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With a 12.00 start, we had hoped for a good turn out for the combined Heron / Mirror Open event. The day dawned sunny and bright with a light breeze. However, it was more quality than quantity that turned up, with just six boats for each fleet. As usual, Chipstead Sailing Club sent a decent number of competitors, with three Herons and one Mirror.
Both fleets were sent off on similar distance courses, but with different marks down river so that they did not get in each other’s way. For the Herons, the first race was a short beat up river to round the nearest mark, then a long run of about 2.5 miles down river to the second mark. This should have suited Nigel Darby, with his spinnaker, but it was Peter Moulton and Jon Hunt who were first round the down wind mark. John Caton had a marvellous run making up two places on this leg and rounding in third. Nigel turned in fourth position, followed by Matthew Pickett and Kim Brett. During the following short beat to the third mark, Matthew closed down the gap on the leading boats. Nigel then also managed to gain a place on the next reach, resulting in four boats fighting for position on the final leg. This beat back home from Brandy Hole, of about 1.5 miles, was closely contested. Matthew, using his local knowledge of the currents to his advantage, finished first by two minutes from Peter, while Nigel piped Jon to the line by seconds.
Lunch was then taken while the race officer considered the next race, the setting of which can be a problem on the river when the tide turns. If the wind is light it can be quite difficult for the boats to make progress against the tide. For this same reason, a prompt start time is necessary and, unfortunately, this caught out Peter Moulton. He had difficulty raising his mainsail and did not make the start gun, causing him to be in a catching up situation. Luckily, the wind increased making the sailing conditions favourable. The course went from the river into the local creek where Eyott sailing club is situated. This involves a lot of careful tacking and worked to Nigel’s advantage, Eyott being his home club. He had a lengthy lead and finished with a sizeable margin until, unfortunately, he realised that he had missed out the last mark, resulting in his retirement. The remainder of the fleet was all close together and vying for position when Peter hit a Mirror and had to do his turns, allowing Matthew and Jon to pass him. With Nigel’s retirement, Matthew gained first place in this race, with Jon second and Peter third.
The Up River YC Commodore, Adrian Reynolds, presented the prizes, thus concluding an enjoyable day with good weather and close sailing.
Mick Pickett Heron 10033, Tern Coat
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Boat | Helm | Crew | Club | Race 1 | Race 2 | Final | | 9812 | Matthew Pickett | Francesca Turley | Up River Y C | 1 | 1 | 1 | | 10019 | Peter Moulton | Jo Wyton | Chipstead | 2 | 3 | 2 | | 8651 | Jon Hunt | Verna Hunt | Chipstead | 4 | 2 | 3 | | 6678 | Kim Brett | Alison Tormey | Chipstead | 5 | 4 | 4 | | 10061 | Nigel Darby | Alexander Johnson | Eyott S C | 3 | RTD | 5 | | 2524 | John Caton | Lewis Caton | Eyott S C | 6 | DNS | 6 |
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Racing 
