Visitors Day at Chew valley Lake Sailing Club

The annual Visitors day and Top Club Trophy event was held at Chew Valley Lake  sailing Club on October 16^th.

Fifty nine crews including 18 visitors from as far away as Frensham Pond and Leigh and Lowton sailing Clubs arrived to a still lake but the wind filled to give some good light weather racing in the morning. A “fast” and “slow” handicap race was held for RNLI pennants. The wind backed just after the start and those able to make an early port tack got to the windward mark first. Race Officer Bill Chard set a triangular course with a close and a broad reach.  Malcolm Davies and Ian Cadwallader sailing together for the first time in a Flying Fifteen (they had sailed to World Championship glory previously in a Fireball) always looked to be doing well and they took first place followed by two visitors from Portishead, Mike Pickering and Mike Priddle in an Osprey and Colin and Derek Jarvis in a Fireball. They were followed by a bunch of Phantoms who used the event as one of their circuit races. One local fifteen spoiled their complete domination of the next few places.

In the afternoon there was a pursuit race for the Chew Rose Bowl. The  wind freshened giving occasional gusts strong enough for some exciting planing. And still the sun shone. Toestraps were needed in Flying Fifteens and when theirs parted Frank and Steve Jones fell gracefully into the water. The increased breeze allowed the faster skiffs to come to the fore and the race was won by Ralph Singleton and Megan Fileman in their RS800 ahead of Tim Johnson in an RS 700 with Malcolm Davies and Ian Cadwallader, finding their new legs, third in the fifteen.

The Top Club trophy was awarded to the visiting club who produced the best results with three boats in a team. Portishead Sailing Club did just that, taking the Trophy from last year’s winners, Bristol Corinthian Sailing Club.

A good day’s sailing was had by all with a pleasant social occasion among the local club sailors.