WEYMOUTH MUSTO
SKIFF OPEN MEETING – 24,25 Oct 09
Report by Richard Pelly
Photos by Tania Samus http://www.photoblink.com/sailing/weymouth09/
 Day
1
22 Musto Skiffs arrived at the Sailing Academy to be
met by persistent rain and wind, lovely conditions to
rig up in. The race briefing was called and all bar
Keen (who arrived late) attended on time to escape the
elements. The race officer stated the forecast was for
the wind strength to increase and we already had an
average of 24 Knots on the harbour wall, a decision
would be made later.
For the first event, only 10 competitors
lined up and quickly a pattern immerged.
Hilton going for pure speed, Henderson for skill and
precision, though Vincent set the pace in the early
stages of the first session. Precision proved to be
the best option with Henderson topping the leader board
after session one then arriving on equal points with
Pelley at the end of the day, only to be surpassed by
a late charge from Hillier who manoeuvred himself very
skilfully to the top of the leader board. Chapman and
Vincent scraped it out at the other end of the score
sheet, which was surprising considering the wind strength
was now around 30 Knots. We also learnt the younger
members of the fleet namely, Brewer (his first MPS event)
and Henderson can give the best victory dance when scoring
a strike. We all enjoyed Ten Bowling and the rest of
the evening was spent in various pubs in Weymouth. Thanks
must go to Graeme Oliver for finding a place to eat
for 18 of us. A most enjoyable evening.
Day 2
Wind strength still around 24 Knots and sunny, we all
thought racing would be canned again, but no. The race
committee went afloat and laid the course. Some of the
fleet headed out, some stayed ashore.
Race 1
Vincent led by some distance at the first mark followed
by Wright, Keen and Pelley. We then had a scary reach
to the outer loop. Vincent stacked it at the bearaway
as did Wright, leaving Keen first then Pelley. Keen
flew his kite up to the gybe where he dropped the kite
then he fell in. Pelley then led with the kite staying
firmly in the chute, but Oliver was catching fast. Pelley
led until half way down the next run, where he messed
up his single sail gybe and spent the next ten minutes
going through the spin cycle. Oliver and Keen blasted
past with kites up. Oliver went though the leeward gate
then headed for the finish while Keen did another lap.
Many followed Oliver, but who was right? The race committee
didn’t know either. As it turns out, Keen was correct,
but confusion reigned. Only eleven finished.
Race 2
More members of the fleet arrived at the start line
even though it felt as if the wind had got up even more.
Vincent led again at the first mark, not sure what happened
after that it all became a bit of a blur (hope I’m not
the only one who felt like that), definite survival
conditions. Some big names retired at this point, namely
Oliver who tried to drink most of Portland Harbour and
retired with stomach problems. Keen led again and once
more did a second complete lap of the outer loop, this
time he took some others with him Hilton, Pelley, Wright
and Vincent included. But others seemed to finish a
lap early.
Race 3
The wind had dropped a bit and was down to about 22
Knots. Kites were flown down wind. Keen won, everyone
did the right number of laps. Very straightforward bar
the numerous capsizes.
Race 4
As the wind had dropped a bit for the third race, an
extra lap was added for the last race of the day. However
the wind then picked up to what felt like the strongest
it had been all day. The race officer said it was around
27 Knots later at the prize giving.
As the wind went up the ability to count went down,
again Keen sailed the right number of laps, and it’s
not clear if anyone else did.
On return to shore and upon seeing the
provisional results Bruce Keen lodged a protest which
unfortunately was just outside the time limit. As a
consequence the results stood and are as follows…
1st Jamie Hilton
2nd Bruce Keen
3rd Richard Pelley
What have we learned from this
open?
• Bowling is good fun.
• 25 knots is very windy even on flat water.
• Youngsters think they can dance, but they just look
silly.
• Mark rounds should be recorded, at the leeward gate,
although very difficult in extreme conditions, when
every rib is stretched to the limit looking after a
largely upside down 40+ boats, spread over a large area.
• Musto Skiff sailors should learn to count and pay
more attention in class and not giggle like school kids
when the race officer goes to the trouble of drawing
the course in his own style. See below.
Hats off to all who sailed, looking
at the below course diagram I can't understand whay
there were any issues
Forum
discussion here >>>
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