Wanderer Open at Crawley Mariners Yacht Club
by Donal Roche 2 Apr 2007 09:09 BST
1 April 2007
A fleet of 7 Wanderers race at Hedgecourt Lake © Donal Roche
A somewhat reduced fleet of seven Wanderers attended the open at Hedgecourt Lake near Crawley on Sunday 1st April. The local forecast was 17 knots NE but this failed to make any mention of the vicious and unpredictable squalls which spread across the lake. The wind was indeed north easterly but the gusts came from almost any direction!
Race one started with Gavin Barr leading followed by Mike Powell from the home club. Mike Powell was soon overtaken by Mike Hamilton and following a capsize fell back to fourth place. Gavin kept his lead throughout to finish first.
In race two fortunes were reversed with Gavin capsizing and Mike Powell taking the lead on the last lap. The fleet had been decimated by this stage with only the two boats remaining.
Both teams were exhausted and by mutual agreement decided to forgo the third race.
Overall Results:
1st Gavin Barr & Mark Skipper W1282 (Whitstable)
2nd Mike Powell & Vicki King, W878 (CMYC)
3rd Mike Hamilton & Mark Fass W992 (CSSA)