Kestrel Eastern Areas at Maylandsea Bay Sailing Club

Paul Wilkinson and Steve Worf during the Kestrel Eastern Areas at Maylandsea Bay Sailing Club © Dean Saxton

Dave and Pete during the Kestrel Eastern Areas at Maylandsea Bay Sailing Club © Dean Saxton

Seven Kestrels, including visitors from the South Coast and Norfolk, gathered for the Kestrel Eastern Areas over the weekend of 30th September & 1st October.

Balmy warmth, that was more like August than Autumn greeted us all, and although Saturday morning looked like a clock-calm, by race time it had built to a steady SW force 2 to 3. With the aid of the biggest tide of the year, 2 good races were run back to back, with the second start out by Osea Island.

Although the wind had filled in, there were still a few big shifts in it, and Race Officer Simon's carefully laid line for the first race was compromised by one of these within the starting sequence, so that only port tack got you across the line! After a tense bit of maneuvering, the fleet got away with Paul and Sally Gray in 1600 leading towards the windward mark. However, Chris and Lauren Grice in 1472 managed to squeeze by before the mark and lead the fleet through the (many) gybes to get out of the creek. Chris and Lauren opened up a bit of a gap, with Paul and Sally in second having a tight race with Steve Worf and Dave Hearsum, first time out in 1636 who came home third in front of Dave and Pete Gibson in 1612.

Race 2 started out in the Blackwater. With the wind more stable, there were no problems with the line this time. Steve and Dave established an early lead, but on the second beat going left paid for Chris and Lauren and they took the lead, with Paul and Sally up to second. In the long beat back up the creek to the finish, Paul and Sally held onto second from Steve and Dave, with another fourth for Dave and Pete.

After a fiercely contested night of card games organized by Katherine, Sunday brought more wind, a 3 gusting 4, and more warmth, although overcast for most of the day. A tight first beat within the creek had Chris and Lauren leading at the windward mark, followed closely by Paul and Sally. Gybing the kite at Northshore, rather than dropping it and 2 sailing, allowed Chris and Lauren to open up a gap as they planed across to Lawling, which they maintained around the two triangles out in the river. It was two, but Paul had only written down one, so as he stopped sailing and logged a retired, allowing Dave and Pete into a good second, with Lewis Harris and Danni Tebbutt in 1574 (Lewis first proper Kestrel sailing!) coming home third and Paul and Beth Wilkinson in 1605 fourth.

The final race started out by Doctor mark. Steve and Dave lead around the windward mark, but Chris and Lauren were able to squeeze by on the tight 3 sail reach to Mundon Point. Paul and Sally also got past into second on the second reach. They then tried to defend on the long beat back up the creek against the tide. However, Steve and Dave got through and the first three finished in that order, with Lewis and Danni coming in a strong fourth.

Overall, Chris and Lauren took the event, with Paul and Sally separated by one point from Steve and Dave in third. Thanks to Simon Evance as Race Officer and his whole team for a terrific meeting.

Overall Results: