K1 Oxford Cup 9/10 October 2010: Event Report
15/10/10 13:51
keen racer Chris Swallow shared his experience on tuning gained from handicap racing this summer.
The twelve sailors that had brought their K1s along took to the water later in the day for a couple of short practice races kindly run by John Barker in an ideal 10 knot breeze. The first race saw Alan Russell (Rutland Water), Neil Cooke (Tewkesbury) and Hugh Duncan (Lyme) all showing good speed and in the second Chris Swallow (Burton) and Mike Deane (Windermere) set the pace. Saturday concluded with a debrief, a sail numbering session and very pleasant supper at the Vine.
The breeze was slightly stronger on Sunday morning and after the simple triangle course used on Saturday the fleet had to work out how to navigate around Oxford SCs 11 racing buoys – all good stuff ensuring a mix of beats, runs and tight reaches. Paul Handley (Chipstead SC) lead the way, closely pursued by Chris Swallow and Mike Deane in 2nd and 3rd. After racing the K1 fleet moored on Oxford SCs very smart new pontoons for lunch.
Summer weather returned for the afternoon with the wind increasing to gusts of 20 knots making perfect sailing conditions. Jeff Vanderbrought (Lyme) was first to the windward mark followed by Chris Swallow and Paul Handley. The fleet then enjoyed four fast reaches to the other end of the reservoir with the K1s planing furiously in the gusts yet no worries with the gybes!
By the end of the reaches Paul had caught Jeff and after that they were never more than a few boat lengths apart, sailing at almost exactly the same speed despite Paul being an 11 stone (72kg) Firefly sailor and Jeff a Phantom sailor… At the finish Paul was just ahead of Jeff with Neil Cooke third.
After the race it was too hot to sit in the club house so the sailors had a short class meeting and prizegiving in the sun outside, where the new K1 Oxford Cup was awarded to Chris Swallow and presented by Terri Worrall.
The class would like to thank Oxford SC for its hospitality, particularly Geoff and Terri Worrall, Jon Barker and OOD Ian Marshall.
Overall Results
1 Paul Handley (Chipstead SC)
2 Chris Swallow (Burton SC)
3 Neil Cooke (Tewkesbury SC)
4 Jeff Vanderbrought (Lyme SC)
5 Mike Deane (South Windermere SC)
6 Hugh Duncan (Lyme SC)
7 Allan Russell (Rutland Water SC)
8 Peter Thomas (Lyme SC)
9 Kim Fisher (Deben SC)
10 Richard Smith (Bewl Valley SC)
11 Geoff Worrall (Oxford SC)
12 Terry Hand (Northampton SC)
The twelve sailors that had brought their K1s along took to the water later in the day for a couple of short practice races kindly run by John Barker in an ideal 10 knot breeze. The first race saw Alan Russell (Rutland Water), Neil Cooke (Tewkesbury) and Hugh Duncan (Lyme) all showing good speed and in the second Chris Swallow (Burton) and Mike Deane (Windermere) set the pace. Saturday concluded with a debrief, a sail numbering session and very pleasant supper at the Vine.
The breeze was slightly stronger on Sunday morning and after the simple triangle course used on Saturday the fleet had to work out how to navigate around Oxford SCs 11 racing buoys – all good stuff ensuring a mix of beats, runs and tight reaches. Paul Handley (Chipstead SC) lead the way, closely pursued by Chris Swallow and Mike Deane in 2nd and 3rd. After racing the K1 fleet moored on Oxford SCs very smart new pontoons for lunch.
Summer weather returned for the afternoon with the wind increasing to gusts of 20 knots making perfect sailing conditions. Jeff Vanderbrought (Lyme) was first to the windward mark followed by Chris Swallow and Paul Handley. The fleet then enjoyed four fast reaches to the other end of the reservoir with the K1s planing furiously in the gusts yet no worries with the gybes!
By the end of the reaches Paul had caught Jeff and after that they were never more than a few boat lengths apart, sailing at almost exactly the same speed despite Paul being an 11 stone (72kg) Firefly sailor and Jeff a Phantom sailor… At the finish Paul was just ahead of Jeff with Neil Cooke third.
After the race it was too hot to sit in the club house so the sailors had a short class meeting and prizegiving in the sun outside, where the new K1 Oxford Cup was awarded to Chris Swallow and presented by Terri Worrall.
The class would like to thank Oxford SC for its hospitality, particularly Geoff and Terri Worrall, Jon Barker and OOD Ian Marshall.
Overall Results
1 Paul Handley (Chipstead SC)
2 Chris Swallow (Burton SC)
3 Neil Cooke (Tewkesbury SC)
4 Jeff Vanderbrought (Lyme SC)
5 Mike Deane (South Windermere SC)
6 Hugh Duncan (Lyme SC)
7 Allan Russell (Rutland Water SC)
8 Peter Thomas (Lyme SC)
9 Kim Fisher (Deben SC)
10 Richard Smith (Bewl Valley SC)
11 Geoff Worrall (Oxford SC)
12 Terry Hand (Northampton SC)