Dell Quay sailors salvage race action

Races seven and eight of Dell Quay Sailing Club's Frostbite series looked set to be cancelled as there was no wind and competitors were greeted to a glassy mill pond at the scheduled start time of 10.30am.
By The Newsroom
Published 5th Feb 2016, 17:01 BST
Updated 8th Jun 2018, 06:46 BST

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Frostbite action at Dell Quay / Picture by Andrew HorneFrostbite action at Dell Quay / Picture by Andrew Horne
Frostbite action at Dell Quay / Picture by Andrew Horne

Race officer Roy Dyton wisely postponed the race, waiting for the forecast breeze, and at 11.30 it suddenly kicked in, reaching a good force four by the delayed start time of 11.45.

The start line favoured the western shore under the trees and Rob Corfield plus crew (RS400) made an excellent start, rapidly pulling ahead of the fleet.

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Series leader Bill Dawber (Solo) arrived at the first mark some distance behind Corfield, but with the RS400 of Peter King and Crew hard on his transom he couldn’t tack around the mark until the RS400 had tacked. This allowed Roger Puttock in another Solo to squeeze round the mark inside of Dawber.  

Puttock proceeded to luff Dawber most of the way across the river in an attempt to prevent Dawber from overtaking. This let many of the following boats through, ahead of the battling pair.  

A very close-matched race between these two continued, with Dawber maintaining a slender lead over Puttock and the pair overtaking the other boats, apart from the leading RS400s.  

After handicap corrections were applied, Corfield and crew took first place, with Andy Morley (Pico) second, Dawber third and Puttock fourth.

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In race eight Dawber led off the start line with Puttock in hot pursuit. The pair continued neck and neck around the course until the last lap when the RS400 of King tacked on top of Dawber, which was just enough to let Puttock through into a narrow lead.

The results after handicap calculations were applied left Puttock first, Dawber second and Mike Shaw (Solo) third.

This secures overall series victory for Dawber but the remaining places remain wide open with Morley and Ken Baker (Dayboat) separated by only three points.  The series, which is open to all, continues on February 13 at 2pm.

ANDREW HORNE

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