20 Sailors (40% of whom were women) took part in Rollesby Broad’s Leader /Multisail Open Meeting on Sunday 19th May. A good northerly breeze blowing straight down the broad meant a long beat could be set, with the run being significant tactically as wind shifts came into play downwind more than normal.
In
the Leaders Ian & Sharon Ayres started the first race poorly but port-tacked
back under the fleet to lead at the first mark. Mike and Val Sherwen were in
close pursuit, but the Ayres spinnaker pulled them well clear downwind. On the
second lap the wind dropped slightly bringing the Sherwens back into contention
as the wind shifted and filled in from behind.
The
Ayres held on and these two boats finished well clear of Mike & Sally
Newlove who took third by a whisker from Chris & Jane Wharmby.
Starting
race two more strongly it looked like an easy win for the Ayres, but again the
variable wind brought the rest of the fleet back to them on the long run down
the broad.
The
Wharmby’s briefly pulled through into second, but the Sherwens seemed to have
an edge over them upwind and though the gaps closed and spread the order
remained unchanged for the second and third laps.
The
afternoon saw one of Rollesby’s Eel’s Foot races; starting with a mile long run
and with sufficient wind to sail (with spinnaker full) though the cut into
Ormesby Little Broad. The Ayres had a short but reasonable lead at the downwind
cafe mark. However leading up a beat on a broad is never totally secure and as
they converged from different directions at the windward pub mark, both
Sherwens and the Wharmbys moved to the front. Flying the spinnaker on the next
reach took the Ayres back to the front and they picked the right side of the
beat second time round. Unusually there was still sufficient wind to beat back
through cut and the Ayres pulled well clear here with the Sherwens in second.
At this point, third looked like going to the Newloves, but the Wharmbys were
not done and managed to pull through on the very last tack, after beating the
full kilometre length of the broad on the way home.
A
fleet composed largely of Wayfarers made up the mixed fleet. Pete & Rachel
Smith were on form and showed the fleet how to sail with excellent upwind
performances and some sensible covering on the runs. Bob Sparrow & Steve
Gibbons looked like leading home the rest whilst Auriel Gibson & Lindsey
Nettleton couldn’t quite hang on to them despite being brave enough to try
their spinnaker! However Jon Burnell & Malcolm Page in their Stratos were
able to use their extra sail area downwind to steal second place from the
Wayfarers.
Race
2 resorted more to form with the Smiths first and Sparrow second.
Only
three ;but those who had been closest to each other all morning; Wayfarers
ventured out for the Eel’s Foot Race. Daniel Harvey & Andy Smith had a good
first run staying in touch with the others and then read the shifts in Ormesby
Little Broad well to push Sparrow all the way round. Eventually however they
just ran out of pure speed on the long beat back and had to settle for second
behind Sparrow & Gibbons.
Overall
Results:
Leaders:
1. Ian & Sharon Ayres (Rollesby) – 2 pts
2. Mike & Val Sherwen (Felixstowe Ferry ) – 4
3. Chris & Jane Wharmby (Milton Keynes) – 6
4. Mike & Sally Newlove (Reading) – 7
5. Dave & Anne Lomas (Reading) – 10
Multi-Sail Fleet:
1. Pete & Rachel Smith – Wayfarer – 2 pts
2. Bob Sparrow & Steve Gibbons – Wayfarer – 3
3. Auriel Gibson & Lindsey Nettleton – Wayfarer – 6
4. Daniel Harvey & Andy Smith – Wayfarer – 6
5. Jon Burnell & Malcolm Page – Stratos – 7