Musto Skiff Open
at Thope Bay Yacht Club
Report by Jamie Hilton
Photos
here by Tania Samus
A very hospitable Thorpe Bay Yacht Club
played host to 11 Musto Skiffs despite the unfavourable
forecast coupled with the recent return of the majority
of the fleet from Malcesine. The event was shared with
the B14s, 49ers and 289ers making for a fantastic social
on the Saturday evening - an event which is fast becoming
legendry with much of the thanks attributed to a great
clubhouse team and local sailor Steve Hopper for putting
his hands into what must be very deep pockets, to put
on a free bar for what proved a very thirsty pack of
sailors.
For once the forecast proved reasonably
accurate with an offshore breeze out of the north blowing
4-9 kts. The key to this event was making the call between
tide and oscillating wind shifts.
In Race 1 local boy Dan Henderson worked
his way left up the first beat closely followed by another
local, Ron Barnes. These two extended their lead with
the remainder of the fleet exchanging places on numerous
occasions. Dan and Ron went on to record 1st and 2nd
with Ian Marshall pulling through to 3rd.
Race 2 was sailed in much the same conditions
with Dan again winning the start closely followed by
Tim Chapman. These two led around the top mark only
for Tim to be taken out by Jon Simpson coming upwind
on port. This let the majority of the fleet past allowing
Rob Chaplin to record a 2nd place behind Henderson.
Dan Dixon, a regular podium finisher of recent seasons
(borrowing a boat for this event) was able to take 3rd
with Mick Keates in 4th. With big holes in the wind
forming, the lead pack finished a long way ahead of
5th place
In Race 3 with Dan Henderson distracted
by the obvious qualities in the 29er fleet, Jamie Hilton
won the start at the pin end and was left to lead up
the first beat. Rob Chaplin has spotted something on
the left and pulled through to lead at the top mark
from Jamie then Dan. Dan was then able to demonstrate
why Rob had gained so much on the left by going hard
left down the run where the tide was still flooding.
Jamie followed Dan round the leeward mark hot on his
heels but with everyone now spotting the ebbing tide
further inshore the race the race became a procession
with the Dan, Jamie and Rob recording a 1,2,3.
The fleet returned to shore in glorious
late summer weather that was simply perfect for having
a cold beer or two - which is what we all did. Again,
a HUGE thanks to Steve Hopper, although I'm sure a few
were cursing his name by the time Sunday morning came
around.
Race 4 got away on time with many of fleet
only just making the start on time - again, thank you
Mr Hopper! Rob Chaplin went hard right off the start
and caught a lift right up the beat leaving him with
an easy race to claim 1st. Dan Henderson was clearly
still reeling from the night before and was nowhere
to be seen. Tim Chapman claimed 2nd from Ron Barnes
in 3rd. My memory of this race is pretty vague so moving
on to Race 5...
With more holes in the wind which was
swinging further to the north conditions were becoming
increasingly tricky. Dan Dixon took what appeared to
be a great start at the pin end ignoring the individual
recall that a (doubtful) few went back for. As luck
would have it, the only boat that was over was Dan who
sailed on the win the race before learning his fate.
This left Dan Henderson to pick up another bullet and
regain some focus. Dave Poston managed to come 2nd in
his new boat.
In the final race, the wind swung left
as the starting gun went leaving those at the pin end
in great shape. Ian Marshall enjoyed a moment of magic
with a port end flyer but Dan Dixon, showing great form,
lead at the top mark from Rob Chaplin and Mick Keates.
It stayed this way for most of the race until the last
run when the wind swung hard right allowing Jamie Hilton
and Dan Henderson to reach inside those who had gone
left down the run. Dixon took the bullet with a very
annoyed Chaplin relinquishing 2nd to Hilton.
Overall Dan Henderson was a very worth
winner from Rob Chaplin in 2nd and Jamie Hilton in 3rd.
This result further cements Henderson's position at
the top of the Southern Traveller Series.
Thanks again to Thorpe Bay Yacht Club
and Steve Hopper in particular.
Overall
Results:
Place Sail No Name Owner Helm Crew
Club Race_1 Race_2 Race_3 Race_4 Race_5 Race_6 Nt Pts
1 409 Daniel Henderson Daniel Henderson TBYC 1 1 1 (7)
1 4 8
2 364 Rob Chaplin Rob Chaplin Queen Mary 5 2 3 1 (6)
3 14
3 281 Jamie Hilton Jamie Hilton Datchet Water 4 5 2
6 (7) 2 19
4 163 D. Dixon D. Dixon Blackwater SC 9 3 4 4 (25/OCS)
1 21
5 283 Mick Keates Mick Keates King George SC (6) 4 5
5 4 5 23
6 228 Gerber Ronny Barnes Ronny Barnes TBYC 2 (9) 7
3 3 9 24
7 178 Ian Marshall Ian Marshall Oxford SC 3 7 6 (9)
5 6 27
8 333 TIM CHAPMAN TIM CHAPMAN RUTLAND 8 6 8 2 (12/DNC)
7 31
9 284 Sergei Samus Sergei Samus Whitstable 10 8 9 8
8 (12/DNC) 43
10 324 Dave Poston Dave Poston (12/DNC) 12/DNC 12/DNC
12/DNC 2 8 46
11 160 JON SIMPSON JON SIMPSON BLACKWATER 7 (12/DNC)
10 12/DNC 12/DNC 12/DNC 53
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