Results / GUL Grand Prix Middle Nene SC - 22/05/2011

RS Vareo – GUL grand prix circuit – Middle Nene Sailing Club

The fourth event in the GUL circuit was held on Sunday 22^nd May at Middle Nene.

The clubhouse at Middle Nene is at the sheltered, western end of the lake;  had it been the other end, we might have stayed onshore.

As it was, six Vareos set off in plumes of spray for race one.

For Andrew Griffiths, a broken boom ended his day, while Neville Boneham soon realised this was just too challenging.

Andrew and Neville had both attended the coaching session run on the Saturday by the two Matts. While this coaching had been really useful, it hadn’t covered coping with 30mph winds!

Nick Crickmore spent rather too much time comparing his mast length with the lake’s depth, but managed to complete the course in fourth place and with some attractive weed at his masthead.

Matt Moore was racing  with a ‘storm sail’ and making good progress – but even he had his centreboard raised and boom well outboard.

Matt Yallop’s challenge for the lead continued until he was flattened by a gust on the third beat.

Up ahead, and playing it as safe as he could  with his spinnaker well tucked away, Andrew Wilson steadily extended his lead over the rest to take the win.

The peak wind speed was recorded as 40mph. Spectator congratulations went to both Matt Moore and Nick Crickmore for flying their spinnakers.

After lunch, the fleet were about to launch again when the wind strength rose even further – now the squalls no longer seemed to have any lulls between them!

So we all settled for boat and body preservation.