2004 Family Open Meeting
Hawley Lake provided
an ideal venue for a 'Family Open Meeting', the last
event in the Comet Duo programme for 2004.
The advice from the Race Office that
the wind never blows from the same
direction for more than five seconds proved to be very helpful (and
accurate)!
With the Trios safely started two single
handed Duos, two double handed Duos
and one double handed Versa all set off together towards the first
mark.
For those of us used to sailing at sea the first mark looked very
near - but
proved very tricky to reach. From there the 'run' included avoiding
a fallen tree
and several fishermen! Having safely avoided the hazards the third
mark was
fairly straightforward - a beat up the lake and a beat back?!!
After an hour and twenty minutes the
race officer took pity on us and ended race
one. By then the rain had started and the hot drink and lunch was
most welcome.
The light and very variable winds had
favoured the single handed Duos, not to
mention local knowledge, so it was no surprise that the two single
handed Duos
were first (Stephen Linton) and second (John Sturgeon). In third place
was
Bill Wright and Frank Oliver in a Duo with Martin and Jackie Hiscock,
also in
a Duo, fourth.
The rain came down for the second race
sailed over the same course but the
single handed Duos again dominated with a repeat of the morning result
for
first and second. However, the Versa of Rik and Sal Sellwood came
in third
after an excellent sail.
Just time for another hot drink before
the start of the third race.
This time a sausage was added to the course to further confuse those
of us
waiting for the wind to blow from one direction for as long as five
seconds!!
However, it was not enough to prevent
Stephen Linton winning again followed
by John Sturgeon and his wife, who had joined him for the final race
- well it
was advertised as a family meeting! Bill Wright and Frank Oliver were
third
with Rik and Sal Sellwood fourth.
By the end of the race, even the sun
came out to round off a very successful
meeting. It was good to meet old friends and new from the Comet 'family'
and I do hope Hawley Lake host such an event again.
RESULTS,