M&S Marblehead GAMES 1 event at Chipstead Sailing Club

Marblehead GAMES 1 event at Chipstead - Peter Stollery, winner © Stuart Ord-Hume

Thank you to all the participants for turning up at Chipstead SC on such a cold Saturday morning. At eight AM the lake was like a smooth mirror, no sign of the forecast North Easterly breeze, but the cold temperature was spot on. At least it was dry.

At 09:00 when the rescue boat ventured out to try to lay a course a very light North Westerly breeze had started and a course was laid to it.

A short briefing was held and racing was about to commence when the breeze veered to the West. A brief postponement ensued whist the course was aligned to the Westerly breeze.

Racing commenced at 10:20. Phil Holiday was quick off the start line, sailed in synch with the shifts and held a comfortable lead at the windward mark which was never really troubled by the rest of the fleet. Peter Stollery came home in second place just in front of his father Roger. The fickle breeze now switched back to the North West so a brief postponement allowed for another realignment. David Andrews retired to the clubhouse to fix a boat issue causing him to miss a couple of races.

Peter Stollery took race two and three, followed in both races by Roger with Phil close behind in third. The breeze was now alternating between West and North West for each race, resulting in a small delay between races.

Peter was on top form and took race four, but remaining podium places went to David Andrews and Peter Crisp.

Following a further wind direction change, additional marks were laid facilitating two start lines and windward marks. This proved to be quite successful in keeping racing going for the rest of the day without further postponements for course changes.

The last two races of the morning were won by Peter and Phil with Barrie Martin, Peter Crisp and Roger following them home.

Lunch was taken at 12:30 with Linda and Robin Aldcroft serving up three piping hot soup and bread roll options. This was excellent and so welcome after a long morning out in the cold. This was followed by a hot drink and cake for those who wanted it.

Race results were entered and reviewed whilst sailors enjoyed the warmth and comfort of the clubhouse.

Peter Stollery on 6 points held a nice lead over second placed Phil on 12 points. Roger was a couple of points back in third place and Barrie was in fourth on 19 points Ten somewhat reluctant sailors left the warm clubhouse and ventured back to the lake as racing resumed at 13:30.

The multi option course enable racing to commence straight away. Race seven saw Peter Stollery pinch a race win from his son Oliver in the last ten feet of the race. Phil had shadowed these two around the whole course to take third. Unfortunately, David Andrews suffered terminal boat issues and retired from the event.

Race eight saw Peter win from father Roger closely followed by Phil. The next three races saw Peter win two and Phil take one. Barrie sailed well to third place in race nine and Graham Hetem made the podium in race 10.

The final twelfth race saw Roger quick off the line to take a lead he manager to keep to the finish. He was chased hard by grandson Oliver until he hooked a mark and came to an abrupt halt. This allowed Peter to come through to take second place with the very consistent Phil in third.

As the race team packed up, sailors put their boats back into cars, race results were entered and calculated, hot drinks and cake was served by Robin and the clubhouse was a warm cosy friendly environment.

The Open meeting prize-giving distributed a bottle of wine down to 6th place and a special prize to the junior sailor Oliver Stollery Kind words of thanks were given by Roger, Phil and Peter for the days racing.

Thanks go to all those who helped, Linda and Robin Aldcroft for the perfect lunch on such a cold day., Mike Lightwing and Colin Honour for their diligence with the starts, finishing results and observing, and to Stuart Ord-Hume for his photographs, mark placing and boat recovery duties.

PRO Dave Allinson thanked all the sailors for their patience with the fickle breeze and course changes and hoped to see everyone back on Saturday March 9th for a one day Marblehead ranking event.

Marblehead GAMES 1 event at Chipstead - Phil Holliday, second place - photo © Stuart Ord-Hume

Overall Results:

Marblehead GAMES 1 event at Chipstead - Oliver Stollery, first junior - photo © Stuart Ord-Hume