Sprint 15 Winter TT at Oxford Sailing Club
by Stewart Pegum 24 Dec 2013 09:21 GMT
7 December 2013
A great turnout of travellers joined the 2 local boats for a total of 23 entered in the first event to be held at Oxford Sailing Club based at Farmoor Reservoir. The forecast during the week ranged from 20 knots to 2 knots but on the day a fairly sailable force 2-3 stayed around long enough for the now familiar 2 races to take place. Race officer Chris Pinner got the fleet off on time at 11.15 with a start line that tempted many to try a port tack flyer, with about 1/3rd the fleet trying to get away on Port there were the expected few incidents ! as usual though the guilty ones happily took the appropriate penalties and those on Starboard fared well at the top mark.
The fleet sailed 4 laps of the usual trapezoid course and stayed fairly well bunched together, at the finish Stuart Snell managed to stay ahead of Thomas Sandal followed home by Liam Thom, fourth, fifth and sixth places were claimed by Robert England, Steve Sawford and Paul Grattage.
As requested by the fleet race two was quickly underway and this time most of the fleet went for the traditional starboard start, Paul Grattage was looking good towards the top mark but was then informed by the safety boat that he had been over the line and so gracefully retired. That left race 2 in the hands of Thomas Sandal who led the fleet home closely followed by Robert England and Erling Holmberg, with fourth fifth and sixth being taken by a new group of Simon Farthing, George Love and David Groom the final results put Thomas and Robert at the top of the fleet with the most consistent results.
At the prize giving a special prize was awarded to Erling Holmberg and Liam Thom for their amazing adventure sailing their sprint 15’s from the IoW to Alderney and back ! the regular prize giving followed with Thomas Sandal taking the win, Robert England in second and Stuart Snell third. Overall a successful first time out at Oxford.