Report. Menegham
Report. Menegham
Finn Southern Championships & Osprey Open 9-10 May 2009
Mengeham Rythe Sailing Club, Hayling Island, hosted the Finn Southern Championship and an Osprey Open Meeting over the weekend 9-10 May 2009 with all the races held in Hayling Bay.
Race 1 was sailed in a 10-12 knot SSW wind and a difficult sea, the Finns sailing a windward-leeward course inside the Osprey triangle. Tremlett led both rounds until the last leeward mark when Bagnall established an inside overlap to round ahead and hold of Tremlett by inches in the short beat to the line, with Neil Robinson taking 3rd place.
Race 2 started in a similar breeze which increased briefly to 16 knots before falling away and veering westerly. Tremlett made no mistakes in this race and finished comfortably ahead of Robinson and David Potter.
With the course reset in Race 3 for the west wind those tacking out to sea made significant gains as the wind backed slightly and dropped to 8 knots. Tremlett got clear of the bunch at the pin mark and was never headed, with Bagnall following ahead of Potter and Robinson.
Sunday brought the wind from the east as forecast and both fleets startedon a bearing of 120 in 14 knots on a triangular course, with the Finns granted unrestricted pumping. At the second attempt the Finns got away to clean start with those heading inshore making the gains and Tremlett leading from Robinson and Bagnall. The wind eased and pumping was switched off, and places changed on the run with those to seaward gaining, Robinson being a notable casualty. Tremlett ensured the championship by winning ahead of Bagnall and John Heyes.
Race 5 started cleanly under the black flag on a bearing of 90 in 10 knots. The wind veered back catching out some and the course was swung. The wind veered still further and weakened leaving the Finns fighting the spring tide and being shortened at the windward mark on the second round with Bagnall ahead of Brunton and Tremlett. The Ospreys meanwhile completed their course.
Results:
Finn Southern Championship: 1st - John Tremlett (Locks SC), 2nd - Henry Bagnall (MRSC), 3rd - Neil Robinson (MRSC)
Osprey Open: 1st - Richard Hartley & Mark Hartley (Carsington SC), 2nd - Martin Cooney & Peter Frith (Poole YC),