Wanderers at Crawley Mariners ~ April 1st 2007


A somewhat reduced fleet of seven Wanderers attended the open at CMYC's Hedgecourt Lake near Crawley on Sunday 1st April.

The local forecast was 17knots NE but this failed to make any mention of the vicious and unpredictable squalls which spread across the lake. The wind was indeed north easterly but the gusts came from almost any direction!

Race one started with Gavin Barr leading followed by Mike Powell from the home club. Mike Powell was soon overtaken by Mike Hamilton and following a capsize fell back to fourth place. Gavin kept his lead throughout to finish first.

In race two fortunes were reversed with Gavin capsizing and Mike Powell taking the lead on the last lap. The fleet had been decimated by this stage with only the two boats remaining. Both teams were exhausted and by mutual agreement decided to forgo the third race.

Overall Results: 1st Gavin Barr, Mark Skipper W1282, Whitstable; 2nd Mike Powell, Vicki King, W878, CMYC; 3rd Mike Hamilton, Mark Fagg W992, CSSA.

Donal Roche - CMYC Commodore & Race Officer

[Note: CMYC provided excellent safety cover for this event having two ribs on the water during all races. All crews who entered the water were attended to immediately and no crew or boats were hurt during the running of this event ... Ed]
 

Gavin Barr & Mark Skipper keep their
boat upright by dropping the main
as they return to the jetty in blustery
winds at the end of race 1.


Photo © Terry Pullen

Gavin Barr & Mark Skipper in W1282 "Thistle"
seen in brilliant April sunshine and vicious squally
winds - seen here from the shore during race 1

Photo © Terry Pullen

Mike Powell with crew Vicky King caught
here at that vulnerable moment
preparing for the gybe during race 2.

Photo © Terry Pullen

Mike Hamilton and crew Mark Fagg seen
here in Race 2 after a less than successful
gybe! If only they had realised that the
lake was only 3 ft deep they could have
recovered more quickly.

Photo © Terry Pullen

Mike Hamilton discusses righting procedure
with crew Mark Fagg after taking a swim
in W992 during race 2.

Photo © Terry Pullen

Mike Hamilton W992 and crew struggle
to keep their Wanderer upright during
the very strong F6 gusts which hit the boats
from all angles during race 2.

Photo © Terry Pullen

Another view of W992 fast reaching in the
strong and multi-direction winds for
which Hedgcourt Lake at CMYC is
truly famous.

Photo © Terry Pullen

A deceptively quieter moment during race 2
as Gavin Barr & Mark Skipper W1282, shadowed
by Mike Powell & crew Vicky King in W878,
manage a breather before doing battle
again with Hedgecourt's winds.

Photo © Terry Pullen

All smiles for the camera.  Mike Powell and
Vicky King in W878 during race 2.

Photo © Terry Pullen

A tussle between Gavin Barr and Mike Hamilton
at the first mark after the start
of race 2 resulted in Mike H doing turns
and Mike Powell gaining on Gavin Barr.

Photo © Terry Pullen

A photo taken from shore during race 1
showing Mike Powell and Vicky King
recovering W878 from a capsize.

Photo © Terry Pullen

Philip Meadowcroft with crew Joanne Powell
manoeuvre "Black Mischief" out on to
Hedgecourt Lake having had to return
to the jetty, during race 1, to fix a jammed
centreboard.

Photo © Terry Pullen

Tim Robertson with 7 yr old crew Niamh, in
their distinctive red sailed Wanderer, see
here soon after leaving the jetty for
the start of race 1.

Photo © Terry Pullen

A backlit Tim Robertson & Niamh, soon after departing the shore, hike out to counter the
strong gusts that were so much a feature of
the day's sailing on Hedgecourt for the
first WCOA Open meeting of 2007.

Photo © Terry Pullen

Mike Hamilton and crew Mark Fagg
fight the inevitable and prepare to
take a 'swim' duringrace 2. Photo
taken from following CMYC
safety / escort boat.

Photo © Terry Pullen

Chris Partington and crew Andrew Folkard
in W1467, Chris' 3rd Wanderer, during Race 2
in the afternoon of April 1st.

Photo © Terry Pullen

Gavin Barr and Mark Skipper get
W1282 "Thistle" up on the plane
during race no 2.

Photo © Terry Pullen

Mike Powell & Vicky King in a nicely
trimmed W878 reach across Hedgecourt
Lake during the afternoon's last race.

Photo © Terry Pullen

Gavin Barr W1282 with Mike Powell W878
in close pursuit during rounding of the 1st mark.

Photo © Terry Pullen
 

W878, helmed by Mike Powell and crewed
by Vicky King, reach back across the lake
before bearing away to run down to the
western end of Hedgecourt Lake.

Photo © Terry Pullen

Philip Meadowcroft, aided by his crew
Joanne Powell, lead 'Black Mischief'
along one of CMYC's pontoons.

Photo © Terry Pullen

Hiking out, Mike & Vicky strive to keep
Wanderer W878 upright in the F6 gusts.

Photo © Terry Pullen

Wanderers W878 and W1282 appear to
lock booms during a lull half way
through the second race.

Gavin Barr, standing in W1282, checks
the water ahead of "Thistle".

Photo © Terry Pullen


 

home ~ back ~ © Copyright