Results / South Cerney SC Asymmetric Open - 19/05/2018
You are very lucky and have two race reports: first by Kevin Weatherhead, second by Nick Buxton
REPORT ONE:
South Cerney Sailing Club Asymmetric Open 19 May 2018
Rooster RS Vareo National Tour event number two
The South Cerney Sailing Club (SCSC) holds an annual Asymmetric Open Meeting which doubles up as one of the RS Vareo Rooster National Tours. There are a huge number of RS Vareos located at SCSC but sadly few are seen on the water. This year’s event was sailing in very disappointing winds, at ten o’clock there was no wind and a long delay was on the cards. The winds filled in a small amount to allow two races in the morning and two in the afternoon but the whole day was a frustrating set of trips to the windy part of the course only to find the expected wind gone and some filling in from the other side of the course sent others from last to first. The fleet consisted of four travelling RS Vareos and three from SCSC, plus an RS200 from SCSC. The RS200 lead out the fleet in all the races but never got far enough to win any races, just picking up seconds and thirds, at least this left the RS Vareos to their own class racing for most of the day.
The first race saw local sailor Kevin Weatherhead lead out the fleet, only to choose the wrong side so take himself and Nick Crickmore to the back of the fleet – so much for local knowledge. Nick fought back to second RS Vareo behind Luke which looked like the recipe for the day.
The second race saw local sailor Andrew Appleton take an inspired course up the right-hand side of the upwind leg and leap to the front of the fleet in lap two. Kevin spotted this and repeated the action in laps three and four to get to the front of the fleet and take a first place after Luke was kind in not covering Kevin as aggressively as he could have done. Cheryl Wood was very pleased to finish ahead of Nick Crickmore and Luke Fisher at the line.
A tasty lunch of chilli-beef wraps was laid on by the Cadet parents who had a Cadet training which kept well clear of the asymmetric action.
After lunch the wind filled in and it looked for a while if we were going to have a real charge around the lake with spinnakers flying and some real high-speed competition. The race officer Dave Whittle had quite some problems setting a start line as the wind completely changed directions several times causing the committee boat to have to relocate twice. By the time a line was set and we just had to start regardless of the wind, which had gone back to patchy with frequent changes of direction.
Race three saw Nick Crickmore and Luke Fisher dominate from the start and leave the rest of us standing. Kevin sailed clear of the chasing pack to take third.
Race four was another frustrating drift about with various people taking gambles which didn’t pay off as chasers sailed right round them by following the wind. As in all races the order changed many times with Kevin managing to stay in touch with the RS200 and leave the remaining fleet a leg down. As the wind filled in from behind, there was much panicking from Kevin, whose wind indicator was spinning in circles and spinnaker would not settle on either side, let Andrew Appleton close up to to touching distance before reaching the final mark. Kevin hung on to get his second bullet of the day.
The irony of the day is that Kevin sold his RS Vareo 547 in February in favour of a Hadron H2 and was only persuaded to sail by Nick Crickmore who has had many close battles with Kevin in the past. This will now be an annual duel in the racing calendar, roll on 2019 at SCSC!
Photos thanks to Dave Whittle. View the full gallery here
Prize Winners in the photo from left to right:
Luke Fisher – asymmetric open second and second RS Vareo
Nick Crickmore – third RS Vareo, winner of Rooster RS Vareo National Tour neck gaiter
Andrew Appleton – Won the SCSC RS Vareo Prize for Best SCSC RS Vareo (not having won a main prize), also winner of Rooster RS Vareo National Tour neck gaiter
Kevin Weatherhead – asymmetric open winner and first RS Vareo
Alistair Sim – asymmetric open third (RS200 helm)
Matt Sim – asymmetric open third (RS200 crew)
Report by Kevin Wheatherhead
Your next event is Rooster RS Vareo National Tour event number three at Alton Water SC 26-27 May
Info so far here
Then it’s Rooster RS Vareo National Tour event number four which is the Illuminis RS Vareo Open at Milton Keynes SC 9-10 June
Event info here
Up on Y&Y here
and on Blue Sheets here
REPORT TWO:
South Cerney SC Asymmetric Open Meeting 19th May 2018
Rooster RS Vareo National Tour event number two
Very light winds, in fact that is probably a metrological exaggeration, very light airs gave a brave few cramp and stiff legs from trying to hold still for unwelcome periods of time whilst their boats inched towards the next mark. Credit to the race team who managed to complete four races in very shifty conditions.
Each race was determined by strategic boat positioning in anticipation of the next unsighted puff of air. Race leaders fell to the back from an unlucky call but were able to recover when the next waft filled in behind the fleet.
Four intrepid visitors found their way to SCSC with their RS Vareos and joined three other RS Vareos and an RS200 from the club.
Defending champion Luke Fisher cruised to another win in the first race, whilst Al Sim in the RS200 drifted in behind with Nick Crickmore in third. Kevin Weatherhead overcame first race nerves and claimed the second ahead of Al Sim and Andrew Appleton coasting in third for a SCSC 1,2,3.
After a good lunch checking to ensure Harry married Meghan we headed back onto the water. The airs swirled around causing the course to be reset and then altered again before we hastily drifted over the start for the third race. This time Nick Crickmore managed to position himself advantageously to benefit from puffs that others couldn’t reach. Luke Fisher re-established himself for a second place ahead of Al Sim.
The final race set off after another readjustment of the course, a complete absence of wind made it difficult in the middle of the race, but it was Kevin Weatherhead who somehow managed to recover who took the hoot from, Andrew Appleton and Al Sim in third for a second SCSC 1, 2, 3.
This meant that Kevin took the overall honours from Luke Fisher with Al Sim (ably crewed by Matt Sim) in third. Well done all, and congratulations to Kevin who finally won his first Open event after many years trying.
Many thanks to Joanne Appleton for providing a very welcome post-racing tea which was enjoyed by all. It’s strange how much energy goes into moving so slowly!
Report by Nick Buxton