Lightning368 Open at Broxbourne Sailing Club

What a contrast to the last time we doubled up with the Moth fleet for an open. At Whitefriars wind 20mph plus, gusting 30mph plus, Broxbourne last Saturday 1mph gusting 2mph! Let the driftathon commence.

A smaller turnout of 9 boats visited the delightful setting in the heart of the Lee Valley Country Park. With 3 races planned, Richard the race officer had difficulty in setting the courses, eventually race 1 got underway, but a 180 degree wind shift at the start meant the 1st beat changed to a reach/run. As we drifted away from the start line, Richard Palmer took an early lead, to then be closed in by the pack and Caroline Key eventually reached the mark first, extending her lead up the next leg. After rounding mark "Y", it eventually turned into a very shift beat. Missing the shifts, Caroline was soon overtaken by Alex Baxter, Richard and Broxbourne's Paula Smith, who was sailing a lightning for the first time. Alex and Richard drifted away and the rest of the fleet chopped and changed. On the final reach Chris Potts decided to go to the right, overhauling the fleet to take and maintain third position to the end of the race.

After lunch we all took to the water again. With the wind filling in briefly to about 3 / 4 mph!! Richard, Alex and Caroline lead the fleet, each one taking the lead at some point, closely followed by Richard Bull in 44. At the end of the very long race, Richard, Alex and Caroline finished in that order. Richard B fell foul to the hole like the rest of the fleet, with them finishing some 20 minutes behind the leaders.

So with both Alex and Richard with a 1 / 2 and Caroline currently sitting 3rd overall it was all to play for in the last race. With the course the same, Wayne and Chris decided to call it a day, so the 7 remaining boats took to the water. Alex and Richard lead the fleet to finish the race in that order so Alex secured his first open victory. The battle for 3rd was still on. Caroline battling Paula, Nigel, Brian and Richard B, managed to keep just ahead to finish 3rd and secured that position overall.

Thank you Richard and your team for having us back and setting courses in very trying conditions. Broxbourne is a lovely place to sail and we hope to be back again soon.

Overall Results: (top three)

1st Alex Baxter (West Oxfordshire Sailing Club) 2pts
2nd Richard Palmer (Cookham Reach Sailing Club) 3pts
3rd Caroline Key (West Oxfordshire Sailing Club) 6pts

Next event: Manor Park on 7 June, our Northern Championships. Will Matt Hopkins retain the trophy, or will new contender Alex Baxter take the title? Watch this space.