Please select your home edition
Edition
Savvy Navvy 2024

Marblehead Ranking Events 3 & 4 at Keighley and District Model Engineering Society

by Radio Sailing News 13 Sep 2022 12:10 UTC

Day 1

A smaller fleet than usual presented themselves at the briefing on Saturday morning, (more on the size later) John Tushingham our PRO for the weekend called everyone together for a minutes silence for Her Majesty the Queen, and then went through the normal briefing notes and identified the course and potential hazards before sailing started promptly at 10.00am.

A northerly breeze and a bit of liquid Yorkshire sunshine kept most in their jackets for the early races, although shorts were still in view, mainly from those outside of Yorkshire. The race team set a simple windward leeward course with a good long beat and finish line at the top of the course. The wind direction created a walk from the launching pontoon (with new easy access steps) and the race course, but the single fleet and decision to hold a series of races back to back meant that there was plenty of racing and little lost time.

The recent investments in the class was evident in the limited number of gear failures with only Roy Stevens really suffering as his winch suddenly decided to eat batteries, 3 races being his limit before a new set was required. Further investigation is needed on this, the blame was put on the winch but it could have been down to the swing rig and Gizmo, Roy will no doubt get to the bottom of it.

It was good to see that the fleet has a mix of designs and that these gave their skippers good racing, Damian was sailing his newly printed Peroni development hull, and a like an F1 test car it was without sponsors logo and coloured in primer grey for the shakedown but allowed John Taylor and Damian to evaluate progress before their next move.

Racing was competitive with boats evenly matched and finishing positions were mainly dependent on shifts, patience and a bit of luck but at the end of the 1st day Darin was pronounced the winner with Rob Vice and Tony Guerrier 2nd and 3rd. the gap from 2nd to 5th was only 10 points and the finishing order only decided in the last few races.

Day 1 results:

1. Darin Ballington - 21pts
2. Rob Vice - 38pts
3. Tony Guerrier - 43pts
4. Duncan Ellis - 46pts
5. Austin Guerrier - 48pts
6. Martin Roberts - 56pts
7. Rob Wilson - 77pts
8. Roy Stevens - 80pts
9. Damian Ackroyd - 110pts

Day 2

After retiring to the pub for an evening of food and water (!) the fleet minus Martin reassembled for Ranking 4, Damian gave the sticks to John Taylor and racing, delayed by a lack of wind, commenced slightly after the scheduled time. Direction was now more South East and launching closer to the course. Duncan Ellis was the man to catch in the early light breeze with 4 bullets in the 1st five races.

As with Saturday there were numerous winners and no one controlled the day. And like Saturday there were only a few short stoppages for boat tweaks and repairs. The club members did a sterling job in keeping racing flowing, moving marks as required and allowing the visitors access to their superb lake.

Day 2 results:

1. Darin Ballington - 23pts
2. Duncan Ellis - 29pts
3. Rob Vice - 30pts
4. Austin Guerrier - 49pts
5. Tony Guerrier - 54pts
6. Roy Stevens - 60pts
7. Rob Wilson - 73pts
8. John Taylor - 95pts

16 races were completed on both days giving everyone 3 discards each day. All in all a great weekend and a fantastic advert for the class.

Thanks to John Tushingham, the race team and all the members of Keighley and District Model Engineering Society for allowing us to sail and making us very welcome. See you all next year....

Related Articles

RM Ranking 6 at Norwich Model Yacht Club
Sailors met with a unexpected and steady westerly of 7-8 knots Sunday dawned and the threat of no wind and weed after Saturday's event was on everyone's mind. Posted on 9 Oct
RM Ranking 5 at Norwich Model Yacht Club
Various courses used in a tricky wind direction Twelve competitors arrived at Norwich to take part in RM Ranking 5. The wind forecast was 5 - 8 knots from the South. This was probably the worst direction that you could find at Whitlingham. Posted on 8 Oct
Flora Cup for Marblehead Vane boats at Fleetwood
The Vintage boats won the day With a roadside wind direction, the day was going to be somewhat challenging for a few. From the bridge end it was decided on 2 points out, but was this the right decision, as it looked like we had a run from both ends of the lake. Posted on 7 Oct
'Bill the Milk' Trophy at Fleetwood
Free sailing with Marblehead Vane model boats Initially we had 7 boats registered, but by the off, only 5 were dressed up ready to go. John Sharman was umming and arring to whether he could get Derek's loan boat together for the day, but finally succeeded. Posted on 22 Sep
Marblehead GAMES 6, Nylet RM Challenge Trophy
15 races were run in uncomfortable wind conditions at Abbey Meads 15 races were run in uncomfortable wind conditions changing from southerly to westerly, initially causing strong swirling gusts and lulls and really heavy rain before settling down to even stronger gusts up to the 25 mile an hour forecast. Posted on 23 Jun
Bradford Cup at Fleetwood
Racing nearly abandoned for vane-controlled Marbleheads The forecast was for showers and a wind strength for somewhere in the twenties, straight down the lake. On arrival we had 6 skippers debaating to whether or not they should have maybe just stayed at home. Posted on 10 Jun
Marblehead Nationals at Datchet Water
A tricky weekend for reading the wind Datchet Water or Queen Mother reservoir is one of the main reservoirs for London and a feeder reservoir for the Queen Mary reservoir down the road. It is like a giant saucer with the sides upwards of 60 feet above the ground. Posted on 5 Jun
Marblehead GAMES 5 event at Guildford
Halfpenny Trophy and Summer Series A small but enthusiastic fleet of eight skippers assembled at Abbey Meads lake in overcast conditions, but with an ideal northerly breeze blowing straight down the lake, although it did have a tendency to go a bit easterly at times. Posted on 22 May
2024 Mermaid Trophy GAMES 4 at Guildford
A superb day's racing with 18 races held This was a superb day's racing with 18 races in a limit A rig wind giving some exciting planing off wind in the gusts and providing almost perfect conditions for the 9 competitors from 6 clubs. Posted on 15 Apr
10 Rater Tankard & Marblehead GAMES 3 at Frensham
The day started inauspiciously with no sign of wind The day started inauspiciously with no sign of wind and very little promise of any. By the time racing started there was wind, but very light and very variable. Posted on 22 Mar
Savvy Navvy 2024Maritimo 2023 S-Series FOOTER