Splash Open at Slaughden Sailing Club

Andrew Friend at speed during the Splash training session at Slaughden Sailing Club © Keith Binns

Saturday Training Day:

Saturday started with a bright sunny day with clouds sweeping across the open vista over the river at Aldbrough. The wind was a steady Force 4, which slowly increased during the morning with gusts up to 6.

Training was given in the new clubhouse, then after lunch, it was decide to launch three boats to practise what had been presented in the morning, and take out three replacement crews to swap over. Immediately after launching and a fierce squall Andy Jarvis wisely decided to go back in. Louise Clayton and Andrew Friend carried on and both revelled in the conditions although both capsized several times in the fierce conditions. Neither of the two alternatives wished to swap, so after about an hour, a halt was called to the practice, and crews went for a swim in the Sea.

Sunday Race Day:

First Race - Sunday was completely different, with a light Force 3 south-westerley, with a start from by the Martello tower, then downriver to the windward mark over the tide. Andy Jarvis led away from the line, and increased his lead on the run back up river to about 300 metres from Tom Dring. The lead then closed up as several people came back over the tide with James Large eventually making the most of the tide to win from Andy and Louis Clayton.

Second Race - The wind dropped away dramatically at the beginning of the second race, with boats barely making way over the flood. Simon Barker got away from James Large and Andy Jarvis. A number of boats got stuck trying to get round the Elbow buoy, and Louis Clayton came up from near the back of the fleet into Fourth, behind Simon Barker in first, James Large in second and Andy Jarvis in third.

Overall Results: