With the worlds taking place the other side the Atlantic a small fleet of Brits and a South African boat headed to the ever-welcoming Stone Sailing Club.  After a leisurely morning briefing over breakfast the fleet got afloat and off down in the direction of Radio Caroline in light wind and sunshine for some windward leeward racing.

Race one started first time, on time, with Toby Barsley-Dale and Rich Nurse first at the windward mark.  The Willcox brothers passed on the run and held this position until  the last beat, with Toby and Rich taking the Gun.

Race two saw the fleet trying hard and pushing the line hard into the tide: when the Gun sounded the race team flew the first substitute and fleet had another go.   They got away but as the fleet set off, the wind started an unpredicted move right, leading to the Willcox brothers at the boat end of the line getting to the first buoy without tacking. This wind shift continued and despite the best efforts of the mark layers, place changes would become hard, leading to Graeme and Paul taking the win.

Race three would get underway after 20 minutes postponement. This time it would be the right-hand side of the beat that would win out and the South Africans who would round the mark first and in slightly fresher breeze, extending for the win.  After close racing on the water the fleet headed for the beach and club bar. The evening included a conker tournament joint with the Musto Skiffs and meal in the club with all-you-can-eat roast potatoes.

Sunday came and September had gone: it was October, colder and greyer, with the forecast for the wind to increase as the day moved on.  10 o’clock and the fleet had its brief on the America’s cup course that would see the race start and finish on the club line.

Race four got underway with a mad rush to get the spinnakers up and going, leading to some action at the first mark and close racing, with local boys Hodgson and Miles vs Willcox and Willcox, with Martin and Adrian leading back across the club line for the win.

Race five would see a little more wind and the fleet reach the first mark almost all at the same with a mixture of gybes and drops taking place.  The Willcox brothers had quick stop with a boat full of water: this would allow Hodgson and Miles to take the lead and another win, leading to an interesting result sheet with just one race left.

Race six got underway in even more wind, building throughout the race with the odd super-mega gust. With four different leaders mixing it up across the race the name missing from the party would be Willcox, with the boys seen sailing up on just the jib after a main halyard problem. Once again it would Hodgson and Miles taking the gun and with it the event.

The Class would as always like to thank Stone sailing club for its warm hospitality and looks for to returning next year.

505 OPEN MEETING 2017
Boat Club

 

Helm Crew R1

 

R2

 

R3

 

R4

 

R5

 

R6

 

Total

 

Nett Position

 

8963

 

Stone SC

 

Martin Hodgson

 

Adrian Miles

 

(6) 2 2 1 1 1 13 7 1
8905 VLC Graeme Willcox Paul Willcox 2 1 1 2 5 (DNF) 17 11 2
9136 RCYC Stuart Mears Richard Tucker 3 4 4 (5) 2 2 20 15 3
8514 BSC/HISC Toby Barsley-Dale Richard Nurse 1 (5) 5 4 3 3 21 16 4
8142   Ian Montague Matt Hart (4) 3 3 3 4 4 21 17 5
8650 Stone SC Terry Selfe Alan Montague 5 6 6 (DNC) DNC DNC 44 35 6