Comet Open at Rudyard Lake Sailing Club
by Steve Bellamy 28 Apr 2008 08:04 BST
27 April 2008
Catherine Bellamy receives her © Steve Bellamy
The meeting was run as a joint event with 26 Solos and just 5 Comets. All races were run in a very light generally SE wind but this did vary considerably!
Catherine Bellamy started ahead of John Coppenhall in the first race and kept her position throughout. John followed with the Rudyard boats of Claire Smethurst sailing her Xtra rig, and Mark Robinson behind. Mark retired during the race.
Race 2 provided some close competition with Catherine, John and Steve each having several turns in the lead. Steve eventually came out on top when the course was shortened at the number 3 mark. John was second by just a couple of inches with Catherine third and Claire forth.
The wind for Race 3 had died to almost nothing and the race was shortened after completing one and a half laps. Catherine chose the starboard end of the line to start with John and Steve starting at the port end. Half way to the first mark Catherine’s gamble had paid off and she was in the lead. She stayed there for the rest of the race. Steve and John battled on the first beat but Steve built up a cushion which John was unable to close despite finding some wind along the west bank of the lake. Only three started.
Overall Results:
1st Catherine Bellamy (Winsford Flash Sailing Club)
2nd Stephen Bellamy (Winsford Flash Sailing Club)
3rd John Coppenhall (Hunts Sailing Club)
4th Claire Smethurst (Rudyard Lake Sailing Club)
5th Mark Robinson (Rudyard Lake Sailing Club)