Contender Open at Datchet Water Sailing Club

Contenders at Datchet © Paul Ross

Contenders at Datchet © Paul Ross

Twelve Contenders enjoyed some close racing at Datchet Water Sailing Club on 10th/11th March with three races on both days.

The first race got underway at 13:00 prompt in a marginal trapezing breeze, Tagoe added a surprise element to the start by failing to hook on and capsizing on the line as the gun went. The first beat was a shifty affair and Stuart Jones demonstrated his local knowledge by rounding the windward mark first, closely followed by Howe and Sexton. Offwind it was a matter of finding the breeze and going into the final lap the order was much the same, the windward leg saw Tagoe making up places to reach 4th. Stuart Jones' flag identification proved costly as he set off up the beat for a third lap, allowing Howe to finish first, with Sexton second and Jones third.

Race 2 was held in an increasing wind, the fleet got away cleanly and it was Stuart Jones, Presley and Tagoe showing the rest of the fleet the way round the course. Much could be gained, or lost, in the shifts but at the end of the race Jones took the gun, closely followed by Presley and Tagoe.

By race 3 the wind strength was sufficient for the pumping flag to be displayed and 3 laps to be signalled. Stuart Jones again rounded the windward mark first, followed by Howe who allowed Curry, Tagoe and Presley to pump their way past him on the reaches. Tagoe pushed Jones hard for the remaining laps to come second with Presley 3rd.

Sunday morning saw very little breeze and a lack of enthusiasm from the fleet, by 10:15 the wind had picked up to 10 knots and continued to build in time for the first start. The stronger wind saw Curry, Sexton, Boshier and Martin Jones demonstrating their abilities to sail the boat well in these conditions and were continually pushing Tagoe and Stuart Jones for the top places, at the end of the race it was Stuart Jones 1st, Sexton 2nd and Curry 3rd.

Race 5 was sailed in similar conditions and saw the first gear failures with Collins breaking her tiller extension and Sexton's masthead block failing. The rest of the fleet enjoyed the trapeze reaches with sudden lulls. It was again Stuart Jones in 1st, Tagoe second with Presley battling it out with Brooks for 3rd.

The final race was sailed in a decreasing wind strength with Stuart Jones opening out an enormous lead over Presley and Tagoe.

Overall Results: