In contrast to Sunday's boisterous conditions, a gentle breeze and flat sea at high tide led to relaxing conditions for Thursday's race. However the fleet were eager to start and this led to a general recall, at the second attempt Frank Catt and Eric Styles were first round the windward mark, closely followed by Chris Dutton. The fleet bunched up on the downwind leg with Steve and Katie Restall overhauling the early leaders. Due to the tide, the beat involved a long starboard tack and those boats which were able to take advantage of the frequent lifts make large gains, this included Richard White and Martyn Styles in their RS400. For the second and final lap, the wind swung round more to the South. Steve and Katie Restall had pulled out a good lead, but were caught on the final beat by Chris Dutton and Martin Wyman and just managed to keep their nose ahead to win the race.
Results Fast Handicap 1st Steve and Katie Restall (Buzz) 2nd Chris Dutton and Martin Wyman (Buzz) 3rd Simon Cory and Penny Jordan (Buzz) 4th Eric Styles (Hornet) 5th Frank Catt (RS300) 6th Richard White and Martyn Styles (RS400)
On Sunday, a fresh Force 4/5 breeze from the South and a flat sea at high tide provided excellent sailing conditions. The Contenders of Nigel Cureton and Tony Cook dominated the racing taking the top two positions in both races. In the Pursuit race the Hornet of Mark and Eric Styles was going well and finished just behind the Buzzes of Ed Styles and Simon Cory. The wind increased for the Points race and the Race Officer moved the inshore marks further out as the tide began to drop. Once again the Contenders pulled ahead. The reach out to sea was very tight for the spinnaker boats and John Cass took a dip when a large gust caught him on this leg. The following run provided excellent planing conditions followed by a fetch back inshore. Ed Styles won the battle of the Buzzes with Simon Cory and Chris Dutton close behind.
Results Pursuit 1st Nigel Cureton (Contender) 2nd Tony Cook
(Contender) 3rd Simon Cory and Penny Jordan (Buzz) 4th Ed and Sarah Styles
(Buzz) 5th Mark and Eric Styles (Hornet) 6th Chris Dutton and Martin Wyman
(Buzz) Results
Fast Handicap 1st Nigel Cureton (Contender) 2nd Tony Cook
(Contender) 3rd Ed and Sarah Styles (Buzz) 4th Simon Cory and Penny Jordan
(Buzz) 5th Chris Dutton and Martin Wyman (Buzz) 6th Mark and Eric Styles
(Hornet) Results Slow Handicap 1st Chris Shelton (Phantom) 2nd Clive Godderidge
(Streaker)
A gentle Southerly breeze and flat sea provided ideal
conditions for the Tuesday Points race at Downs SC. Fifteen boats took to the
water and commenced the first leg, which was a beat with the tide towards Dover.
There was drama at the first mark when Ed Styles capsized and was narrowly
avoided by the surrounding boats. The next leg was a close reach out to sea,
followed by the longest leg of the course which was a run against the tide.
The RS800 of Rory Sharvil pulled out a good lead followed by the A-class
catamaran of Brain Cory. The Toppers were also going well and kept the faster
boats in sight, they completed a single lap whilst the faster boast went on to
do a second lap. The closest battle of the evening was between the Buzzes of
Steve Restall and Simon Cory which were never more than a few seconds apart
throughout the whole race. At the North mark, it looked like Simon would gain an
overlap to take the lead, but Steve was just able to keep ahead, and on the
final leg, Frank Catt passed both the Buzzes.
Results Fast Handicap 1st Brian Cory (A-class catamaran) 2nd Steve Restall and Nikki Catt (Buzz) 3rd Frank Catt (RS300) 4th Simon Cory and Katie Restall (Buzz) 5th Ed and Sarah Styles (Buzz) 6th John Cass and Zara Brazil (Buzz) Slow Handicap 1st Nathan Brazil (Topper) 2nd Rosie Lord (Topper) 3rd RS Feva 4th Tim Ellis (Laser) 5th Phil Spicer (Blaze) 6th Roger Phillips and Judy Restall (Laser 2000)
On Saturday twelve young sailors took part in the Downs
sailing club children's sailing course held at Redoubt sailing club in Hythe.
They were helped in part by cadet members of the Downs S.C. who themselves
started their sailing at such an event and are now qualified sailing
instructors.
The youngest, Kalani Styles (5), Joseph Lord (6), Vicki Hayles (6), Joseph Lord
(6), Jasmine Hayles (6), Sam Cook (6) finished the day by sailing Optimist
dinghies on their own around the lake with the older children learning more
advanced skills sailing Toppers , including Matthew Halpin (8) in a dinghy for
the first time. Well done to all of them.
On Sunday, a fresh Northerly breeze of Force 4 and building waves greeted the sailors at Downs SC. Early leaders in the Pursuit race were Clare Stubbs and Chris Shelton, but they were quickly caught by Tony Cook in his Contender who found the boisterous conditions to his liking. The most exciting leg was a reach back inshore down the waves, where the boats reached some spectacular speeds as they surfed in. John Cass and Julia Brazil kept ahead of the other Buzzes to take second place.
Results Pursuit 1st Tony Cook (Contender) 2nd John Cass and Julia Brazil (Buzz) 3rd Richard White and Martyn Styles (RS400) 4th Ed and Sarah Styles (Buzz) 5th Mike Heeley and Mark (RS400) 6th Chris Dutton and Martin Wyman (Buzz).
The wind and waves increased further for the second race, building to a Force 5. Tony Cook in his Contender continued to dominate, but behind him there was a fierce battle between the Buzzes. Simon Cory and Chris Dutton had an early lead, but they were caught by Ed Styles and John Cass at the leeward mark. However in the melee, John capsized and Simon just kept his nose ahead of Ed. Richard White was also going well and split the Buzzes on handicap. In the slow handicap race, Clare and Helen Stubbs used the spinnaker to good advantage to finish ahead of Chris Shelton in a Phantom.
Results Fast Handicap 1st Tony Cook (Contender) 2nd Simon
Cory and Penny Jordan (Buzz) 3rd Ed and Sarah Styles (Buzz) 4th Richard White
and Martyn Styles (RS400) 5th Chris Dutton and Martin Wyman (Buzz) 6th John Cass
and Julia Brazil (Buzz) Slow Handicap 1st Clare and Helen Stubbs (RS200) 2nd
Chris Shelton (Phantom) 3rd Stuart Bradbeer (Laser) 4th Rosie Lord (Topper)
On Tuesday 12 boats launched into a slight sea to compete
in the Points Race. The wind was a steady Force 3 from the North-East and the
first leg was a long beat against the tide out to the North buoy. There was
slightly more wind further out to sea and this compensated for the stronger
tide, Chris Catt and James Cooke were first round in their RS800, followed by Ed
Styles and John Cass in their Buzzes. The Contenders of Nigel Cureton and Tony
Cook were going well as was the RS300 of Frank Catt. So the fleet was tightly
packed at the end of the first lap. Ed and Sarah Styles began to open up a lead
over the others and Chris Dutton and Martin Wyman recovered from a poor first
beat. The RS800 of Chris Catt was flying around until they came too close
inshore and hit the bottom, this jammed their daggerboard into the case, forcing
them to retire.
In the Slow Handicap, Roger Phillips pipped Thomas Savio to the post.
Results Fast Handicap 1st Ed and Sarah Styles (Buzz) 2nd Frank Catt (RS300) 3rd Nigel Cureton (Contender) 4th Chris Dutton and Martin Wyman (Buzz) 5th John Cass and Zara Brazil (Buzz) 6th Tony Cook (Contender) Slow Handicap 1st Roger Phillips and Judy Restall (Laser 2000) 2nd Thomas Salvio (Laser)
On Sunday a strong South-Westerly gusting to Force 6 led to
testing conditions for the eighteen boats that began the Pursuit race. The
Toppers were first off and experienced the full force of the wind as they ran
out to sea to the leeward mark. There followed a fast reach against the tide to
the North mark then a beat back to the start line. As the race progressed there
were many capsizes and retirements and so a second rescue boat was launched.
The Laser 2000 of Phil and Dave Spicer reached the front and managed to hold off
the challenge of the chasing Buzzes to win the race. John Cass just kept his
nose ahead of Ed Styles on the finish line. James Blackman in a Topper did very
well to complete the race in the fierce conditions. The second race was
abandoned as the wind strength continued to increase.
Results Pursuit Race 1st Phil and Dave Spicer (Laser 2000)
2nd John Cass and Julia Brazil (Buzz) 3rd Ed and Sarah Styles (Buzz) 4th Richard
White and Martyn Styles (RS400) 5th Chris Shelton (Phantom) 6th Steve and Katie
Restall (Buzz)
More than 80 Toppers including 7 from the home club took
part in the Sunsail Topper Nationwide Event 2 that was held at Downs SC over the
weekend of 4th/5th June. Prior to the event the club provided two days of
training for the sailors which was also well attended. There was a good age
range amongst the competitors from U12 to adult with the majority being
teenagers.
Saturday saw the strongest winds of the weekend with a good Force 4-5 from the
South -West for the first race. The first leg was a long beat against the tide
followed by a fast run back, surfing down the waves. The wind increased
throughout the race and the course was shortened, Richard Ash from Chew Valley
SC took the honours followed by Alex Cooper from Stokes Bay SC and Peter
Harrison from Bexhill. For the 2nd race, the wind increased further to a Force 6
and swung to a more Southerly direction. This produced fast, exciting sailing,
the waves started to increase in size to produce testing conditions for the
younger competitors and quite a few retirements.
There were some new faces at the front, with Robert Spencer from Mudeford Bay SC
taking first place, followed by Martin Evans from Dabchicks. There was a good
result fro the home club with Steve Restall taking 4th position.
The wind strength continued to increase leading to the cancellation of Race 3
and Walmer RNLI assisted the club's safety fleet in ensuring that all
competitors were returned safely to shore.
On Sunday the wind had decreased in strength to Force 2 from the West and the
strong flood tide made the racing more tactical. There was a general recall
followed by a black flag for the second start. The first leg was a beat towards
the shore and several competitors overshot the mark due to the effect of the
tide. The race was shortened and a new winner emerged in Ben Palmer from Island
Barn SC who found the lighter conditions to his liking. A further two races were
sailed on Sunday and Martin Evans emerged as the overall winner ahead of Bleddyn
Mon from Red Wharf Bay SC. The leading sailor from Downs SC was Steve Restall in
10th place with Robert Waite slightly further back in 14th.
Results 1st Martin Evans (Dabchicks SC) 2nd Bleddyn Mon
(Red Wharf Bay SC) 3rd Thomas Weatherhead (Haversham SC) 4th Thomas Durham (Emsworth
Slipper SC) 5th Ben Palmer (Island Barn SC) 6th Edward Cowell (Broadstairs SC)
Thirteen boats took to the water for the Tuesday Points race, they launched at
high tide into a light Southerly breeze, with the tide running to Ramsgate, so
on the first leg it paid to keep close inshore, out of the tide. Steve Restall
and Chris Catt were first away in a Buzz, followed by the Laser 4000 of Chris
Stubbs. Chris Dutton and Martin Wyman were next but were passed by Ed and Sarah
Styles on the reach. As the race progressed, the wind began to die away and the
majority of the fleet finished after two laps, with the back markers struggling
to make headway over the tide. In the Slow Handicap, John Wilkinson and Will
Hardy finished ahead of Roger Phillips and Judy Restall.
Results Fast Handicap 1st Steve and Katie Restall (Buzz) 2nd Frank catt (RS300) 3rd Ed and Sarah Styles (Buzz) 4th Chris Stubbs and Rick Clemence (Laser 4000) 5th Chris Dutton and Martin Wyman (Buzz) 6th Jeremy Blackman and Julia Brazil (Buzz) Slow Handicap 1st John Wilkinson and Will Hardy (Albacore) 2nd Roger Philips and Judy Restall (Laser 2000)
Downs Sailing Club Learn to Sail A short beginners dingy
sailing course during which novice sailors will learn basic boat handling
skills.
The course will combine theory sessions at Downs SC with practical sailing in
the more sheltered waters of Dover Harbour and is suitable for adults and
children over 14.
The course commences on Friday 10th June.
For further information please contact Ysanne Spicer 01304 611544