GAMES 1 Marblehead Interclub/Open at Eastleigh Model Boat Club 15th March 2015

The first of the 2015 GAMES events attracted sixteen competitors from nine clubs, including seven who were ‘new’ to this Interclub/Open at Eastleigh Model Boat Club. The variable light to moderate ‘A’ rig north-easterly wind blew straight down the lake and gave some long beating and running conditions around the triangular courses set by PRO Derek Barratt.

Racing was organised by Derek’s own ‘fleet’ system. The entry was divided into three equal fleets and competitors stayed in these fleets all day. Competitors sailed against the other two fleets in turn and then were off the water for one race, making a round of three races. Seven rounds were sailed giving everyone 14 races. These were sailed in a very sportsmanlike manner with everyone doing their penalty turns without being prompted.

The morning races were dominated by Roger Stollery’s brand new UPROAR winning four races, but John Cleave sailing a SKALPEL, who won two, was more consistent and only one point behind on the lunchtime leaderboard with 10 points, in front of local competitor Chris Wilson with his own designed SCIMITAR with 20 points.

In the afternoon the wind veered and increased so that at times there was plenty of planing offwind and at other times rudders in the air! The course was changed so that it made the beats shorter and the reaching legs longer, which added to the speed of these superfast boats. Alan Viney enjoyed these conditions and put up the best performance of the day sailing his PRIME NUMBER. He won three races on the trot and the last race, pulling him up from ninth at lunchtime to tie for second place with famous full-size sailor, Dick Jobbins. With all those wins compared with Dick’s two he took second place on count back.

Alan was absolutely delighted, as in previous open events he had never won a single race.

His Guildford clubmate, Roger was also pleased with the results of testing UPROAR against the 10 other designs racing.

Derek Barratt and the Eastleigh and District Model Boat Club race team were thanked by the prizewinners for running the event in such cold drizzly conditions.

Results:

1^st Roger Stollery Guildford UPROAR 18, 2^nd Alan Viney Guildford PRIME NUMBER 34, 3^rd Dick Jobbins Solent CONSTELLATION 34, 4^th John Cleave Ryde SKALPEL 36, 5^th Chris Wilson Eastleigh SCIMITAR 41, 6^th John Bennett Eastleigh PARADOX 41, 7^th John Tufnall Solent CONSTELLATION 43, 8^th Nigel Brown Gosport GOTHIC 45, 9^th Richard Uttley Emsworth STARKERS CUBED 47, 10^th Peter Crisp Swanley STARKERS CUBED 52, 11^th Phil Holliday Watermead QUARK 64, 12^th Alan Nash Eastleigh STARKERS CUBED 69, 13^th Austin Brierley Eastleigh COMPOSIT 77, 14^th Neil Burdon Eastleigh UNKNOWN 94, 15^th Brian Wade Eastleigh UNKNOWN 108, 16^th Phil Udall CRAZY TUBE FREE 109.

Alan Viney Games 1 2015