WEIR WOOD OPEN 2007

 

 

Weir Wood Sailing Club RS200 Open meeting 2007

 

Weir Wood Sailing Club hosted their annual RS 200 open meeting on Sunday 1^st. July. Despite the rather dire forecast of strong wind and rain 10 visitors joined the rather disappointing turnout of 3 home boats for the event.

 Race officers Ernie Hatton and Martin Pascoe set an upwind/downwind course with a windward and leeward gate to allow more tactical options. The race instructions called for a six race format with one race discardable.

 Race one started in a 15kt south westerly with stronger gusts regularly blowing through. David Giles and George Collett led around the windward buoy followed by Sam Littlejohn and Matthew Giles. Giles senior took a swim on the second lap leaving Andrew and Jeraldine Peters to take the win from Rob Janering and Marianthe Evangeledis.

 With the wind gradually increasing the second race followed a similar pattern except Giles senior took his swim on lap three this time, leaving a grateful Peters and Janering to mop up the spoils.

 In race three Peters retired following a bad capsize leaving Janering to win comfortably from Littlejohn and Giles Senior.

 A torrential rain shower during the lunch break dampened some of the competitor’s spirits but not the wind which had risen considerably.  Giles senior again led around the first buoy and added yet another variation to a theme by falling in on the second leg. Janering roared off down wind followed by Littlejohn with Simon Gillow and Emma Harnimand in hot pursuit which is how this race finished.

 Race five saw Peters, Janering and Littlejohn slug it out. Places changed in the now wildly gusting wind but all three managed to stay upright with Peters taken the winning gun.

 By the time the last race started the fleet had dwindled to just 6 boats. Those that choose to watch were entertained by some spectacular downwind sailing with the boats barely in the water when engulfed by the by now regular 25kt. Plus gusts. Janering took a swim while Littlejohn was forced to hand over to Giles Junior to helm when his arms gave out. Peters however hung in there to take a great win followed by local heroes John Ramshaw and Mark Harrington.

 Despite this the meeting was won by Rob Janering and Marianthe Evangeledis by one point from the Peter’s with Littlejohn in third.

George Collett won the youth prise and John gill the Master award.

 It was a great days sailing and most of the competitors stayed on for a beer and a chat after the prise giving to talk over the days racing. My thanks must also go the Barbara Ching, Julie Pascoe and Megan Pascoe for helping with running the racing and doing the results, Chris Fyans for putting the committee boat in the water and Ailsa Giles for presenting the prises.