Classic & Vintage Racing Dinghy Association at Hykeham Sailing Club

CVRDA at Hykeham © John Butler

Three Albacores, two Enterprises, two lowrider Moths, one Finn and one National 12 arrived at Hykeham for the annual Classic and Vintage meeting. Competitors came from all over the country and were greeted by hot sunny conditions and winds that were fickle in strength and direction.

Race one got away, under the direction of race Officer Barry Watson and his team, in a light predominantly northerly. Sam Mason and Sally Smith (Overy Staithe) were the first to show in their Albacore followed by the Enterprise of Richard Wood and Jane (Hykeham) With the Moths of Ian Marshall (Oxford) and Lyndon Beasley (Greenforge) close behind. Mason and Smith proceeded to pull out a large lead and despite challenges from the Albacore of Pete Bayliss (Hykeham) and the Enterprise of Phil and Rosie Wilson (Ogston) the 2 Moths held their position with Marshall getting 2nd place.

Race two followed pretty much the same pattern only this time Mason did not do quite enough and 1st and 2nd positioned were reversed with the Wilsons moving up to 3rd. Was a pattern starting to emerge? Maybe not.

At the start of race three, Mason and Smith had the best of the start and started to open up a slight lead, only to find themselves in a wind hole and the wrong side of a major shift dumping them from first to last in the space of about 50 metres. Martin Clark (Hykeham) in his immaculate National 12 popped out of the chaos and into the lead, followed by the Finn of Keith Tunstill (Tewksbury) and Marshall with the Moth. The Wilsons had an interesting tactical duel with Pete Bayliss, the National and Finn dropped back, Richard Wood broke his Centreboard, and Mason sailed as though he was towing a bucket. The Moth took the win with the Wilsons second and Bayliss 3rd.

Sunday dawned bright clear windless and slightly hungover for some. With racing due to start at 1030 it looked for a while as if sailing was not going to be possible however about on cue a light variable westerly filled in and new race officer Steve Sallis got the fleet away first time. Mason and Smith led from the start and pulled away to take the win from the rapidly improving Wilsons.

Races 5 &6 were sailed with the club fleet on a short course, short duration, crash and burn basis. With what breeze there was being fickle to say the least consistancy was going to be the key. Ian Marshall and the Wilsons achieved this by being 1st and 2nd in both races although Sandy Lavelle and Pat Jones from Shearwater in their Albacore did lead race 6 for a while.

Overall Results: (top four)

1st Ian Marshall (Oxford SC) Moth
2nd Phill and Rosie (Wilson Ogston SC) Enterprise
3rd Sam Mason and Sally Smith (Overy Staithe SC) Albacore
4th Lyndon Beasley (Greensforge SC) Moth

Altogether a smashing weekend of close racing and good socialising. A bit more wind next time please.