4th Sept 2011 - Joint Regatta WHSC and RPCYC

West Hoe Squibs enjoyed some of the best sailing of the season in this regatta where three 'back to back' races were sailed. The first and third was on windward-leeward courses whilst the second was on a triangular course. The South/South-westerly wind increased throughout the day and the waters of the Sound became increasingly "lumpy" due to wind over a strong ebb tide. By the time of the third race the wind was force 5, gusting more, making the down wind legs quite exciting! David Wines (White Magic) finished first overall, John Barton (Echo) second and John Lewis (Bootneck) third.

1st Sept 2011 - Race five - Late Summer Mini Series

The wind being in the East (an unusual direction in the summertime) the West Hoe Squibs beat to RAF buoy as their first mark and then sailed a triangular course involving Melampus and North West Winter buoys. Despite the unusual start the status quo was soon re-established and after three rounds David Wines (White Magic) finished first, but only about a boat's length ahead of John Barton (Echo), with John Lewis (Bootneck) in third place.

25th Aug 2011 - Race four - Late Summer Mini Series

Race officer Nigel Gray set an excellent two lap course for both Squibs and Trappers. A close reach to West Mallard was followed by a good long beat to E buoy-a mark seldom used in evening races. Then it was back to Hash buoy via Dunstone and South Mallard-downwind legs involving two gybes. David Wines and Keith Davies (White Magic) led from the first mark, John Barton and Tony Procter (Echo) finished in second place and after some close racing between the remaining Squibs Dick Hanson and Paul Hoppins (Moondance) finished in third position. These results however, are provisional because Echo and B of the Bang are subject to a protest!

18th Aug 2011 - Race three - Late Summer Mini Series

It is important to go the right way! Seven Squibs sailed in a shifting NNW breeze towards F bouy. David Wines (White Magic) rounded the mark first with John Barton (Echo) right on his transom; John Lewis (Bootneck) was some thirty yards behind in third place. JB then tacked off to clear his wind and headed towards Jennycliffe while DW and JL chose the middle of the sound. The latter choice paid handsomely; at the next mark DW had increased his lead and JL was now in second place some fifty or so yards in front of JB- Jenncliffe was definitely not the place to be! These positions were held over the next round (shortened due to the dying wind) to the finish of the race. Dick Hanson (Moondance) appeared to have safely secured fourth place but Paul Hardy (B of the Bang) flew his spinny to great effect on the last downwind leg to just pip Moondance on the line. Norman Harris (Purfling) and Eddie Harper (Quicksilver) took sixth and seventh places.

Trappers

4 Trappers lined up for the race with the wind being a light NNW breeze where the boats had their kites up for the start. It was a short spinnaker reach to the first mark then dead down wind to "F buoy". Pearl arrived there first followed by Patsy then Spy Trapper and Sun Trapper. The following upwind leg Patsy managed to overtake Pearl and Sun Trapper overtook Spy Trapper. The short reach under the Hoe proved fluky with a number of holes in the wind, but the boats managed to negotiate the leg without any dramas. The second lap was to a shortened changed course giving a quick sail around the buoy under the Hoe with very little time to do any overtaking. So the race finished Patsy first, Pearl second, Sun Trapper third and Spy Trapper fourth.

11th Aug 2011 - Race two - No reports available

4th Aug 2011 - No Race programmed this week

28th July 2011 - Race one - Late Summer Mini Series

Squibs

WHSC Squibs sailed two rounds of a windward/leeward course set between Yacht Haven and Hash buoys on Thursday evening. As is often the case the Club Captain and sailing maestro David Wines (White Magic) soon established a comfortable lead which he held to the finish of the race. In contrast only two or three boat lenghts seperated the remaining five Squibs at the end of the first round. After the beat and run of the second round however, differentiation was apparent; John Barton (Echo) finished in second place, just ahead of Dick Hanson (Moondance) while John Lewis (Bootneck) took fourth place.

 
Trappers

21st July 2011 - Race eight - Last in the Early Summer Mini Series

Squibs

The Squibs sailed in warm sunshine this evening and a moderate north-westerly breeze, ideal conditions! Dick Hanson in Moondance led around S Mallard cardinal mark to the leeward mark (F bouy). Moondance and White Magic (David Wines) had stayed in the flooding current and gained whilst the remaining four boats crossed the current into Jennycliff Bay but just went too far losing out. From F buoy Moondance beat on Port tack right across the Sound to the western side. Here he tacked but mistakenly rounded NW Winter instead of NE Winter and in doing so lost places to David Wines (White Magic), John Barton (Echo) and John Lewis (Bootneck) who finished in that order after the two laps of the race. Dick just managed to salvage fourth place from Paul Hardy (B of the Bang) whilst Norman Harris (Purfling) finished in sixth place.

14th July 2011 - Race seven - Early Summer Mini Series

Squibs

The Race Officer set a two lap course for the six Squibs around South Winter, F Buoy, North West Winter and back to Liberty Yachts to start the next round. The wind was in the north-west and, as usual when in this quarter, was variable in strength around 10 knots and varying direction between west and north.  This course gave a good beat from F Buoy to NW Winter although the first two legs would be a reach and a run that kept the fleet very close together. John Lewis (Bootneck) led away from the line, followed by Dick Hanson (Moondance) and John Barton (Echo). At the end of the first lap Bootneck led, followed by Echo, Moondance and then White Magic, B of the Bang and Purfling. On the second beat Dick in Moondance, crewed by Paul Hoppins, elected to sail the middle of the sound, where others stuck closer to Jennycliff bay to stay away from the growing current. The middle of the sound however paid handsomely lee-bowing Moondance pushing it towards the mark when on port tack, assisting Dick to finish first; John Barton second place in front of David Wines (White Magic) third who was rapidly bearing down on the leaders. Bootneck was fourth even after a super first time round, B of the Bang fifth and Purfling sixth.

Trappers

The race started with a 10 knot north westerly, reaching to South Mallard for the first mark. Spy Trapper got a clear start and pulled away from the others who were scrapping for the remaining positions. Then it was downwind to F buoy with Spy Trapper still leading, Patsy second, Pearl third, Barecat fourth and Sun Trapper fifth.

From F buoy the group went up wind to NW Winter still in the same order but, at the end of the first lap, Pearl had overtaken Patsy rounding Liberty buoy. Spy Trapper maintained her lead, covering the rest of the pack, for the second and last lap. The race finishing with Spy Trapper first, Pearl second, Patsy third, Barecat fourth and Sun Trapper fifth.

7th July 2011  - Race six - Early Summer Mini Series

Trappers

The wind from WSW greeted the 5 Trappers for a race in a 10-15 knot breeze giving rise to a clear start this week and all the boats heading off to Yacht Haven buoy as the windward mark. All boats trying to pick the best route, dealing with the various wind shifts as well as the growing tide in the different channels. Pearl made it first with Spy Trapper second; Patsy, Sun trapper and Barecat all close behind.

A long down wind leg back to Liberty Buoy kept Pearl first but Spy Trapper and Patsy trying to round the mark together resulting in Patsy having to re-round the mark. Sun Trapper was closing down on those ahead all the time but Barecat, not having hoisted her kite, dropping a distance behind.

On the second and final windward leg Patsy found some extra wind and passed the 2 leading boats, rounding first and holding the lead until the finish, Pearl second, Spy Trapper third, Sun Trapper fourth, Barecat finally fifth.

Squibs

The windward mark was Yacht Haven, now without a topmark, is very difficult to locate. However, as usual David Wines led the way around the mark in White Magic even after having to re-start after being over the line at the beginning of the race. John Barton in Echo followed him round while John Lewis (Bootneck), Dick Hanson (Moondance) and new recruit to the fleet Mike Webster (Pandemonium) battled for third place on the water. During the second round Mike managed to cheat the tide by sailing close to Drake's Island and thus secured third place behind White Magic and Echo on the water. In the end Dick Hanson managed to cross the finishing line about a metre in front of John Lewis and it then transpired that Echo had made a premature start but had not redressed so Mike moved up to second place, Dick to third and John fourth.

30th June 2011  - Race five - Early Summer Mini Series

Trappers

4 boats lined up on a bright sunny evening with a force 3/4 NW blowing. At the start 3 of these were over the line: Spy trapper, Pearl and Patsy, all had to return leaving Barecat to reach off to West Mallard mark on her own. From there it was down to F buoy but Barecat was slow to hoist her spinnaker allowing the other 3 boats to catch her, eventually Patsy reaching the bottom mark first, Pearl second and Spy trapper third leaving Barecat fourth. The Windward leg was up to NW Winter, three boats stayed in Jennycliff bay, one went out into the sound and the three won. When the spinnakers were hoisted for a tight reach to Liberty buoy to start the next lap, Spy trapper was now leading with Patsy second, Barecat third and Pearl fourth, but Pearl didn't help herself by hooking NW winter buoy and having to re-round it. The route to the finish was a bit of a procession for the next lap with eventually Spy trapper taking the honours, Patsy a close second, Barecat third and Pearl fourth.

Squibs

The Squib fleet were involved in the National Championships so no race was planned for them this evening.

These championships were organised and very well run by the Royal Western Yacht Club here in Plymouth sound outside the Breakwater. WHSC Squibbers aided by some members of the Trapper fleet "worked their socks off" to complete the scrueneering and launching of the 61 boats which had entered. On the water David Wines and Keith Davies, sailing White Magic, upheld the honour of the club by finishing 12th overall, an excellent result in view of the fact that the first twenty helms in the fleet include many previous National Champions in the Squib and other classes. David also won the Felixstowe Trophy for the leading helm aged over 65! John Barton, crewed by Tony Procter and sailing Echo, finished in 33rd place and Mike Webster and Nick Over (Pandemonium), who have joined us from Dartmouth, finished in 44th place - two more creditable results in a very competitive fleet.

The remainder of the West Hoe fleet then formed a"50/60 club"! John Lewis and Bob Rimmer (Bootneck) were 52nd over-all, despite not sailing in race 6 because John was fully occupied organising "craning out" .John and Bob, being the only RWYC of E entry, won the Mail on Sunday Trophy for the leading boat from the host club! Dick Hanson and Paul Hoppins (Moondance), Norman Harris and John Hepburn (Purfling), Eddie Harper and Keith Essam (Quicksilver) brought up the rear in 56th, 58th and 60th places. Despite the lowly finishing places everyone agreed that they had a week of superb and challenging sailing.

23rd June 2011  - Race Four - Early Summer Mini Series

Trappers

4 trappers on the start line on nice sunny evening with a force 3/4 north westerly breeze.The race committee set a course that started in the direction of NW Winter buoy which meant all the boats starting right under the RPCYC club house, in a fluky wind area. Spy trapper got away first with Patsy second, Sun Trapper third and Pearl bringing up the rear.  No change to the order around the first mark and on the run to Dunstone buoy.  This order stayed through out the race with Spy Trapper and Patsy pulling further away from Sun Trapper and Pearl as the race progressed. It was only at the last mark that Pearl overtook Sun Trapper to gain third place. The race finished with Spy Trapper and Patsy first and second some 5 minutes ahead of Pearl and Sun Trapper.

Squibs

Four boats started on the single tack course to NW Winter set by David Wines the race officer where Echo (John Barton) lead, Bootneck (John Lewis) second, Eddie Harper (Quicksilver) third and Moondance (Dick Hanson) fourth. Only three reached Dunstone and then Echo went the wrong way round. Bootnech only just realised the error and swerved violently to round the mark correctly. Echo came back but did not unwind herself to round the mark the right way round. She later retired after having gained a first place some distance ahead of the others. Bootneck and Quicksilver finished the course to achieve First and second places from a very interesting race.

16th June 2011 - Race three - Early Summer Mini Series

Trappers

Only 3 of the Trappers lined up for the 3rd race of the series but the weather may have had something to do with it - force 5/6 westerly with heavy showers. Off the line Patsy got away first with Pearl second and Spy trapper last having only just arrived having towed a stranded yacht into QAB marina. The course was windward/leeward x 4 and by the time we arrived at the windward mark (NW winter) Spy trapper was first, Pearl second and Patsy third. Spy Trapper and Patsy hoisted kites and had a rock and roll downwind pulling out a lead on Pearl. The positions stayed this way for the rest of the race where Spy trapper steadily pulled out a bigger lead on Patsy second and Pearl third. After the race all 3 boat crews retired to the RPCYC for their supper & beer very tired and very wet.

Squibs

Five Squibs came to the line for an excellent race in a blustery, westerly, breeze where Race Officer, Kim Vasey, had set an excellent  windward/leeward course 4 x times round. With the line only slightly biased in favour of the port end the boats spread right along it. Those who started towards the Mount Battenend on got away best and initially there was little to choose between B of the Bang (Paul Hardy), White Magic (David Wines) and Bootneck (John Lewis).    By the first windward mark White Magic was in the lead, followed around by Echo, John Barton.   Little changed down the run, but Echo did catch White Magic at the second windward mark, where David Wines kept Echo outside her which proved crucial, particularly at the leeward gybe mark where White Magic as inside boat rounded first. After that White Magic never looked back, going on to score a good win in the testing conditions, second was Echo, then Bootneck, Quicksilver and finally B of the Bang.

9th June 2011 - Race two - The Early Summer Mini Series

Squibs

The six boats sailing in the second race of the series were at last greeted by some good sailing weather, a F3/4 south westerly for the first time this season. Accordingly a three times round windward/leeward course was set using Malampus as the windward mark. White Magic made her traditional good start and was away first closely followed by B of the Bang then Bootneck, who had a new crew on board, brought up the rear. The first beat was uneventful with White Magic leading the fleet followed by B of the B and the rest at two boat intervals. The run to the Leeward mark required one gybe but no places changed underlining the fact that downwind boat speed of all the fleet is very similar provided that no handling mistakes are made! Rounds two and three followed a similar pattern with Echo showing good upwind speed climbing up to second. Moondance and Purfling were also enjoying the steady upwind pressure. Interestingly the flooding neap tide did not appear to effect the Jennycliffe or mid sound beat option? Positions at the final rounding of Malampus were: White Magic, Echo, B of the Bang, Moondance, Purfling and Bootneck. This was also the order in which they finished, a good race enjoyed by all.

2nd June 2011  - Race One - First in the Early Summer Mini Series

Squibs

Thursday's race for Squibs in the W.H.S.C.'s evening series was sailed in a light southwesterly breeze. A change of course after the end of the first round caused some confusion (the course boards are difficult to read from the pin end of the line!) but by follwing David Wines in White Magic who, as is often the case, had a good lead over the remaining Squibs, all boats sailed the correct course. John Barton (Echo) took second place, while Paul Hardy ( B for the Bang) pipped Dick Hanson (Moondance) by about a metre for third place. John Lewis (Bootneck) and Eddie Harper (Quicksilver) took the remaining places.

26th May 2011  - Race eight - Last in the Spring Mini Series

Trappers

 
The last race in the spring series produced a very windy but sunny race, blowing 20 plus knots from the NW. 5 boats on the start line, great to see Barecat joining us for the first time this season, most welcome. The start was a reach to South Mallard, the first two boats around were Pearl and Spy trapper both hoisted their kites for the run to Dunstone, and took off at high speed downwind with a large amount of rocking and rolling. The next three boats, Patsy, Suntrapper and Barecat, all wisely didn't go for their kites but goose winged and remained in control. The end of the first lap had Spytrapper first, pearl second, Barecat third, Suntrapper fourth and Patsy fifth. For the next two laps, nobody put their kites up, some boats were then held up due two large shipping movements, and eventually we got the final result of: First Spytrapper, second Pearl, third Patsy, fourth, Barecat and fifth Sun Trapper. Well done everyone.

Squibs

The wind was blowing hard and David Wines found that there were 30 to 40 degree shifts in front on the club and he did not think it was suitable to race. Others agreed and started to pack their boats away but there was some confusion arising from a verbal communication where most of the Squib fleet thought that racing had actually been cancelled because of the strong winds blowing. Paul Hardy and crew Dave Burrel decided that they would sail "B of the Bang" no matter what the conditions! Once in the sound they found that the wind had dropped a little and the flags on the R.P.C.Y.C. showed that racing was still being offered. They were very late starting but within the time limit, following the Trappers towards the first mark and, on the run to Dunstone, they overtook several Trappers. They held their position on the beat back and when the OOD shortening the Squib race to once round they were able to claim victory over their fellow "Squibbers". One boat started and one boat finished.

19th May 2011 - Race seven - Spring Mini Series

Trappers

4 boats turned out in a NW blowing 10 to 15 knots lovely sunny evening weather. Off the line Spy trapper led with Patsy, Sun Trapper and Pearl following to the first mark, West Mallard, a bear away and spinnaker hoist followed. There were varying degree's of success in hoisting spinnakers leading to Spy trapper and Patsy having a luffing duel which resulted in Patsy ripping her spinnaker. At the leeward (Dunstone) mark Spy Trapper was still leading with Patsy second, Pearl, third and Sun trapper fourth. When the boats reached the windward mark Patsy had taken over the lead, so at the end of the first lap Patsy led with Spy trapper following, Pearl and Sun trapper bringing up the rear.

Things all changed on the next downwind leg, when Spy trapper and Pearl had a luffing duel which Pearl won. Pearl now had the lead, of which she held onto to the end of the race, with Spy trapper coming second, Patsy with her ripped kite third and Sun trapper fourth, a good end to another very close race. 

Squibs

Adrenalin levels appeared to be high at the start of Thursday's Squib race using the same course as the Trappers. Two guns sounded at the start indicating that someone was over the line but no boat dipped back behind the line to restart. It wasn't me guv, it must have been the other boats alongside of me! John Barton, crewed by Tony Procter established a substantial lead, sailing Echo, which they held to the finish of the race. John Lewis (Bootneck), Dick Hanson (Moondance) and Norman Harris (Purfling) finished second, third and fourth over the water but none of them received a finishing gun: all three had been premature starters! Consequently Paul Hardy (B of the Bang) and Eddie Harper (Quicksilver) were promoted to second and third places, much to their delight!

12th May 2011  - Race six - Spring Mini Series

Trappers

The Trapper 300's sailed the same course as the Squibs. Only 3 came to the line: Gary Wilcox's PATSY which led round the first mark followed by David Ashworth in SUNTRAPPER and then Kieron Kennedy's SPYTRAPPER. Better spinaker work saw SPYTRAPPER move past SUNTRAPPER on the first run to Dunstone. By the end of the windward leg back to South Winter she had moved into the lead. These positions remained throughout the second round with SPYTRAPPER recording a good win ahead of PATSY and SUNTRAPPER.  

Squibs

Only five Squibs started where David Wines in White Magic once again soon established a commanding lead which he held to the end of the two lap race. John Lewis (Bootneck),at the time in second place, hit R.A.F. buoy at the end of the first lap. Dick Hanson (Moondance) was just astern of John and was so delighted to see John's misfortune that he immediately tangled his foot in his mainsheet , hit his head on the boom and consequently rounded the mark the wrong way! Poetic justice operates in sailing! After taking penalties John finished in second place, Dick in third. Norman Harris (Purfling) and Eddie Harper (Quicksilver) took fourth and fifth places. 

5th May 2011  - Race five - Spring Mini Series

Trappers

The weather was a gloomy 15-19 knots from the SE as the 5th race in the West Hoe sailing club trapper class began with 4 trappers: Spy Trapper, Pearl, Patsy and Sun Trapper all crossing the line within 10 seconds in that order. The course was a tight reach to the South Winter buoy, then hardening up to the windward mark (F Buoy) where Spy Trapper, Pearl and Sun trapper all stuck to the middle of the sound whereas Patsy sailed into Jenny cliff. At the windward mark the order had not changed with Patsy a couple of boat lengths closer, the spinnaker run to South Mallard kept the boats together, with only 30 seconds separating them after the completion of the first lap. On Lap 2 Spy trapper and Patsy went up the middle of the sound to the windward mark, but Pearl and Sun Trapper went into Jenny cliff. This time when they all came back together at F Buoy Pearl was now ahead by 8 boat lengths and Sun Trapper had gained on the other boats ahead of her. On the run back down wind to the finish line the order stayed the same, apart from some exciting broaches everyone finished safely and tired. 

Squibs

John Barton (Echo) made an excellent start in the Thursday evening race, sailing the same course as the Trappers above and quickly established a good lead over the remaining six Squibs. Unfortunately he then sailed an incorrect course allowing David Wines (White Magic) and John Lewis (Bootneck) to take 1st and 2nd places by the end of the race. After correctig his error John Barton was able to salvage third place. Paul Hardy (B of the Bang) was 4th while senior members of the fleet Norman Harris (Purfling), Dick Hanson (Moondance) and Eddie Harper (Quicksilver) took the remaining places.

28th April 2011  - Race four - Spring Mini Series

Squibs

Seven Squibs contested the fourth race in West Hoe Sailing Club's first series on Thursday 28 April. Sailing in a light south westerly breeze David Wines (White Magic) soon established a clear lead over the rest of the fleet which he held to the finish. Similarly John Lewis (Bootneck) was unchallenged in second place. In contrast third slot was closely contested between John Barton (Echo) and Dick Hanson (Moondance); the latter was able to take advantage of a westerly wind shift during the last round to secure the place. The benign conditions allowed Norman Harris (Purfling) to stay in touch with the fleet despite sailing single-handed!

14^th April 2011 - Race two - Spring Mini series

Squibs

First Echo, Second White Magic, Third Moondance, Fourth Bootneck and Fifth B of the Bang.

Trappers

First Patsy, Second Pearl, Third Spy Trapper and Fourth Sun Trapper.

7th April 2011 - Race one - Spring Mini Series

Very light and variable winds set against a strong incoming tide did not provide the best of conditions for the first race of the West Hoe Sailing Club Spring Series for one design yachts.

Setting a course was left until the last minute. NE Winter was set as the windward mark returning around South Mallard and Liberty Buoy. The light winds and strong tide left two of the Squibs well over the line for the start and consequently the Trappers proved over cautious and were all well short of the line on the start signal.

The beat out to NE Winter proved challenging with the beat ultimately changing to a reach. At one time with Norman Harris in Purfling in the lead it looked as if three Squibs would make it but ultimately the wind fell away completely and the tide took the yachts further from the mark. After an hour with little progress the race was abandoned.

2011 Racing

Coming soon - first race Thursday 7th April 2011

19th August 2010

Race cancelled due to weather conditions.

12th August 2010

Squibs

 
Following a short reach to round Batten Breakwater the fleet hoisted spinnakers to run out to F buoy. David Wines in White Magic took the lead with the rest of the fleet in a following gaggle except for Norman Harris in Purfling who took a longer route around Jennycliffe bay looking for, but not finding, the eddy current. The windward leg back to NE Winter provided opportunity to take advantage of the lifters and headers with the wind shifting through up to 30 degrees at times. White Magic managed to hold onto her lead but only just. From NE Winter a short beam reach to the turning mark Y buoy tested spinnaker handling skills. On the second round once again Norman went in search of eddy current; this time with significant success. Another challenging beat saw John Barton in Echo closing in on John Lewis's Bootneck who in turn was closing in on White Magic. But these moves proved to be too little and too late: White Magic took the gun followed by Bootneck and then Echo.

Trappers

Five Trapper 300's came to the start on a fine reach to be able to clear the Mount Batten breakwater. Stuart Jones in Pearl and Kieron Kennedy's Spytrapper elected to cross the line with spinnakers flying but necessarily toward the Hoe end of the line, while others such as David Green in La Strega drove for the leeward end, closest to the breakwater and to postpone hoisting their spinnakers until around the obstruction. A number of testing gusts immediately south of the Mount Batten's breakwater challenged all the crews but the fleet settled into a reasonably close line astern, with Pearl leading La Strega, followed by Spytrapper, CJ in Betty Blue and David Ashman's Suntrapper.

The first beat from F1 buoy to NE Winter saw Spytrapper challenge for second place, with some close exchanges of position before being pipped to the buoy and then having committed to hoisting her spinnaker, saw La Strega pull away under genoa on what increasingly became a fine fetch across the Hoe to the West Hoe buoy. The order didn't change thereafter, although a hard challenge by Betty Blue to take third place from Spytrapper on the second fetch from NE winter to the finish line raised the adrenaline levels for a short while.

5th August 2010

Trappers

This Thursday's West Hoe Sailing Club Trapper race had plenty of excitement and was a succession of battles. On the warning signal SPYTRAPPER lost its genoa halyard and Keiron Kennedy was forced into a quick ascent up the mast and then set off in pursuit of the fleet.

The rest of the fleet had made a varied start for the beat to NW Winter, with Stuart Jones in PEARL away first closely followed by Gary Willcox in PATSY, SUN TRAPPER and LA STREGA (David Green) with BETTY BLUE lagging behind. The first mark saw LA STREGA out-manoeuvring SUN TRAPPER for position gaining a place on her. On the run to Dunstone, SPYTRAPPER, despite a tangle between her genoa and spinnaker, was able to make up ground on the three boats who didn't hoist spinnakers and moved up to 3rd place. BETTY BLUE also made ground overtaking SUN TRAPPER on the beat to NE Winter. SPYTRAPPER and PATSY then engaged in a luffing battled for 2nd place which SPYTRAPPER won and then she held 2nd place for the rest of the race. Further back LA STREGA and BETTY BLUE had a great tussle for 4th place, passing and re-passing on almost every leg, for the remaining two laps with LA STREGA ultimately holding BETTY BLUE off for 4th position.
A well deserved win for PEARL, and a series of close battles to the end for the other positions.

Squibs

In the Squib class John Lewis and Bob Rimmer in Bootneck made it look very easy in the typically fickle north easterly breeze. They lead from the start and finished first by a substantial margin after three rounds of the excellent figure of eight course. Meanwhile the rest of the fleet appeared to struggle with the conditions. John Barton in Echo slipped from second place to last at the first mark, miss judging the tide and then getting caught on port by the rest of the fleet on starboard. David Wines in White Magic just couldn't find his usual winning form but ultimately managed to pull through to second place. Meanwhile Archimedes, Purfling and B of the Bang seemed to get far more headers than lifters allowing Echo to recover some ground to finish fourth behind Archimedes.

29th July 2010

No race was conducted on this date due to the PPSA Regatta taking place this week.

8th July 2010

Trappers

Lighter wind day saw six Trapper 300s make it to the start line for the West Hoe Sailing Club race this Thursday with the course set out to Melampus returning around the WHSC mark

The start saw David Green in La Strega pinned by Gary Willcox's Patsy and unable to make a good get a way in the light airs, whilst Kieron Kennedy in Spy Trapper and Stuart Jones in Pearl led the fleet for the first leg. 

As the winds died on the first leg to Melampus, the race seemed to be up for grabs,but it was Patsy followed by Pearl who rounded the mark first, followed by Spy Trapper and Sun Trapper, with La Strega and newcomer Betty Blue bringing up the rear.

The course was changed for Rounds Two and Three, as the winds strengthened and moved round to the west, and now the Tappers had two short rounds to the NE and S Winter buoys. However the podium positions were established. There was competition for 4th place though, but La Strega won through and on the last leg Betty Blue passed Sun Trapper to take the fifth place.

Squibs

The varied wind conditions conspired to create an unpredictable race for the Squib Class Starting in a very light south westerly beating to Melampus Charlie Thompson in Archimedes was first off the line quickly establishing a substantial lead on port tack. However, she was soon sailing into tide and a hole in the breeze. Meanwhile David Wines in White Magic and John Barton's Echo, on starboard, found a wind steam, although by the windward mark it was John Lewis in Bootneck who was first with Echo second. Running back to Y buoy Bootneck and Echo were looking secure until tangling with a Trapper at MountBatten breakwater. This allowed White Magic, who had run deep, a nice clear run to the buoy. At this point shifting winds prompted a change of course to a wing mark at NE winter and a windward mark at South Winter. Further fluky wind and tussles with the Trappers ensued. White Magic was first at the line followed by Bootneck and B of the Bang in third place.