Comet Trio & Duo Open at Kingsmead Sailing Club
by Terry Cherrill 3 Oct 2001 08:44 BST
Sunday 30 September 2001
Despite a horrendous forecast Sunday 30 September provided good sailing weather spiced with occasional showers for Kingsmead’s annual Comet Trio and Duo Open.
The SSE wind allowed the Race Officer, Ian Ayres to set along opening beat diagonally up the lake for the first race.
The Comet Trios were first away with the best start being made by club sailor Nigel Price crewed by part owner, Mary Andrews. Normally a Lark sailor, Price quickly established a commanding lead over the Gees from Black Swan SC. He maintained this lead throughout the race, the rest of the fleet spreading out in his wake.
The small Duo fleet had a closer race with the Powells from Chichester YC the eventual winners.
The increasing wind veered slightly southwards and the course was compacted for the second race to avoid quiet areas at the lower end of the lake. The Trios enjoyed a closer race with a good deal of place changing but once more Price and Andrews in Daydream dominated the fleet to take overall honours. Fellow club sailor, Eric Goodley crewed by Geoff Kempton in Lady Z pulled through to take second place ahead of the Gees.
In the Duos the Powells faltered leaving victory to John Linnell from Cransley SC sailing his boat singled handed and coping well with the windy conditions. It was now all down to the third race.
The Trio fleet halved in size for the third race. The Ayres from Frensham Pond led for the first lap but then Goodley made better use of the gusts to pull through the Ayres to eventually take line honours. Father and daughter Chris and Catherine Boutle in Ivy demonstrated the dangers of hanging on to their gennaker in a heading shift. Senior Sailing Instructor for Kingsmead, Chris found himself putting into practice the capsize drill he had been teaching others the previous week!
Duos were made of sterner stuff and their fleet enjoyed the closest race of the day with Doug and Reuben Powell taking this final race and overall honours.
Overall Results:
| Pos | Sail No | Helm & Crew | Club |
|---|
| Comet Trios |
|---|
| 1st | 375 | N Price & M Andrews | Kingsmead SC |
| 2nd | 319 | E Goodley & G Kempton | KSC |
| 3rd | 385 | G & J Ayres | Frensham Pond SC |
| 4th | 387 | M & G Gee | Black Swan SC |
| 5th | 365 | D, C & J Talbot | Hawley Lake SC |
| 6th | 388 | C & C Boutle | KSC |
| Comet Duos |
|---|
| 1st | 167 | D & R Powell | Chichester SC |
| 2nd | 69 | J Linnell | Cransley SC |
| 3rd | 43 | F & M Smith | Hampton Pier YC |