Day 1 Centenary Vane A National Championship

A day with a promising SSW/SW forecast, however, the wind did become more gusty and it rained. Not ideal Gosport weather!

The Mayor, as patron of Gosport Model Yacht and Boat Club and Mayoress of Gosport welcomed competitors and visitors wishing them an enjoyable event. The Mayor started the first board of the 22 boats competing.

Five heats were completed. The unpredictability, shifting direction and varying strength of the wind turned many initially winning boats into having to settle for no points!

By the end of the day, three skippers were consistently winning, dropping only one run each to gain 23 points. Dave Geldard and mate Amber Geldard racing Siana, a Bill Sykes design; Chris Harris and mate Graham Bantock racing Jouster a Bantock design; and Graham Butler, and mate Keith Wiseman racing Dignity, also a Bantock design. They were closely followed by Sam Dicks and mate Mark Dicks with 19 points sailing another Sykes design and Thomas Wyeth and mate Sam Roberts with 17 points racing a Bantock boat.

Several skippers were real rookies in vane sailing and did well to score points.

At the end of the 5th heat, racing was called a day when the increasing wind led to two boats hitting the unforgiving concrete of the lake at speed and one skipper having to jump into the lake to prevent damage to his boat.

Hopefully tomorrow will be a bit less windy and drier!!!!!!! It is early days……

Jacque Cook