11/06/2016
Hykeham open Hykeham Sailing Club

Two visitors, one after a 2.5hr journey, joined five Hykeham boats at the latest Sail Register Northern Paddle Circuit open meeting.  The forecast was for 5 – 8 mph ESE wind, which was there when we arrived but soon died away to be replaced by short spells of light breeze each from a different direction. The postponement flag was soon flying and later we ate lunch. By 1pm there was a little breeze so we all dressed for sailing and as then agreed to race.

The race officer set a figure of 8 course which was expected to have beat for the first leg, half way to the mark Neil Dyer (1822  Hykeham) was leading from Jonti Mason (1827  Hykeham) and Peter Cogill (1683 Rotherham). On the next few legs 50 yard gap leads were created and lost as each helm picked up a breeze as each went to weather or leeward to try to gain an advantage as the wind shifted from beats to runs .  Near the mark on the final ‘reach’ Peter passed Jonti who was followed by Neil; Peter managed to stay just ahead of Jonti to win, and Peter Kitchen (1616 Tess & Hartlepool) and Richard Wood (1776 Hykeham) came through on some wind to get third and fourth.

 The second race was sailed back to back in similar changeable conditions. On the first leg boats were spread across the ‘reach’, by the mark Neil and Richard had gained the advantage followed by Jonti and Peter.   Again gaps opened up and the first two pulled away and kept battling.

With only 10 yards of the final run left, Richard was winning which would have seen him the overall  winner, however the wind had its final laugh as the run became a fetch which allowed Neil to pass and take the gun from Richard, Jonti and Peter.

The final result on count-back was Peter Cogill (1683) first from Jonti Mason (1827) and Richard Wood (1776); Neil Dyer in fourth won the Streaker Class prize.