Clevedon Sailing Club Easter Bonnet 2022

Clevedon Sailing Club Easter Bonnet 2022 © Sean Warren Cox

Rescheduled due to lack of wind on Easter Friday, this year's Easter Bonnet event was held on Sunday 24th April. A variety of classes took to the water in sunny conditions with flat water and a stiff NE breeze. Race officer Neil Ballard set a 'P' shaped course with fast reaching legs out to sea, a run to the Lake mark and a long beat back to the club.

Visiting helmsman Ben Ballard led from the start in race 1 sailing his father's D Zero hotly pursued by Robin Goff in his newly acquired Aero 7. Several other boats found the conditions trying resulting in frequent capsizes including, after a break of a few years, Alex East sailing his Laser 8.1.

By race 2 the wind strength had dropped slightly much to Martin White's relief after numerous capsizes and a retirement in race 1. Again the boats of Ballard and Goff were at the front of the fleet joined by SeamusRyan and Paul Hield in their 505 and East who slowly got to grips with the big rig Laser. Stuart and Amy Turner sailed consistently in a Vision following the leading group to the finish.

The wind continued to moderate for race 3 which saw the 505 lead Ballard and Goff to the finish. Rachael Elliot and Rory Stretch followed up the rear in a Feva struggling with a broken tiller but at least managing to finish.

Overall Results:

Fast Handicap
1st Robin Goff (Aero 7)
2nd Ben Ballard (D Zero)
3rd Stuart and Amy Turner (Vision)

Slow Handicap
1st Rachael Elliott and Rory Stretch (Feva)