British Moth Open at Mid Warwickshire Yacht Club 9 April 2011

Mid Warwickshire Yacht Club, which is celebrating its 50th Anniversary Year, welcomed the British Moth fleet to its waters for the second time. The fleet of 13 boats, including visitors from as far afield as Suffolk, Hants, Hunts and 3 from the home club, enjoyed glorious sunshine and wind which freshened during the day.

Following the navigational woes of last year the race committee wisely decided to put out a lead boat for the first lap of the first race which seemed to do the trick and everyone more or less knew where they were going!

In Race 1 Roger Witts from Frampton got cleanly away and broke away from the pack very quickly with Gary Tomkins from St Edmonsbury in hot pursuit. There was much vying for positions in the middle pack and the home boats did a sterling job of holding up the rear. Despite Gary’s best efforts after an hour’s sailing Roger took line honours.

The fleet stayed on the water for Race 2. Again Roger Witts led the boats over the start line but this time he had John Claridge, Graham Pope and Ian Haywood on his transom. Whilst still on lap 1 Colin Hall from Hunts suffered a dismasting when the securing point for the starboard chain plate failed. After being towed in he set about engineering a repair which enabled him to rejoin in Race 3. Back on the course John Claridge from Lymington had managed to nose in front of Roger but this was to be short lived as he regained the lead in a tacking duel in a windless corner of the lake. By Lap 3 the majority of the fleet were actually on the same leg of the course but as the race continued the pecking order became more established. As the wind picked up Sue Turner from the home Club, a relative newcomer to both Moths and Open Meetings, capsized 3 times in quick succession and required outside assistance. At the end of the race Roger Witts took first place going into lunch knowing that the event was in the bag. Ian Haywood also from Frampton took second place.

After lunch the wind had freshened considerably but remained in the same direction and much to the visitor’s delight the course remained unchanged for the final race. Roger Witts once again got off to a clean start but clearly the effects of a good lunch were beginning to show as he was being seriously challenged by Graham Pope also from Frampton. It was very much a cat and mouse game and most interesting to watch as each sailed quite different routes, particularly downwind to get the best wind. In the end Graham managed to take the lead which he managed to hold to the finish and Roger had to settle for second place.

At the prize giving the Moth Association very kindly gave a trophy to MWYC that was presented to them by the now closed Evesham Sailing Club. The engraving will be updated and will be used for subsequent Moth Opens suggesting that the link between the Moth Fleet and MWYC is flourishing and that they will be back next year!

Overall Results: