Scorpion Open at Island Barn Reservoir Sailing Club 

Although the odd unwelcome cloud gave rise to indecision on the clothing front – 13 crews made their choice from shortie to steamer – and headed off the for what turned out to be a predominantly hot days racing – both temperature and competition.

Plenty of shifts and gusts (force 1 to 3) meant the standard Olympic course for race one was a relief, and Matthew Potter (loose again in dads machine!) sailing with Simon Hibbert led the fleet impressively around lap 1, in front of John Mursell and Nick Keast. Considering the fickle shifts, the positions remained remarkably consistent, including Tim Parsons and Tim Joyner holding 3rd throughout ahead of Dave Elston/Gavin Pouillon – however , Mursell and Keast showed their experience by turning a 2 into a 1 for laps 2 and 3.

The lunch break was good for local helm Simon Holden and his crew Sarah Maguire – who showed how to negotiate a mind bending 7 mark puzzle and hold a lead. It took a lap and a long reach for late arrivals Barry and Linda Wolfenden to finally take control until the finish with Mursell again in the frame in second and Mike Hicks with his daughter Georgina improving two places on first race in third.

The same taxing course was testing all for the third long race of the day – the Hicks improved yet further rising from 12th on lap 1 to finish 2nd ahead of Potter/Hibbert. However Mursell and Keast sealed their open victory by leading throughout.

Thanks go to Simon and Helen Holden and the crew at Island Barn for putting on a good days racing in difficult conditions.

Overall Results: