Gurnard open 29/30 Sept

Sponsors -Wightlink/Spinlock 

Report by Mark Robinson

After an absence of nearly 20 years contenders finally returned to the shores of the Isle of Wight. An anticipated 26 boat entry was undone by the Datchet fleet being impounded by the effects of ‘foot and mouth’….boats that is, not people. This set the tone for the weekend with the weather and tide combining to make the race officer’s lot not a happy one. Saturday started with a light and consistent breeze and all set forth across the Solent for a good days sailing. PRO Mark Harrison is obviously a ‘half full’ rather than ‘half-empty’ sort of guy and he set an excellent though somewhat ambitious course which would have been fine if any of the fleet could have made it across the line in the dying breeze and strengthening flood tide. Gary Langdowne would subsequently lay claim to having actually started but by this time we were all past caring!  Meanwhile the rest of the fleet headed for the shore or France, depending on whether you were on port or starboard tack. Next obstacle was the shoreline bird sanctuary with all boats forming an orderly but nervous queue at the start of this bit of shore keen to avoid fines and arrest! Still we all had the delights of the tow home to look forward to; 10 boats per rib was the norm and the contenders settled down to relax and watch the 700’s wobble their way back across the Solent. Still an excellent curry beckoned and it did not disappoint even though service was at about the same speed we had all drifted around the Solent. So Saturday had been a bit of a challenge with only sore backs and the prospect of little better on Sunday to show for it. It was not to be.  The omens looked good the next morning and those who know the Solent well were confident of wind on the far shore. Off we set into a steady 15-18 knots  with the prospect of some decent sailing at last….but for some it was still not to be. Simon Mussel’s halyard decided to give up before the start and for the second day running a long tow home awaited. Mark Robinson’s trapeze ring also came out in sympathy. Still for the rest of the fleet it was all systems go. It was to be a Sir Keith Paul / Martin Frary / Weston sailing club benefit with first blood to Keith and second to Martin. The tactical options were straight out of the Sir Keith manual - one tack per beat and ‘nail’ the corners. Race 3 saw Mark Robinson port tack the entire fleet whilst tied on to his trapeze ring, an interesting and slightly risky manoeuvre given a ‘bail-out’ tack was likely to result in imminent drowning……..still, he who dares! Race 4 came and went, ‘a quickie’ according to pro Mark Harrison…well if that is his idea of a quickie then all I can say is count me out of a long one.  Sir Keith continued to ply his trade in exactly the same manner only this time ‘banging’ the shoreside corner in order to avoid the now rapidly ebbing flood tide. Martin clinched another solid second but Gary had by now gone home to check on the progress of his boy. All that now remained was the journey home ,no mean prospect given the Solent was doing its best to conjure up its own version of the infamous Severn bore...Portishead open?  Bring it on.   So Sir Keith made it his own but Martin pushed him hard and secured one of the special Henri-Lloyd prizes for his efforts. Nick Noble was a consistent and creditable fourth and although out of the silverware was last seen leaving with a new Bloodaxe carbon plate under his arm. Ed Presley got the silver prize and Tony Cooke top bronze- along with an xxl Henri-Lloyd jacket for his troubles. Prizes were awarded by Contender legend Peter Newlands….although someone forget to bring the vouchers for the RS700’s who were sharing the venue with us…..ah well such is life. 

A big thanks to the sponsors and all the club members who put a lot of effort into the weekend and in particular everyone who came over and returned this classic dinghy to its Island home. Lets hope next year we get more wind and less tide.