Testy Day at the Maylandsea Winter series:

Low grey wet cloudy conditions blotted out the skyline to Mundon spit. The wading birds seemed to be stuck in the wet gooey mud. A light breeze from the North chilled out any idea of it being a fun sailing day.
However, on entering the clubhouse the sounds of laughter rattled around the early takers of coffee and bacon rolls. It appears that the sailing committee had posted the Mk2 edition of the winter course card. It was noted that a notice was posted later in the day, which read.
(The sailing committee would like to thank all the helpful competitors for their advice and keenness in pointing out the errors in the Mk2 course card and all the items raised have been noted and will be resolved for races 5 and 6) well we can but hope!
By the time the fleet had assembled on the start line the rain had stopped and the wind had set in 12 knots N. to N.E. on a rapid incoming tide. The start was again fiercely contested with the Lasers, Finn, Fireballs and Merlins pushing hard to the submerged spit end of the line. David Islin, sailing a Fireball, won both the morning and afternoon starts with a daring and surgical type manoeuvring in a quickly tightening gaggle of assorted boats, popping out bang on the starting signal leaving the following fleet to exchange verbal requests of “room” and “why me God”. The coming together of lips and ideas on the sailing rules was done in the best of sailing tradition with no humour, but with fun in mind and being just out for reach of most. The fleet quickly spread out on the wind ward leg to the top of the bay with Keith in the Finn rounding Mark 4 first. However, Keith took off on a sight seeing tour giving hope to Jacko and Lorna that the race could be won. David having won the start sadly hung onto the south side one tack too many and lost out in a big way.
Nick Radley (Phantom) recovering from a doggy start got hold of the lead when passing Jacko with awesome two sail reaching boat speed, only later to round Lawling in the wrong direction. Sadly this lead to a throwing of the toys out of the pram and a retirement. Nick, restored the brain cells for the second race, but as it happens a joining up with other boats on Spit mark, rendered turns following the race start, but he regained composure to finish 3rd in the race.
Malcolm and Tony, Fireball, having survived the horror that there were 23 marks, shortened to 17 marks to be rounded and that Dave, fellow Fireballerr, blistered the starts, and being surrounded by Finns and Phantoms made the best move he could and maintained his 3rd place overall.
The Laser race is on! With Clive again very much in the front line at the start, and Martin having to work with what’s left. But Martin ever the fighter and knowing the line “it’s never over till it’s over” beavered away removing Clive’s leading Laser crown.

Keith, Jacko and Lorna ended up with a 1st and 2nd each with Jacko’s win in the second race being some what luck, finishing in a dying wind with the tide gaining pace. Not entirely fair for the slower boats.
As it turned out it was a testy days sailing, in a variable shifty wind with a brisk tide on a course of short legs and not much room for error.

Notables: The diving duck competition has opened with Ron and Elizabeth (Merlin) setting a well rehearsed and practised standard
Ron and Elizabeth also finished 4th in the second race.
Tony King and Louise have re-launched Merlin 3230, sadly the bungs were missing.

Thanks to Peter Freshwater for the photos

Next race day is on the 30th Nov. at 11:50

Overall results
1st Merlin Rocket Jacko and Lorna 4 points
2nd Finn Keith Fedi 5 points
3rd Fireball Malcolm and Tony 12 points
4th Finn Laurence Maudsley 15 points
5th Laser Martin Tarling 15 points
6th Laser Clive Tarling 17 points

Maylandsea Bay Open Winter Series & ‘Karma’

Races one and two got under way under the most evil looking skies that the Maylanders had seen for some time and over the summer period following a hearty layer of snow at Easter they have not been spoilt for wicked skies, high winds or no wind at all, dissolving any real feeling of club summer racing.

21 boats from 4 different clubs came to the start line with a very keen start being made by Malcolm and Tony (Fireball) Laurence (Finn) and Jacko and Lorna (Merlin Rocket) The wind 0.2 to 1 knot from the North-to-North East on a soft incoming tide put the fleet in touch with its innermost ‘Karma’ with the helm’s Yins and Yangs stretched to the point of sense of humour failure. But I am pleased to report that the rules of sailing and fair play stood up well (no waves! no Phantoms) especially for Jim and he, being a gent, thinks Rock and Roll is strictly for dancing.
Malcolm and Tony sailed a brilliant windward leg out through the Bay showing excellent boat speed and concentration beating the odds loaded against the high wetted area that the Fireball supports. The windward rounding of Lawling point was against the tide in a miserable half a knot of breeze and ended their hopes of making any real time against the Finns, finishing 4th.
Jacko and Lorna could not make the necessary time required to take out the Finn either, but sailing a careful race, not including farming or shifting weed with the foils, took line honours to finish 2nd.
Laurence sailed well, sailing a good opening leg and rounding Lawling point well and hanging on to the lead boats on the down hill legs, won the first race and beating fellow club Finn sailor Keith Fedi, who it must be said was sleeping at the start of the race but pulled back to finish 3rd.
Race 2 started with a little less tide and a little more wind. The start was banked to rights by the new slimmed down Clive Tarling sailing a Laser. It was good to see Clive rounding the Spit Mark in the inside position and looking cool and in control with the Merlins and fireballs overlapped to the outside. As the fleet passed the north salting point Lorna poured out some verbal encouragement to Jacko as the rudder came adrift from the transom whilst tacking. This was a little test set by Jacko to see if Lorna could move with out knowing why! As it turned out she could, but she can use an assortment of words (all judgemental) on Jacko’s ability to surprise, without warning or reason! A crew’s skills and tolerance to ‘up the pace’ and improvise is needed to secure boat trim without the loss of speed through the water. A tip: some time as a helm it is better to listen with your mouth tightly shut, rather than make un-thought through excuses on boat management.
Luckily all competing boats make some errors, the boat making lest errors can some times be lucky, Jacko and Lorna put the marbles back on the tray and sailed smoothly to finish 1st.
Keith making a good start and sailing well narrowly lost the race to finish 2nd.
Malcolm and Tony again betting the odds in a Fireball on a light airs day put some spinnaker work in and made up good time down wind to finish 3rd.
Clive having won the start sailed well to finish 4th and is leading the Laser fleet.
Next race day 16/11/08 at 12:20 it is not too late to qualify in this series with six races to come.
Overall results
1st Merlin Rocket Jacko and Lorna 3 points
2nd Finn Keith Fedi 5 points
3rd Fireball Malcolm and Tony 7 points
4th GP14 Dave and Kate 10 points
5th Laser Clive Tarling 11 points

Global Warming: It a funny old world

The very day that Charlie Hadfield departed planet earth, no doubt blazing a roster tail of sailing joy into the sea of stars, but sadly a bloke that will leave a un-fillable space in the lives of many, was the day that George William Davison arrived in the arms of Mr floppy toppy. For floppy this was a life moving moment, and for Laura, an Essex top totty Merlin crew, an end to sleeping and handbag shopping. For George, who is already a better sailor (and has a Merlin on order) than filth the dog and floppy himself, he is a treasured person and brings joy to all he smiles on.

But enough of all this what of the sailing ‘the reader’ may ask. The summer months have been disappointing in every way. Difficulties in getting results or reports or getting to the opens and being able to get on the water has knocked the edge off sailing. I do hope to put what is available in to words shortly.