2.4mR Open at Frensham Pond Sailing Club

Close racing during the Frensham Pond 2.4mR Open © Ivor Barrett

I never thought a 'pond' would be this big, what a relief!' quoted our furthest travelled visitors Cormac and Paddy Hassett, first time visiting the club, being a mid way point between European events and their home in Ireland.

The 3 club owned boats plus two borrowed boats joined the local fleet and added to the variety and standard of sailors providing a small but quality fleet of just eleven. The racing, despite the overall result, was very tight with frequent changes throughout the fleet in the gusty winds. The great thing about racing at Frensham means you will think you have the fleet under control and then realise that someone has found a great shift to come through the whole pack. Never count your chickens till they have hatched.

Frensham Pond Open - photo © Ivor Barrett

We were blessed with near perfect sunny weather and wind, a shifty north east gusting 18mph allowing John Townsley, the race officer, and team to set perfect legs utilizing the pond's length to the max. Setting the lines in the frequent wind shifts created some interesting starts including one general recall, but very few delays.

Bruce Hill was out to win the event for the first time and led the 1st race and most of the 2nd race although one last roll of the dice by Megan was his undoing. Megan went on to led most of the races and yet another engraving on the trophy, a bit like a broken record, despite being frequently challenged by both Dylan Collingbourne overall 3rd and Bruce 2nd. Bruce didn't have much luck and spent races 3 and 4 crash testing his Superspar mast by colliding not once, but twice in mast to mast collisions followed by the customary pirouette of two boats locked together with fortunately no damage, a common collision technique unique to 2.4mRs!

Frensham Pond Open - photo © Ivor Barrett

Paddy showed that practice makes perfect challenging often for a top 5 position. 2 discards made life interesting with the results being close still after lunch on the Sunday. The extra discards also helped Paul (Arthur) Schroeder and Ian Campbell compete for just the Sunday. Ian had definitely had his Weetabix with a 3rd and 3 mid fleet results. We will have to sort his handicap out if he keeps going like that. Rob Anstey usually found in a Laser or Signet remembered how to sail one from last year and like Kate Hedley obviously needed a beer by 6th race because they finished 3rd and 5th respectively.

All was rounded off with a lovely Friday eve DIY Barbeque, a Saturday evening meal and the complimentary Frensham tea.

Overall Results: