AVON AND SOMERSET CONSTABULARY DINGHY SAILING CHAMPIONSHIPS AND DINGHY SAILING OPEN

THURSDAY 11th SEPTEMBER 2025

Chew Valley Lake S.C.

Start - Squall - Switchgate...

Eight boats entered to make up the fleet for this year's annual regatta at Chew. There were two visitors and the rest local Avon & Somerset boats, some of which, it was planned, were to be sailed by the less experienced helm. Conditions were going to provide quite a baptism. Chew Valley Lake was only 39% capacity full and launching was a little tricky.

With the threat of stormy weather incoming, the Race Officer John Smalley had decided to start the racing as soon as possible, Accordingly the fleet got out on the water to face three races sailed back-to-back. The club had hoped to provide pictures including drone video but the windy conditions put paid to that.

On launching, the two rescue boats were immediately busy dealing with capsizes as boats coped with the gusty conditions. Other boats struggled to make the start including a disappointed Steve Butler and Pete Knight whose Wayfarer was found to have bailer problems.

The first start saw Olly Saunders & Harvey Rose (Lark) well away with others struggling to make headway over the start line.. About 10 minutes into the race the first rainstorm arrived in earnest. Boats were barely in sight in the rain. It was a short race with the Lark managing two laps and the other four finishers 1 lap.

The weather continued to change constantly from heavy grey clouds to bright sunshine.

The changeable conditions were kinder on the start line for the second race but the Lark was nowhere to be seen, having mistaken the sequence of the sound signals. Two Avon boats helmed by Phil Osborne and Jeff Hines lead the fleet for a short while but were soon overtaken by the Lark. With the water so low, boats were grounding in some parts of the lake This included the Bahia also Ian Medland in the Comet Trio, who managed to sort his rudder while standing on the shore of the lake's island and then complete the race.

"Switchgate"
There had been four finishers and three retirements in Race Two which included Beth Colbourne in the Laser 2000 who then came ashore. For the third race Steve Butler, whose Wayfarer had succumbed to bailer problems on initial launch and thus had been unable to take part so far, took out the Laser 2000.

In the countdown to the third race Jeff Hines in the Quest decided to call it a day and this then left just two boats racing but gave the opportunity for Steve to race against the Lark - the only other boat to cross the start line. Race Three turned out to be a 1 lap race finished in bright sunlight and a steadier wind.

An unusual situation for the Race Officer..  On realisation and to cater for this unusual scenario, the Race Officer created an additional entry to allow Steve to record a race finish; not in the Wayfarer but in the Laser 2000.

It had been a challenging day for competitors. No-one had escaped ending up in the lake.

The Race Officer with the winners

Congratulations to the winners Olly and Harvey who relished the conditions. Second overall was the Comet Trio sailed by Ian Medland & Martyn Triggol with Phil Osborne & Kim Huxtable, third overall. The 'Spirit of the Event' was awarded to Ken Jaques & Tom Fielding in the Quest.

Grateful thanks to Avon & Somerset Sailing Section and Chew Valley Lake Sailing Club who once again pulled out all the stops to provide an entertaining and enjoyable day.

R.S.