Tag: Sailing Southwest

David Bartlett working his way upwind at the Roadford Rocket. Photo Copyright Sailing Southwest

On the 28th January 3 D-Zero sailors headed to Roadford Lake for round 5 of the Sailing Southwest Winter Series. On what has been described as a grey but balmy January day with winds around the force 3 mark Steve Bolland and Stacey Bray kept close company for the majority of the 2 1/2 hour pursuit race with only 1 boat between them at the finish.

Steve Bolland works his way through the fleet. Photo Copyright Sailing  Southwest

Steve managed to post 6th overall in the competitive fleet of 64 boats with Stacey coming home in 8th with David Bartlett coming home a respectable 34th.

Full results can be found by clicking here and a link to the event report by Sailing Southwest can be found by clicking here with a good photo gallery here.

In the series standings this leave Stacey in 1oth, 1 place and 1 point ahead of Steve in 11th. this can all change with 5 events still to go in the busy winter calendar.

Kian Andrews and Pierre Photo copyright Lottie Miles/Sailing Southwest

Our friends at Sailing Southwest had a testing weekend at Penzance. As you can see from the report below by Jonathon Miles a couple of our hardy D-Zero south west contingent decided to brave the 40kt gusts and give it a go. Kian Andrews obviously impressed the local wildlife with ‘Pierre’ the dolphin coming to say hello.

Jonathon Miles from Sailing Southwest reports on the event as follows:

The day started at Penzance SC with a few early birds arriving at 8.30 to be greeted with white water in Mounts Bay and winds gusting offshore at over 30kn. As discussion over abandonment started the wind seemed to drop a little and 11 intrepid sailors including several visitors who braved the weather for the trip into Cornwall, ventured out into the harbour.

The Race Officer gave the all clear to get on the water for the scheduled 10.30 start. Everyone was equipped with a Sailing Southwest GPS tracker to keep an eye on things. As the race start times approached the local Mirror sailors Lloyd and Sebi Williams launched but wisely turned back. The conditions were worsening and the gusts within the harbour were severe.

He is in there somewhere….. Photo copyright Lottie Miles/Sailing Southwest

Nine boats made it out of the harbour braving a gusty exit past the threatening concrete walls and the 5 knot speed limit – broken by all!

Into Mounts Bay and the sole remaining Enterprise of Colin Stephens and Simon Lees blasted off on the downwind reaching start. Touching speeds of 14.8 knots, the Enterprise was moving rapidly to the gybe mark and the first of several capsizes (while racing).

3 minutes later Laser sailor Ben Flower raced off the start line hitting the overall top speed of 18.6kn soon afterward. The D-Zeros and Blazes, an RS100 and RS Aero were all out on the water ready for their starts, when a friendly dolphin, known locally as Pierre, popped in to check on the sailors, giving local sailor Kian Andrews a fantastic show as he danced around the D-Zero.

The wind had increased to over 30 knots and gusting more, so time was called on the race. Ben had demonstrated a masterclass for heavy weather sailing, bombing around the course and putting two laps in before a rescue boat could catch him to tell him the race was abandoned.

The fleet took a few more capsizes as they battled the conditions but eventually a complete group of damp sailors returned to the bar, all grinning from ear to ear!

Pierre generously gives Kian some tips on how to survive in the conditions. Photo copyright Lottie Miles/Sailing Southwest

Well done to the race team and especially the rescue team in gathering up the stragglers and escorting them home.

But the day wasn’t quite over for everyone… The rescue crews offered to test their search and rescue skills, as they ventured out once more to locate a tracker that had gone overboard! They were guided to its location using the GPS system, and managed to pluck the tiny device from the ocean. Their radio message of success raised a fantastic cheer in the clubhouse.

Is this a Laser hitting 18.6 knots? – photo © Jonathan Miles / Sailing Southwest
Is this a Laser hitting 18.6 knots? – photo © Jonathan Miles / Sailing Southwest
The race may have been abandoned, but for fun, the race committee used the GPS tracker results to determine the fastest boats and awarded their Pirate Prizes to some terrifying speeds.

Roll on the Christmas Cracker at Paignton and hopefully calmer weather as the Sailing Southwest Winter Series continues. For information, updates and series standings, visit www.sailingsw.co.uk/sw-series