Lee Valley cup

Sun 19 October 2008

The day before this race fourteen dinghies took to the water for a Saturday points race and we expected just as many this time. For some reason the sailors must have been exhausted as only five dinghies took to the water. Perhaps the others were worried about the wind SW 3-4.

Chris Crosland and Beverley Beech decided that discretion was the better part of valour and decided to use a cut-down sail. Simon Ashenden set a brilliant course 6, 5 4, 3 and 1 - six times. The fleet shot off in a tight group for the beat up to No6, round 5 and short run before making a decision about when to reach across the river to No4, jibe around and reach across to No 3 and then a run down to No 1. Val Nedyalkov and Y Kolev led the fleet for the whole race, followed by Chris Crosland and Beverley Beech until they came to grief off the Ship. They were on a run, hotly pursued by Angela Boyham on her Laser when a back wind jibed the main - splat. By the time they righted the dinghy and disentangled the main sheet that had wrapped itself around the rudder the fleet was rounding No 6 as they rounded No 1. On lap no 3 James Wright and Alex and Christelle and Robina generously waited for them to catch up, but the wind dropped during the final lap and James maintained his position and finished second.

There was also a Laser Sweepstake but there was only one entry, won by Angela Boyhan who was awarded a glass for her determination.

Results:

1. Val Nedyalkov and Y Kolev
2. James Wright and Alex
3. Chris Crosland and Beverley Beech
4. Christelle and Rubina

Copyright © London Corinthian Sailing Club, 15 Feb 2009