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RRoouunndd 44:: MMaannoorr PPaarrkk MMDDCCSS 44 && MMaaccCCoollyyeerr CCuupp

Waiting In The Wings Whilst it’s not all over yet, it may well be soon as last Sunday 25th July, Tony Edwards got one hand on the Midland District Champion Skipper 2010 Trophy and the other on the MacColyer Cup. Making it 4 out of 4 Tony is going to be hard to beat from now on. Urged to arrive for a prompt start, 15 out of the 17 skippers complied, the usual late arrivals #75 & #24 turning up just in time to be rigged and present for the briefing at 09:45. I was always told to get there early, get out on the water and “reccy” the wind and shift patterns, but based on these two maybe in future I’ll spend the extra ½ hour in bed. A Grand Day Out The forecast had been pretty encouraging all week and the weather did not disappoint with a lovely sunny day and a teasing gentle breeze. Originally from the West the opportunity was there for a decent start line across the width of the lake and a generous beat up to the windward leg. Moving around slightly to the North throughout the day, it was still possible with an

Midland District Champion Skipper - 2010

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alternative line, to use the full length of the water setting a typical triangle and sausage course. I think it’s fair to say that at Manor Park we tend to sail a bit further out than most clubs, partly because we have a big pond, but also because of the improved perspective from the elevated control point. Radio sailing at more than 100 yards does test the eyesight though and thankfully most skippers gave the leeward mark extra room with few incidents happening at the greater distance. Not so the windward mark though with a surprising number determined to enter the “suicide zone” tacking at the last minute and hoping to squeeze in under the incoming Starboard boats for a Port rounding. Rarely do these “chancers” get away with it and normally a turn is the best they can expect. The top runners will always use the safer Starboard approach and give an extra boat length on the layline in case of a header at the last minute. Running a race event is an eye opener to the way people sail and it’s alarming the risks a lot of skippers are prepared to take on a Port tack. Tacticians strongly advise against a lee bow ever being effective, but rarely do people take the sensible option of holding on the same tack and clipping the stern as close as possible. Why do people always seem to accept the Starboard boat is on a lift and tack off?? Tactics aside the day went pretty much as expected with the usual suspects sharing the top three or four places throughout the day. One or two other

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skippers did venture into this hallowed ground and a great performance from Andy Stevenson saw him finish just out of the places with a very creditable 5th. Bring another couple of friends next time Andy and you’ll get a bottle! Lawrie Brown and Mick Chamberlain also snatched 2nd’s but much in the same way as I play golf, as the level of expectation rises so the results fall and lack of consistency blights the scorecard.

A Team Effort One of the downsides of our raised platform is the steps down to the water present an obstacle to the less mobile and having one or two competitors that were not able to navigate these could have been a problem. However, this was highlighted at the briefing and it was a great to see that throughout the day, there was always someone to lend a hand when needed. Thanks to all who helped (and I know who you are) to enable these guys to make the best of their days racing at our club. As always we are grateful to the visitors who travelled to join us for the day, some from a good distance away but none greater than Vinne Zammitt who came all the way from Malta just to sail at Manor Park (well that’s my story anyway). Special mention also has to be made for the members of Market Bosworth who made up a large percentage of the fleet and the Lincoln Boys who no doubt had an early start and a late finish.

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Finally, thanks must go to Graham Whalley for his assistance before and after the event and to Alan Allsop who kept the records straight and ensure I didn’t make too many mistakes. Also to Gordon & Tony for making sure I got the HMS right and Peter and Mick for taking a good clutch of points back to Bourneville and keeping Manor Park and Bosworth in the hunt for the team honours. Full individual and club results will be found posted on the Midland/MYA website along with the booking in details for the next event.

Round 5 at Bourneville 15th August 2010.

1st – Tony Edwards (Leicester)

2nd – Peter Moore (Bourneville) 3rd – Mick Shillington (Bourneville)

Report & Pictures – Paul Stubbs