Results / Filey Regatta Filey SC - 18/07/2009
RS500 Racing Circuit Event at Filey
A combination of a pessimistic weather forecast and close proximity to the Europeans at
Race 1 saw a strong, gusty offshore wind blowing over some large, rolling waves making their way onto the beach. The result was a bizarre effect of surfing down the waves whilst sailing up wind and then climbing over the waves downwind, sometimes seeming to launch the boat into the air.
Alex Taylor and Bryan Mobbs got to grips with the conditions and won the first race by a distance. However, on the approach to the finish, whilst sailing a tight reach to cross the line, they heard an almighty bang and then discovered that the inboard end of the bow sprit had forced itself through the foredeck. Not recommended!
Taylor and Mobbs were forced to sit out races 2 and 3 which left the door open for Martin and Barbara Smith to take two wins. Malcolm and Nell Hall contended well with the challenging conditions to finish all three races.
Sunday brought an 8 to 12 knot variable breeze and flatter conditions. Taylor and Mobbs had repaired their hole overnight but ran out of time trying to adjust the length of the kicker system before the start of race 1, resulting in a whole race with no kicker tension upwind. A close battle between with the Smiths ensued. It looked like the Smiths had done enough after catching a band of pressure downwind and planing into a good lead. Taylor and Mobbs clawed their way back, only getting inside the Smiths at the very last mark.
Races five and six saw a more comfortable margin of victory for Taylor and Mobbs. The Smiths were second in both from the Halls.
Taylor and Mobbs just managed to take the event on the basis of ‘most first’ after counting a fourth place for a DNC.
Alex Taylor and Bryan Mobbs 799 1,4,4,1,1,1 12 8
Martin Smith and Barbara Smith 553 2,1,1,2,2,2 10 8
Malcolm Hall and Nell Hall 616 3,3,3,3,3,3 18 15