29er Open: 10-11th October 2009

Watch the video or see the pictures

The 29ers were met with a building breeze on Saturday 10th October at Wilsonian Sailing Club to compete in the club’s first 29er open meeting.

As the sailors prepared themselves for the first start, a large ship weaved its way along the Medway, resulting in the first start being postponed. The 5 boats then took delight in surfing on the wake left behind! Once the race track was cleared, Race 1 got underway with Alex and Ed LeGassick leading initially from Aaron Smith and Alec Rodgers. However, when Alex and Ed missed the upwind gate and had to turn back, Aaron and Alec pulled away to take the first win. A tough battle ensued behind them for second, though, as Matt Goacher and Tim Linsell fought back from a poor start to pip Paul Smith and Nicola Smith to the finish line. In Race 2, Matt and Tim led for the first lap before a costly capsize let Aaron and Alec through to take the win. Race 2 turned out to be a copy of Race 1 as Matt and Tim once again nipped through to take second with Paul and Nicola just a boatlength behind. With the wind now increasing to 17knots, Race 3 was started in perfect conditions. Matt and Tim got off to a good start and led the race from start to finish. The real drama was behind; however, where Aaron and Alec were forced to sail their boots off to pull back from an early capsize on the line. They finished second with Paul and Nicola showing perfect consistency with another 3rd place. In Race 4, Aaron and Alec finished off their day with another win, hotly pursued by Matt and Tim. Alex and Ed crossed the line in 3rd, followed by Martin Lown and Olly Legg and then Paul and Nicola in 5th after capsizing. At the end of the first day, it was still all to play for with only a couple of points separating the boats heading into Sunday’s racing.

When all the boats were packed up, a meal was served at the club with the large portions especially welcomed by the sailors! The evening was great fun and everyone enjoyed looking through the hundreds of stunning photos that had been taken on the water.

Sunday started bright and early as the 29ers joined the club members for racing. Whereas Saturday comprised of traditional Windward/Leeward courses, Sunday allowed sailors to see a bit more of the Medway as there was plenty of water to play with. The 29ers went off as first start from the club line to complete several laps on a windward/leeward loop. The wind had increased from Saturday and everyone on the water was having a great time. There were plenty of positional changes during the race and Matt and Tim began to reel in Aaron and Alec from a big lead. As the leading boats turned the corner towards the club, the parents in the clubhouse were treated to a grandstand finish with Aaron and Alec winning by a few boatlengths. After lunch, a different course was set with the 29ers completing a round-the-cans style race. The 29ers set off with kites up for a 4 mile run down the Medway to the leeward mark. With big gusts now blowing down the river, all the sailors had big grins on their faces! At the bottom mark, Matt and Tim led convincingly from Paul and Nicola with Aaron and Alec chasing hard after an early capsize had put them to the back. The boats then raced around a triangle before the beat home ended in a showdown finish. As Matt and Tim turned the corner round the island, Aaron and Alec picked a better route on the tide. Closing the gap on the final loop, the two boats were locked together as they headed towards the club. This time around, Matt and Tim held on to take the win.

At the end of a fantastic weekend, generous prizes were given by the club. Aaron and Alec took first overall, beating Matt and Tim by two points. Third were Paul and Nicola after a consistent weekend, followed by Alex and Ed LeGassick in fourth and Martin Lown and Olly Legg in fifth. Thanks should go to Wilsonian Sailing Club who provided brilliant conditions, excellent race management in using the wide expances of the Medway and were very welcoming to the 29ers.

• Show Everything
• Open Events
• Series Racing
• Social Events
• Club Events
• Training Days
• Work Parties

Date	Event	Title	Details	Result / Report
011 Mon 20th Dec	Club Series	Winter Open Series	Race 15 Prize-Giving & Family Party pm	View results
018 Mon 13th Dec	Club Series	Winter Open Series	Races 13 & 14	View results
025 Mon 6th Dec	Club Series	Winter Open Series	Races 11 & 12	View results
032 Mon 29th Nov	Club Series	Winter Open Series	Races 9 & 10	View results
039 Mon 22nd Nov	Club Series	Winter Open Series	Races 7 & 8	View results
046 Mon 15th Nov	Club Series	Winter Open Series	Races 5 & 6	View results
053 Mon 8th Nov	Club Series	Winter Open Series	Races 3 & 4 1st warning signal 11.15 Remembrance Sunday	View results
060 Mon 1st Nov	Club Series	Winter Open Series	Races 1 & 2	View results
067 Mon 25th Oct	Club Event	Laying Up Cup Cup	1st warning signal 13.25 GMT	View results
067 Mon 25th Oct	Club Series	Autumn Points 9	Race 9 1st warning signal 10.25 hrs GMT BST ended	View results
074 Mon 18th Oct	Club Event	Leigh Trophy	1st warning signals 11.25, 11.55 & 12.25	View results
081 Mon 11th Oct	Club Series	Autumn Points 7 + 8	Races 7 & 8	View results
082 Sun 10th Oct	Open Event	29er OPEN	1st warning signal 13.55	View results or report
088 Mon 4th Oct	Club Event	3 Race Regatta	1st warning signal 11.55 3 races back-to-back Start downstream	View results
095 Mon 27th Sep	Club Series	Autumn Points	Races 5 & 6	View results
109 Mon 13th Sep	Club Series	Autumn Points	Races 3 & 4	View results
116 Mon 6th Sep	Club Series	Autumn Points	Races 1 & 2	View results
123 Mon 30th Aug	Club Series	Late Summer Points	Races 9 & 10	View results
127 Thu 26th Aug	Club Series	Informal Wednesday Evening Race	1st warning signal 18.25	View results or report
130 Mon 23rd Aug	Club Event	Novices, Improvers, Ladies & Juniors	Morning races	View results
130 Mon 23rd Aug	Club Event	Commodores 4	1st warning signal 13.55	View results
134 Thu 19th Aug	Club Series	Informal Wednesday Evening Race	1st warning signal 18.25	View results or report
137 Mon 16th Aug	Club Series	Late Summer Points	Races 7 & 8	View results
141 Thu 12th Aug	Club Series	Informal Wednesday Evening Race	1st warning signal 18.25	View results
144 Mon 9th Aug	Club Series	Late Summer Points	Races 5 & 6	View results
148 Thu 5th Aug	Club Series	Informal Wednesday Evening Race	1st warning signal 18.25	View results or report
151 Mon 2nd Aug	Club Series	Late Summer Points	Races 3 & 4	View results
155 Thu 29th Jul	Club Series	Informal Wednesday Evening Race	1st warning signal 18.25	View results or report
162 Thu 22nd Jul	Club Series	Informal Wednesday Evening Race	1st warning signal 18.25	View results or report
165 Mon 19th Jul	Club Series	Late Summer Points	Races 1 & 2 MYC Keelboat Regatta 17th-19th	View results
172 Mon 12th Jul	Open Event	Medway Dinghy Regatta	1st warning signal 9.55 Prizegiving	View results or report
173 Sun 11th Jul	Open Event	Medway Dinghy Regatta	1st warning signal 10.55 Evening BBQ	View results or report
176 Thu 8th Jul	Club Series	Informal Wednesday Evening Race	1st warning signal 18.25	View results or report
179 Mon 5th Jul	Club Series	Early Summer Points	Races 9 & 10	View results or report
183 Thu 1st Jul	Club Series	Informal Wednesday Evening Race	1st warning signal 18.25	View results or report
187 Sun 27th Jun	Club Event	50th Anniversary Evening Race	1st warning signal 15.55	View results
190 Thu 24th Jun	Club Series	Informal Wednesday Evening Race	1st warning signal 18.25	View results or report
193 Mon 21st Jun	Club Series	Early Summer Points	Races 7 & 8	View results
197 Thu 17th Jun	Club Series	Informal Wednesday Evening Race	1st warning signal 18.25	View results or report
200 Mon 14th Jun	Club Series	Early Summer Points 5 + 6	MYA Regatta MCC Gala	View results
204 Thu 10th Jun	Club Series	Informal Wednesday Evening Race	1st warning signal 18.25	View results
207 Mon 7th Jun	Open Event	Wilsonian Grand Prix Open Handicap Race	1st warning signals 11.55, 12.25 & 12.55	View results or report
211 Thu 3rd Jun	Club Series	Informal Wednesday Evening Race	1st warning signal 18.25	View results or report
218 Thu 27th May	Club Series	Informal Wednesday Evening Race	1st warning signal 18.25	View results
221 Mon 24th May	Club Series	Early Summer Points	Races 1 & 2	View results
225 Thu 20th May	Club Series	Informal Wednesday Evening Race	1st warning signal 18.25	View results or report
228 Mon 17th May	Club Series	Spring Points	9 & 10	View results
232 Thu 13th May	Club Series	Informal Wednesday Evening Race	1st warning signal 18.25	View results
239 Thu 6th May	Club Series	1st Informal Wednesday Evening Race	1st warning signal 18.25	View results
241 Tue 4th May	Club Event	South Kent	warning signals 13.10, 13.35, 14.10 LW Sheerness 15.25 Bank Holiday Weekend	View results
242 Mon 3rd May	Club Series	Spring Points	7 & 8	View results
249 Mon 26th Apr	Club Series	Spring Points	5 & 6	View results
256 Mon 19th Apr	Club Series	Spring Points	3 & 4	View results or report
263 Mon 12th Apr	Club Event	Novices, Improvers, Ladies & Juniors	Morning races	View results or report
263 Mon 12th Apr	Club Event	Commodores 1	1st warning signal 13.55 Easter Sunday	View results or report
270 Mon 5th Apr	Club Series	Spring Points	1 & 2	View results or report
284 Mon 22nd Mar	Club Series	Warm up series	Mothering Sunday	View results
291 Mon 15th Mar	Club Series	Warm up series		View results
298 Mon 8th Mar	Club Series	Warm up series		View results
305 Mon 1st Mar	Club Series	Warm up series		View results
312 Mon 22nd Feb	Club Series	Warm up series		View results
365 Fri 1st Jan	Open Event	Chilly Willies Open Handicap Race	First warning signal 11.55	View results