2009 Kestrel Open Meeting - Royal Harwich Yacht Club

Report & Results
3rd/4th October

Despite weather forecasts giving winds of Force 6+, Eleven Kestrels arrived at Woolverstone for the last weekend open of the year. All eleven crews launched for the first race but once afloat realised the full extent of the wind strength. Five boats decided that spectating was more sensible having survived a squall prior to the start. Five boats started, Dusty & John lead at the first mark and to the finish, Steve & Lin revelled in the conditions to come home second, both of these avoiding a capsize. Kevin & Kevin took third having had just one capsize. The conditions were tough enough that no-one flew spinnakers. With the forecast for increasing winds the second race was postponed.

Unusually the weather forecasters got it right two days in a row. Sunday provided moderated winds to allow three races to be sailed. The white horses due to the wind against tide conditions were misleading and some launched with more mast rake than required. Race two was a windward leeward course, with the fleet starting at the pin end favoured by wind direction and tide. Dusty & John made their trademark perfect start to lead at the first mark and kept clear of the chasing bunch to the finish. Dave & Gareth came out in front of this bunch followed by John & Olive, both finding the best route around the course, particularly downwind against the tide.

Race three was sailed on a P shaped course with Dusty & John taking first again, Paul & James rounded the windward mark second following a large shift early in the first beat, this catching out Graham & Duncan so much so that they capsized to windward. Dave & Gareth advanced to take another second with Paul & James improving on the last race to take third. John & Olive always fighting at the front took fourth.

The final race was sailed after the P course was adjusted due to the changing wind direction. The tide was also turning, leaving the fleet split about the best route to take upwind. Paul & James rounded the windward mark just ahead of Dusty & John, followed by John & Gordon (joining the fleet for Sunday, having wisely stayed at home on Saturday), John & Olive and Dave & Gareth. Dusty & John took the lead downwind and never looked back. At one point John & Olive were second. Dave & Gareth passed Paul & James who could not seem to pick the wind shifts. John and Olive lost out to the biggest shift dropping them to fourth. Dave & Gareth forced Paul & James to go defensive downwind leaving them sailing by the lee approaching the leeward mark with the tide. Dave & Gareth managed to round first but Paul & James got back in front and tacked to cover and hold second to the windward mark and off-wind to the finish.

Dusty & John sailed a faultless series of races to take the event. Dave & Gareth were runners up, coming out in front of the pack scrapping behind.

Paul Jarvey.