High Performance Open at Derwent Reservoir Sailing Club

High performance dinghy open at Derwent Reservoir © Alastair Conn

High performance dinghy open at Derwent Reservoir © Alastair Conn

Derwent Reservoir SC held a High Performance Open meeting on 29th and 30th of May. The event was part of the Scottish Skiff series, the Musto Skiff Northern area traveller series and the B14 national traveller series. A total of 23 boats turned out, ranging in speed from 49ers and a foiling Moth to Laser 4000s.

The first race started in an easterly breeze of about 18 knots. The race officer set a long windward leeward course and the wind held fairly steady for the first race. Matty and James Lyons showed great boat speed in the conditions to win the race on handicap in their 49er. They were followed by Martin Wilkie and Ian McCafferty in their International 14 and Alastair Conn in a Musto Skiff. Conn won out of the Musto Skiffs followed by Russel Clark, who had to sail hard to catch up after a “coming together” with a B14 at the start. It was Phil Murray and Kevin Rutherford who led the B14s home in the first race followed by Phil Eltringham and Carl Donaldson.

The second race got underway in similar conditions to the first, although the wind eased off significantly on the second lap. Conn managed to stay in pressure longer than the other Musto Skiffs and pulled away to a comfortable lead and first place overall on handicap. Martin Wilkie and Ian McCafferty again took second in their International 14 with Matt and James Lyons third in the 49er.

The wind dropped of to almost drifting conditions for the third race. Ian Renilson was over the line at the start and after restarting he tacked off and went right up the first windward leg. This proved to be the correct choice as the wind almost disappeared for those who went left. Graham and Katherine Vials took the win on handicap in their B14. Ian Renilson took second followed by Russel Clark in third.

After the first day's racing it was Alastair Conn leading with Russell Clarke lying second and Matty and James Lyons lying third. The competitors enjoyed a BBQ and a “tug of war” competition in the evening which was convincingly won by the “Geordie” team!

The wind on the Sunday was a strong north westerly breeze around 20 knots with some big gusts. The strong wind was too much for a lot of the fleet with only 11 out of the 23 boats starting the first race. The stronger wind made the Foiling Moth of Paul Hignett come alive and he took the first race on handicap followed by Phil Murray and Kevin Rutherford in the B14. A capsize by Conn on the final run handed Musto Skiff victory and third place on handicap to Renilson.

The second race of the day was won by Graham and Katherine Vials in their B14. After a very tight race between the top four Musto Skiffs with the lead changing several times, Ian Renilson took second on handicap with Russel Clark in third.

Going into the final race it was all to play for with the three Musto Skiffs of Conn, Renilson and Clark able to win the event overall. After a very close race with the lead again changing several times it was Conn who led from Renilson on the final run. Unfortunately, gear failure as Conn rounded the final leeward mark forced him to retire and Renilson sailed to victory in the race and first place overall. Paul Hignett took second place in the final race followed by John Evans in his Musto Skiff.

Overall Results:

1st Musto Skiff 334, Ian Renilson, 16pts
2nd Musto Skiff 130, Alastair Conn, 18pts
3rd Musto Skiff 414, Russel Clark, 18pts
4th B14 757, Phil Murray & Kevin Rutherford, 26pts
5th B14 711, Graham Vials & Katherine Vials, 27pts