races 1 to 4, were looking more the biss. Sadly in the big puff at the end of race 5 it all went titsup. Desperately trying to avoid team Graig splat the duck move directly in his path called for rudder hard to starboard unfortunately the boat did but the rudder did not. The rudderstock now looking like a peeled banana ended Ozzie’s week with a DNF and a DNC
The Ronet’s staring Filf the dog (roving reporter) Ron and Laura had a good week failing to enter the splat the duck competition and Ron’s toe straps not braking (of which the items can now be sent back unused) found life tough but rewarding in the middle of the fleet some way back from the front end Merlins but maintaining a good spirit and cheerful attitude. Laura, a brilliant hard working crew, and always ready to punch out Jacko’s well being in any race was full of encouragement in Jacko big swim…….. Laura being a Pyefleet week virgin stayed the distance (it was quite a distance) and ever cheery finished 14th
The two vintage Merlin (apologies l need more info). On some races time was a long affair and again good blokes sailing well and staying the distance in well built worthy boats.All up a hard but brilliant week hosted by a friendly club for sailors hell bent on having the best of times.