Frensham Pond Sailing Club RSG have welcomed the inclusion of their 10r & M open event for the 10 rater Tankard as GAMES event 3, which now changes the previous advert and makes a total of ten events in the series.”

5 Skippers turned out this morning in fortunately the driest morning of the week, to contest the first of the DF spring series events.

Luckily there was enough west in the wind for us to be able to set a course and use the south bank (the west bank is VERY muddy at the moment) .We set a course with a longish start line and then used each of the two start line buoys as part of the course which put us more into the Center of the lake and gave a much better beat to the windward mark, although the wind was incredibly gusty and changeable in direction, sometimes the boats would tack completely on their own.

We all started in B rigs and stayed in these all day except for Mike who change into top rig during the coffee break and this did give him a bit of an advantage specially in the lulls and helped to give him 3 wins in the day.

We sailed 9 races which overall produced 3 different winners but it was Barrie who sailed well and got the win by one point.

We stopped sailing just after 1pm as the clouds thickened, our timing turned out to be spot on as ten minutes later the heavens opened.

Final Results:

1st Barrie Martin 11points

2nd Martin Crysell 12 points

3rd Mike Wilkie 14 points

4th John Turnbull 23 points

5th Slieve McGalliard 34 points

Don’t forget next race is 25th Jan. Get your entries to Roger by 24th.

Martin Crysell

This was not a good start for GMYC club racing in the New Year, as the conditions were horrid not just because of the continuous rain, but it was cold and the track along the west bank had been used many times since we were last there by the fishermen’s vans. It was so muddy that we didn’t dare take our cars along. As even pulling our inflatable boat and emergency boat along this track was difficult/impossible because of the mud, we launched from the south bank steps. There was sufficient depth to allow launching our Marbleheads without the need for a launching platform.

Having set an angled course to suit the variable south easterly breeze (that was forecast southerly), we realised that this was not going to be good course and so we walked round to the west bank where there was really good course down to the 2 blue gate marks.

It was disappointing only to have 3 of the 5 entries, but Martin, Barrie and Roger actually thought initially that we were mad to sail in these conditions. However with a super C rig breeze it was exciting sailing off the wind and even to windward. With no starting buoys set, we lined up evenly along the line of the steps going to windward to get a fair start and this worked well.

Martin won the first race and Barrie the 2nd, but later had a problem with water in his electrics. The remaining races were shared between Martin and Roger and according to the MYA SSI scoring rule 9.3 the result was down to who won the last race, which Roger managed to take.

After that we decided that enough was enough and went home for lunch in the warm. We rang Alan who was quite happy with that as he wasn’t really looking forward to sailing in the afternoon in the rain and Slieve called in just as Roger was leaving to check whether there was going to be any further racing.

Fortunately, the forecast for Wednesdays’ WSS 1 is for westerly winds, so car parking & launching from the southern steps should not be a problem.

Guildford Model Yacht Club were concerned about the below zero temperatures in the couple days before this event. We almost penned a postponement notice ‘The Brass Monkey has cold feet! However after a check that there was no ice forming on the day before, the club went ahead with the event at their water at Abbey Meads, Chertsey.

On arrival the discussion concerned whether we were mad to sail in such conditions, but Austin Guerrier, the hard-working secretary of the MYA said that ” he was delighted to be able to get out in the open air and enjoy some sailing for a change”. Anyway it was a beautiful scene, as the sun was just rising and the wind could be ‘seen’ by the swirling mist over the water.

Despite the light winds of 3 mph and below, 8 races were sailed on a windward leeward course, with the DF 95 and BOTTLE boats starting a minute later than the Marblehead start on a shortened course, so that all boats would finish at more or less the same time.

Thanks to Hugh McAdoo, who just came to spectate, he kindly offered to record the scores, which allowed a dozen competitors to take part.  Everyone soon became overdressed as the sun on the west bank control area was really hot.

Paul Tickner sailing his new GRUNGE won its first race, but then allowed Peter Stollery’s UP to win Race 2.  MYA chairman Phil Holliday’s F6 won the next 2 races with Rob Vice’s UP taking the final race before lunch. This was the traditional Christmas celebration with mulled wine, sausage rolls & mince pies with plenty of time to chat. 

Race 6 was won by Austin sailing a GRUNGE, who had now got his concentration level raised after a most consistent series of podium places in the morning. Paul took Race 7 and Martin Crysell, who had prepared the lunch, started well & sailed his PRIME NUMBER away in front on the gust that left the fleet behind and so won very last race! The decision to stop early was not difficult to make as the wind was getting incredibly light and the warming sun had disappeared behind the trees.

At the prize giving, where the prizes were a wrapped present as the entry fee, everyone got a prize. Hugh McAdoo was heartily thanked for doing such a good job as the RO.

Austin was absolutely delighted to have won this event, as let it be known afterwards that this was very first open event that he had won. In such good company, well done Austin!

The Marblehead results:

1st  Austin Guerrier, Datchet, GRUNGE     14 points & winner of the Brass Monkey Trophy

2nd  Phil Holliday, Datchet, F6                 18 

3rd  Peter Stollery, Guildford, UP             18

4th  Paul Tickner, Guildford, GRUNGE     23

5th  Rob Vice, Guildford, UP           23

6th Roger Stollery, Guildford, UP           26

7th Martin Crysell, Guildford, PRIME NUMBER   28

8th Nigel Barrow, Frensham Pond, STARKERS 28

9th Nick Charles, Datchet, GRUNGE      

The small boat winners

DF 95 trophy, Guildford, Alan Viney.

BOTTLE boat trophy, Frensham Pond, Keith Parrott. 

The 2022 GAMES series was won by Roger Stollery, with his son runner-up and Martin Crysell 3rd. The best Improver was Tom Rodger of the 3 Rivers Radio Yacht Club, finishing 6 places up from his 2021 Finishing Place.

The GAMES schedule is available on the Guildford Model Yacht Club website, www.guildfordmyc.uk   

We extend a very warm welcome to you to come and have some competitive fun at our Christmas Open meeting for Marbleheads and DF 95/BOTTLE boats. We hope that you will come and enjoy racing in a relaxed mode at Abbey Meads Lake, Chertsey to get you into the party mood. This is very much a fun event, with festive dress for self/boat anticipated! As usual, we will be stopping for lunch when mince pies and mulled wine will be served. We do hope that you will come and join the party. 

This year the event is again the finale of the 2022 GAMES Marblehead series with the MIDGLEY MUG, Improver’s and Junior Prizes to be awarded along with the Brass Monkey itself and the trophy for the BOTTLE boat winner. There is all to sail for as the GAMES improver’s prize (best improver outside the top 10) and the MIDGLEY MUG can only be settled at this event. The latest GAMES schedule is attached.

Following GMYC tradition there will be no normal financial entry fee.  Instead, please bring a wrapped present containing something that you might like to win!   The racing will be organised for Marbleheads and DF 95/BOTTLE boats starting using the same countdown, but at different times. The Marbleheads will start first and the smaller boats shortly after. The latter will have a course handicap with the intention that all will finish together, but the small boats will be competing in their own event.

The racing will be conducted using the RRS 2021-2024 modified by the MYA SSIs. The relevant notices are as follows:  BRIEFING – this will start at approximately 09.40 hours. RACING TIMES – the first race will start soon after the briefing at approximately 10.00 hours – no race will start after 15.00 hours and any race in progress at 15.20 hours will be abandoned. The closing date for entries for the event is midnight on Thursday 8^th December 2022. Please ring Roger with your entry on 01483 421 801 or e-mail him on stollery117@gmail.com and include your MYA number if you have one. If you don’t have a Marblehead or BOTTLE boat, but would like to come for a bit of fun, please ask Roger to borrow a boat.  

ABBEY MEADS Lake is easy to find. From wherever you are travelling, follow the signs to THORPE PARK and go to the roundabout at their entrance. Then travel south on the A320 towards Chertsey and you will see the lake on your left. After a few hundred yards turn left off the road after you see the Chertsey Water Board sign. The what three words location is same-fame-cabin. If you arrive late and the inner gate is locked, the number 1617 will be left showing into the circular GMYC number padlock, but if it isn’t, put this number in and slide the button at the bottom to open and just slide the horizontal bar back and replace this after entry. Please make a note of this or print this NoR and refer to it when you are at the gate. We look forward to seeing you! 

“It is now halfway through our 8 event Wednesday Winter Series and we have enjoyed some really good racing at Abbey Meads Lake. We are very lucky not having had any weed problems and the lake is completely clear of any weed that would affect the racing. As you can see from the Series results there is all to sail for, so you, your friends & clubmates are most welcome to come and create even more fun! The invitation to the next event in a fortnight’s time on 2 November is attached, along with the current Series scores and report of event 4.”

Look forward to hearing from you!

Cheers, Roger