ISO Open at Calshot Sailing Club

For once the wind cooperated for a Calshot ISO/Buzz open meeting and a total of seven races were completed over the weekend by six ISOs and five Buzzes. The wind was, however, rather light on Saturday and at one point we found ourselves drifting backwards with the tide waiting for the wind to fill in from the other direction.

In order to keep us amused during the light stuff an airshow was arranged including a Battle of Britain flypast, Catalina flying boat and RAF training jets. After Saturday's racing we all went out to the Bramble bank on Mark and Jane's Konsort to watch the annual Cricket match that is played at the lowest of tides when the Bramble actually dries out.

Unfortunately the strong SW wind was whipping up the waves down the Solent and it was far from dry making Cricket unfeasible so instead, Dave and Rachel came whizzing out in their ISO to give us an amusing demonstration of what happens when you try to sail across the Brambles at full speed while a spring tide is at its lowest.

Back at Calshot SC we fired up the BBQ and had a pleasant evening eating and drinking. Oh yes, the racing!

In race 1, Neil and Mark led during the first lap followed closely by Colin and Alison, but in the patchy light winds John and Juliet found a way past both to win, with Dave and Rachel fourth. Jamie and Adam were followed by newcomers Luke and Rory.

In race 2, John and juliet got into the swing of things and won again from Dave and Rachel, then Neil and Mark. Jamie and Adam were fourth. This I think was the race where the wind turned around which at least meant that we could have windward starts.

Race 3, Dave and Rachel got into their stride with a win from John and juliet and in Race 4 Neil and Mark won from John and Juliet with Colin and Alison almost getting a third but capsizing to let Dave and Rachel through on the last downwind leg.

On Sunday, Dave and Rachel tried out the new Dacron Jib which worked wonders and gained them a first in race 5. By race 6, however, its magic had worn off and after a general recall, John and Juliet took over the winning ways again with Neil and Mark second and in the final race, John and Juliet again took first with Dave and Rachel in second and Neil and Mark third.

Overall Results: