Splash Open at Alton Water Sports Centre

A truly testing open with conditions varying from a fluky north-easterly to a full on south-westerly force 5.

The Saturday racing tested everyone’s patience and each race was a game of chess with positions won and lost Victoria Marfleet Will Powell and Will Johnson fought a close battle over four races, much of the time with only yards separating them. At the end of the day the whole fleet was mentally exhausted.

Sunday promised to be a different day constrained by another event on the lake we opted for a short course which was demanding on both boat handling and tactical skills. With the wind a steady force three in strength if not direction it was Jess Hewes who took the first race leading almost from the start with usual suspects scrapping for the other places.

The wind increased for the second race where it was Victoria who calmly sailed away from everyone with Ben Clegg keeping his nerve to earn a well deserved second place. At the break for lunch preceding the final race two helms were in contention. Just to make matters more interesting Peter Holbrook shot off into an early lead with, Victoria and Will J well down the fleet after first beat mishaps. The wind was up do a steady fore four with some prolonged force 5 gusts.

The upwind section of the course proved only to add to the drama as places won down wind were clawed back in the strong but shifting wind. Ben Clegg again showed good speed until he all but pitch poled on the broad reach. Reaching at almost ballistic speeds the Splashes provided huge entertainment for the watchers sunning themselves ashore. Will J began to claw back Pete’s seemingly un-assailable lead. Still well clear at the penultimate mark Pete capsized on the gybe giving Will the opportunity to close the gap still further. When Will also went in on the gybe it became a case of who had the energy get to get their boat up and moving fastest.

Will was marginally the quicker eventually beating Pete by a narrow margin to take the open by winning the final race.

Our thanks go to AWSC for hosting the event in their usual friendly informal manner.

Overall Results: