With racing at the Downs SC in abeyance until the end of March, sailing
action has moved inland as a number of sailors have travelled to Open Meetings.
The first of these was held at Wilsonian SC on the River Medway on New Year's
day, the aptly named "Chilly Willies Race". Fortunately the snow and ice of the
previous week had disappeared and a force 2 to 3 north-westerly was just
sufficient to provide an enjoyable midday race. Downs SC boats performed well,
taking 1st and 3rd places on handicap.
The RS 800 of Ian Parris and Sam Proctor led the way with the RS 400 of Sally
and Martyn Styles from Downs SC shadowing them and although 14 minutes separated
them at the line, the Styles won by a seven second margin on corrected time.
Meanwhile, Mike Gower and Phil Harris battled it out in their Laser Vortex
asymmetrics. Gower edged ahead of Harris on the final beat to the line to pick
up fourth and fifth prizes, as Steve Restall and Frank Catt also from Downs,
finishing six minutes later in their Buzz, claimed third prize on handicap.
The following weekend, Steve Restall and Sally Styles travelled to Queen Mary SC
to take part in the "Bloody Mary" pursuit race. This event lived up to it
reputation as the country's biggest multi-class pursuit race attracting a
massive 212 entries from 86 clubs in 60 classes. The sailors were greeted with a
light breeze which barely reached its forecast five knots during the whole of
the event. The mirror-like conditions suited the tall rig of Martin Hunter's
Thames A Rater 'Spindrift', which slowly but surely picked its way through the
212-boat fleet to win the 2006 Bloody Mary. Steve and Sally were the first Buzz
and finished a creditable 33rd overall.
The next major Winter event is the Hoo Freezer race, held on the River Medway at
the end of January at which there should be a good turnout of Downs boats.