A
bright sunny morning, with a cool north easterly breeze, as we set off for
Frensham Pond SC. A nice country drive through Steyning, Storrington, Petworth
and Pulborough to Midhurst on a familiar route. Leaving Midhurst, where the
turn off was closed, we had to go into the town before heading for Fernhurst, Shottermill,
Hindhead and then Churt. We then missed the turn off into Pond Lane and had to
quickly turn round and finally got to the club with plenty of time to spare
before rigging the boat in the car park amongst the trees.
This
was to be a joint event with Solos (18 boats) and small Streaker contingent of
just 5 boats. The North easterly was still blowing, straight down the longest
axis of the water and at a good force 4 (about in line with the forecast seen
just before departure). Once afloat, with difficult launching from the lee
shore slipways, a complex course as set with the details only available from
the committee boat – see the course chart(s). 
Race
2 was held over the same course with once more all five boats coming to the
line for the start. Veronica as again first cross the line in mid line this
time with Hugh next away whilst pushing Alan hard up to the committee boat.
Alan tacked away and lost out to the leading trio with Graham soon in the lead
which he held to the finish. Alan began to make up some lost ground until, on
the reach from mark 3 to mark 5, he succumbed to a heavy gust and took a swim.
A battle for second place ensued in the latter part of the race with Hugh
finally passing Veronica (who also had a dip) to take second place.
After
lunch the RO decided that the wind had swung a little and set a new course ( see above). The
breeze had also faded somewhat. Alan again chose the committee boat end and was
first away ahead of Graham with Veronica once more at the pin end. Hugh was
well on the course side of the line at the gun and whilst retuning to the
correct side he collided with Nick and capsized as a result.
Going up the
windward first leg Graham was just ahead of Alan when he was caught by a massive
header, he bore away and tried to catch the resultant wind load by sitting out
hard. However he missed his toe straps and performed a spectacular back flip
into the oggin.
At the windward mark Alan found himself in the lead which he
maintained for the entire first lap only to be overtaken eventually by Veronica
with Graham coming home behind the pair but ahead of Hugh who recovered
sufficiently to pass Nick in the later stage of the race.
The
fourth and final race, on the same course as the third, saw Veronica soon take
the lead in the slightly stronger breeze that had developed again. Alan was in
close pursuit and held on until the final stages when Graham managed to get
past and take second place. Hugh was somewhat behind and Nick did not take part
in the race – three races in one day having been ‘enough for me’ as he put it
when we met up ashore.
With
three first places (and discarding a third place) Veronica was the winner of the
meeting. Graham took second place with Hugh third, Alan fourth and Nick fifth.
Results:-
Sail
No
|
Helm
|
Club
|
Race
1
|
Race
2
|
Race
3
|
Race4
|
Posn
|
1829
|
Veronica
Falat
|
W
& OB
|
1
|
(3)
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1760
|
Graham
Butler
|
Frensham
Pond
|
(Retd)
|
1
|
3
|
2
|
2
|
1824
|
Hugh
Marston
|
Frensham
Pond
|
2
|
2
|
4
|
(4)
|
3
|
1700
|
Alan
Simmons
|
Lancing
|
3
|
(4)
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
1828
|
Nick
Carter
|
Burgfield
|
(Retd)
|
5
|
5
|
DNC
|
5
|
Alan.S 1700
