Comet Class

Comet Open including the Comet Versa Inlands – Bewl Valley Sailing Club – 28 June 2008.

Bright sunshine and a wind varying between F5 and F6 greeted Comets, Trios and Versas from as far afield as Devon.

The course was a "reverse b" (which was probably a d in disguise) with plenty to keep the fleet occupied – with a committee boat start and an almost neutral start line ably set up by Jeff Warley, race officer for the day, and his team.

In the first race Mark Wilkins took the honours in his Comet after a close race with Chris Robinson, crossing the line just three seconds ahead. While the Versa fleet was led almost start to finish by Andrew Simmons and his crew Richard Talbot showing everyone else a clean pair of heals. The Trios were led home by David Talbot and Alison Spiers, followed by Jan Van der Zanden who won everyone's admiration by sailing his Trio single handed all day.

Race two featured a number of capsizes, mainly due to the strengthening wind (now F6 gusting F7) which even saw Andrew Simmons capsize his Versa, and a number of retirements. This time the Comets were led home by John Windibank followed by Chris Robinson. Despite the capsize, Andrew Simmons and Richard Talbot managed to lead the Versa fleet home once more followed by Andrew Keynes and Lester Wellerd. Honours in the Trios were taken by David Talbot and Alison Spiers.

In race three, a reduced fleet, probably enjoyed the closest race of the day with a wind that had most boats either in the water or reefing to keep control. The Comets were led home by Chris Robinson beating John Windibank by 12 seconds to the line. Versas, by now reduced to a fleet of three, saw the lead change between Andrew Simmons, and Andrew Keynes, until Mike Wilcock with Andre Newman took advantage of a final reach to overtake both of them and win by the closest of margins – just one second. David Talbot and Alison Spears took their, by now, "usual" first place in their Trio, but not before David had managed to dunk Alison in spectacular style in front of an appreciative audience – nine out of ten David.

Comet Association Championships 2008

 Bexhill Sailing Club 14 and 15 June 2008

Fourteen visiting Comets and three Duos joined four Bexhill sailors for the Comet Association Championship, held over two days at Bexhill Sailing Club.

Race Office Clare Day and her team set a course that made the most of what turned out to be very differing wind conditions throughout Saturday afternoon.

 The first of the three back-to-back races started with a sedate first lap in a light Force 2 westerly, increasing slightly for the second lap to give very pleasant sailing conditions, easily handled by all competitors. By the third lap the sun was still shining, the wind had veered slightly to a southwesterly, but increased dramatically to Force 5-6.  This tested the nerve and skills of many of the sailors and led to some heroic work by the rescue boat crews. Fifteen of the single handers and two Duos completed the first race, won by Stephen Lemmon (168) for the Comets and Stephen Linton (150) for the Duos sailing single-handed.

Conditions were as exacting for Race 2, which only Frank Oliver (27) chose to race for the Duos. Six Comets enjoyed the increasing waves to be led home by Chris Robinson (63) from John Coppenhall (532). Barry O’Herlihy (247) was the only local sailor still representing Bexhill.

Race 3 saw a decreased fleet of just four Comets with Chris Robinson (63) again finding the conditions suited him well, gaining first place, followed by Michael Thompson (549)

Two races were held on Sunday, one morning, one afternoon, with a break ashore, sailed over a triangle – sausage course. The light morning conditions suited Henry Jaggers (800) perfectly who sailed serenely home well ahead of most of the fleet, with Richard Eagleton (580), sailing the dinghy of an ill Bexhill Comet Class member, in second place.

The sun disappeared and the wind increased slightly by the afternoon, to a Force 3-4, sadly dropping back after the squall passed through.  Simon Thompson (809) took first place with Richard Eagleton (580) again gaining second place.

Thanks to everyone who helped over the weekend with organising the racing, running the bar, providing the food, and especially the competitors, who travelled from all over the country.

Wendy Morton

COMET OPEN AT WINSFORD FLASH MAY 31^st 2008

Winsford Flash hosted the Comet Open Meeting on Saturday, 31st May 2008 with a turnout of seven home boats and three visitors.

The first race started in light conditions, possibly touching force two.  John Coppenhall (532) took an early lead at the first mark followed by Mark Coppenhall (427) and this continued until the second lap when Mark Coppenhall took the lead that he held to the finish.  Catherine Bellamy (248) and Jonathan Latham (349) were second and third respectively.  Ros Stevenson (820) came belatedly through the fleet from ninth to finish in fourth position.

The second race started in similar conditions with Jonathan Latham taking an early lead followed by Dave Jobling (735), Mark Coppenhall in third and Steve Bellamy in fourth place.  During the race Jonathan Latham progressively increased his lead over the rest of the fleet and the top four positions were maintained to the finish.  Lower down the fleet, however, positions had changed frequently during the race.

The third and deciding race started in slightly fresher conditions.  Jonathan Latham led at the first mark from Mark Coppenhall but was overtaken by Mark Coppenhall on the following beat and then later also by Catherine Bellamy and Steve Bellamy.  Jonathan Latham overtook Steve Bellamy just before the finishing line to regain third place, behind the winner Mark Coppenhall and Catherine Bellamy. The rest of the fleet had again changed positions frequently throughout the race.

David Harrison (with thanks to Brian Herring)

TRIUMPH FOR COMET CHAIRMAN

AT TAPLOW LAKE OPEN MEETING

MAY 4 2008

On the first warm day of 2008, 6 visitors joined 6 locals to contest the Taplow Lake Comet Open.  The wind was a perfect 10 – 12 mph south easterly allowing the best course for the lake, to be set by the TLSC race officer.  However, the wind proved to be typically shifty and unpredictable as is commonly seen on small inland lakes like Taplow.

The first race got off to a clean start with Henry Jaggers from Beer (Comet Association Chairman) first round the windward mark closely followed by local Brian Welham.  Brian soon passed Henry but at the second windward mark Henry pressured Brian into a mistake, resulting in him failing to round the mark and then touching it on his second attempt.  The penalty turns allowed Henry to sail away and win from Brian who in turn pulled away from the rest to get second place.  Clive Chapman was the most consistent of the following pack, holding 3^rd place until an aggressive move by Tony Best held Clive away from the second windward mark which brought Tony up from 5^th to 3^rd.

The second race was very different.  Brian Welham went into a solid lead after rounding the first mark and was never challenged.  The second boat for most of the time was Ben Palmer from Bristol who sailed a solid race but allowed Tony Best to overtake him on the final run down to the leeward marks giving him a 3^rd behind Tony’s 2^nd.  Clive Chapman achieved another 4^th place but Henry Jaggers came in a lowly 7^th.

Tony, Henry or Brian were now able to win the event depending on the result of the last race.  At this point the competitors were beginning to know how to sail in these conditions and the first beat was much more evenly contested.  First round was Robin Ballum from Crawley followed closely by Henry Jaggers.  Brian was involved in a port and starboard incident at the mark and following his 720 deg. penalty was down to 10^th at the second mark.  Brian fought his way up to 4^th but could not challenge Robin or Henry and eventually dropped back to 5^th.  Meanwhile, Robin held off Henry for half the race and eventually came in 2^nd. Tony had to win this race to improve on this 3^rd place overall and fought his way up from 7^th on the first lap to 4^th.

Thus Henry Jaggers from Beer (Chairman) triumphed with 2 points followed by Brian Welham from Taplow Lake with 3 points and Tony Best also from Taplow Lake with 5 points. 

Brian Welham

TLSC

 Comet Open at Fishers Green Sailing Club – Saturday 26 April 2008

Fishers Green Sailing Club was favoured with the first and the last day of Spring for the 2008 Comet Open.  The predominantly South Westerly wind was kind to the Race Officers Dave and Peter who were able to give 3 races with a clear windward beat.  Unfortunately it wasn’t as forgiving to the 15 competitors as it whooped, spiralled and surged against our able but ‘tippy’ boats.

Several of us succumbed to capsize and a few of us more than once.  Michael Ettershank of Eyott SC was seen sailing sitting in the water on more than one occasion – and even captured on film!

The first two races very quickly defined and clarified the relative strengths of the fleet.  Most of us claimed the same positioning for both races, there were a few however who jostled with positions two better or two worse than their first race debut. 

‘Free for all’

The third race was at times almost a ‘free for all’.  The fleet was racing as if it were the peleton in the Tour de France.  Most were in with a chance at some point during the race, the many broad reaches, runs and beats enabling boats to steal advantageous wind as if they were sneaking an advantage in anothers slipstream.

Positions for the individual races were:

The tea and prize giving rounded off a pleasant and challenging day.  Final places for the Fishers Green Comet Open were as follows:

1^st            Cris Robinson                       Burghfield

2^nd           Clive Chapman                    Littleton

3^rd            Brian Welham                       Taplow Lake

Fishers Green SC also had its very own star making their Comet debut.  Nicola Knight swept the Prize Table stunning the home grown Comet Fleet with her outstanding performance.

1^st Lady; 1^st FGSC Competitor; 1^st Junior; Overall position 7th

Well done Nicola! – hopefully we see you afloat on the water in a Comet again soon.

Last but definitely not least many thanks to all of the days ‘helpers’ and to Peter Dean too for the provision of so many fantastic photographs.

Karen Asci (Comet 178)