In the first police dinghy regatta to
include entries from the Emergency Services, a total of 22 boats
took part representing 9 organisations. A number of police forces
supported in goodly numbers. From a gloriously breezy 24˚C
at the previous weekend, competitors dressed accordingly for the 13˚C
temperature to take part in the light and varied conditions
which never got above 12mph for all the races. The conditions made for
close racing and a knowledge of the rules important. There were 11
Lasers. For the first time two new boat classes to police regattas were
seen; Pete Walters with his recently acquired RS100 and Malcolm Dykes in
Avon's new Laser Bahia.
During the first race, the regatta was treated to a
10 minute fly-past above the reservoir from a Vulcan bomber
accompanied by some local flying talent. Suffice to say that this additional
spectacle was not planned but welcomed all the same. The local media has
it that this could possibly have been the 60 year old Vulcan's last
flight as the cost of maintenance has become higher than the monies
raised. So maybe competitors could someday claim that "they were
there"...
Race One: T
B W D C
Boats got away got away well in a reasonable breeze which slowly faded
throughout the race making helms concentrate on the windshifts. On the
water Simon Hawkes (Phantom) soon got ahead of the fleet with Walters in
the RS100 and Adrian Sherratt (Merlin Rocket) in pursuit. A whole gaggle
of Lasers made up the middle of the fleet with their lead continually
changing. It evidently paid not to have had too heartier a breakfast as
the lighter weight helms gained from the light conditions. The fleet
soon spread out requiring the Race Officer to limit the laps completed
by some competitors in the race which took over an hour for some boats.
At the finish it was Hawkes who was well ahead winning by over 5 minutes
on corrected time from Ken Daniels (Phantom) second and Pete Walters
third. Paul Franklin (Leics) eventually kept the rest of the Lasers at
bay but it was a close run finish with Roger Glass (Met) and Dick Sivers
(Northants) only just behind.
Race Two: T
P W D C
- after lunch and the wind had
changed from NNE to WNW, so buoy positions were altered as was the
course. Wind strength remained somewhat light and whilst the faster
rated boats completed 3 laps, the rest of the fleet managed only 2 laps
in a race time approaching the hour. The light winds did not prevent
Glass managing to capsize on the gybe at 'W' and still finish as the
leading Laser with local helm Steve Middleditch finishing just behind. On corrected time the Phantoms took
first and second with the RS100 third. Pete Muggleton & Jeremy Summers
(Leics.) in the Fireball had their best result of the regatta.
Race Three:
T B P W D C
- held back-to-back. By
this time the sun had tried to break through - and failed. The wind just
about hung in there but the beat became a gamble on each lap. Whilst the
faster handicap boats fairly coped with the light wind, the Lasers were
struggling. Alan Henson (Northants Fire) in a Solo was well up in the
lighter conditions and Avon's new Bahia was also in amongst the Lasers.
For the third time Hawkes won with Walters splitting the Phantoms on
corrected time with Henson an excellent fourth. This time it was Sean
Moore (Leics) who led the Lasers home with Nick Mason (Met) nearly 30
seconds behind.
Congratulations to the winner Simon
Hawkes (Avon & Somerset Constabulary) who won the event for the second
year running. Prizes were presented by the Commodore of Northampton
Sailing Club, Ian Castle.
