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CentreBoard

August 2004

The Newsletter of Spinnaker Club, Ringwood

www.spinnakerclub.co.uk

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This included the Solo class ‘Nations Cup’, formerly known as the ‘Solo Worlds’, and international championship racing for Finns and 470s. 59 Solo entrants were greeted by force 4-6 breezes as the Southerly wind, known as the ’Ora’, kicked in at about noon each day.

Quite a few boats were damaged on the first day’s sailing in the practice race on Wednesday, including some 11 broken masts!

Stephen sweeps Solos at
Lake Garda

Typically, following such mayhem, the first day of actual racing, on Thursday, was called off due to lack of wind. Obliged to make up for lost time the organisers decided to hold 4 races per day for the next three days.

This meant being ready for first start at 09:00 a.m. and staying on the water for around 8 hours in very strong winds. (Not for the feint hearted).

On one occasion, as a massive squall came through, all the sailors had to hide up in a small cove and hold on to small branches growing out of the sheer cliff face, with sails dropped, for two hours in driving, very cold rain.

Despite being a relative lightweight, at only 10.5 stones, and being greatly overpowered most of the time, Stephen Broom battled through to a creditable 4th position overall and 1st youth helm (under 21) having also won a race and all his other results in the top 10.
Colin Broom

Solo Nationals

63 Solo sailors recently converged on Plymouth for this year’s Solo Nationals.

Stephen Broom took 4th place overall. The Wetherall Cup, awarded to the club with the best combined placings, went to Spinnaker Club: Stephen Broom + Dave Nixson + Paul Nixson. Ed.

N12's at Spinnaker

Spinnaker National Twelves go from strength to strength.

At the Spinnaker N12 Open on 15 May 13 boats were rigged and ready for an 11:00 start. "Don't worry", visitors were told, "the sea breeze will arrive at 1:30, have some lunch". So they did. At 1:30 to the minute

 a force 2 breeze arrived. Racing was close with much place changing between the leading 5 boats in all three races.

Will and Arthur Henderson (3428 Salcombe YC) eventually took 1st place, Fran Gifford and Jenny Wilkins 2nd (3431 Aldeburgh YC) and David Wilkins and Kate Meadowcroft 3rd (3481 Spinnaker). Stephen Broom and James Muir, sailing impressively in their first time out in a Twelve, won 1st Single Bottom Boat.

With Stephen following Felix Newall-Smith in buying a Twelve, we now see Gareth Humphries competing regularly on the lake in David Wilkins’ former boat.

 Together with Simon and Thomas Walworth the Spinnaker N12 has become truly active. A good sprinkling plan to take part in Burton Week, the N12 Twelve Nationals to be held in Weymouth as CentreBoard goes to press.

Stephen and Felix were welcomed at Star Cross Y.C., Exeter, to take part in their first N12 Open. The pair coped admirably in the challenging, sunny but gusty F3-4 conditions, ending the 33-boat, 4-race event winning the prize for first Single Bottom Boat. Although only able to compete in one race in this Gill sponsored open meeting David Wilkins achieved a 4th place.

Contact David Wilkins for any information about the great Spinnaker Twelve revival and how to get involved. Ed.

Shelterbelt update

Everyone is asking me when the trees are coming down in the southeast corner of the lake.

The answer is, NOW in August. We hoped it would be July, as the earlier they go the sooner we will lose the wind shadow. Though as advised, we are only allowed to cut a third of the length of the trees (the far corner), and then thin the remainder through woodland management with the Hampshire Wildlife Trust.  Brian Watkins