Buzz Open at King George Sailing Club
by Ian Staples 13 Apr 2011 10:11 BST
9-10 April 2011
With north London basking in hot sunshine and light winds gently rippling the surface of King George reservoir a magnificent fleet of…just two Buzzes arrived to enjoy the hospitality of KGSC and join the ISOs at the Easter Eggon.
Undeterred by the low turnout however the two boats set out eagerly and racing commenced in slightly more breeze than anticipated with plenty of trapezing required in the strengthening gusts. Ian and Bridget (919) enjoyed a good run of form to take the first two races from Malcolm and Tim (968). The third race was a closer affair, though, with plenty of covering tacks being necessary to keep 919 ahead of 968.
Sunday dawned slightly cooler than Saturday and with less breeze. Malcolm and Tim had made a slight rig adjustment to reduce mast rake and Jess had replaced Bridget in the front of 919. To ramp up the excitement further the race officer decided to start the Buzzes and ISOs together.
The locals had warned that the wind direction was likely to result in somewhat fluky conditions – and they weren’t wrong with gusts arriving from all sorts of directions. The first race followed the pattern of the previous day with Ian and Jess managing to stay ahead of Malcolm and Tim – though the rig adjustment had definitely made an improvement to 968’s upwind speed. Race two saw Malcolm and Tim continue their improvement but Ian and Jess took line honours again.
The wind had changed direction consistently enough for the race officer to make a course change for the last race. The start was another interesting affair with an ISO briefly trying to join Ian and Jess in 919. Malcolm and Tim were first to the windward mark but unfortunately got blanketed by the ISOs which allowed Ian and Jess to sneak through downwind. More close racing ensued but the positions remained the same until the end.
Just for interest the race officer had timed all the races and on handicap the two Buzzes ended up first and third.
Many thanks to KGSC for organising the event and for being so friendly and welcoming. Hopefully we can get some more Buzzes next time.
Overall Results:
1st 919, Ian, Bridget and Jess Staples
2nd 969, Malcolm and Tim Mellor