CVRDA Racing at Shearwater Sailing Club

CVRDA Classic and Old Wings equally represented at Shearwater © Meryl Kelsey Masters

CVRDA Classic and Old Wings equally represented at Shearwater © Meryl Kelsey Masters

The day before suffered torrential rain, the day after was very wet and stormy too but the CVRDA open event at Shearwater on the Longleat estate in Wiltshire found a gap in the weather and the fifteen boats sailing were treated to three races under a dry but overcast sky with light, perhaps fickle, winds.

It was great to see a good turnout for this popular event with visitors coming from Suffolk, London, The Cotswolds, Bristol, Swindon and elsewhere. Not only were there several new faces (and boats of course) but it was very encouraging seeing five school-age people representing the next generation either crewing or helming. A Unit, a Marauder, and a Mercury represented the less familiar classes.

There were no Vintage Wing boats this time but the Classic and Old Wings were equally represented. All boats raced together and a pattern developed of a few managing to get away and find some clean air leaving a group striving to get clear from each other. The British Moth, sailed by Roger Witts in his first CVRDA event, made a good start and developed an unbeatable lead to become the overall winner. Rupert and family in a borrowed Albacore chased the Moth to be second.

I was sailing Merlin 507 and lying third on the water in the first race with quite a gap behind until I followed a breeze that led me straight into a hole and I had to watch as at least the next five or six boats reached the last mark ahead of me and reached the line as I was still rounding the mark. On handicap I was well down the fleet for the first result. At least I didn’t make that mistake in the next two races. The next two races followed a similar pattern with a leading group getting well clear to make it to the finishing line. Average laps were used especially in the last race as the wind was falling right away towards the end of the day.

With no mishaps or gear failure – other than a lost bung flooding the tank of one boat causing a retirement, the day ended with a plentiful supply of tea and cakes before the prize giving took place.

Thank you to all the visitors and club members for coming to this small but beautiful location and making a very enjoyable day’s racing.

Old Wing:

1st Roger Witts, British Moth
2nd Rupert, Kathryn, Charlie and Pippa Whelan, Albacore
3rd Andy and Tracey Eastbury, Mercury

Classic Wing:

1st Chris and Lois Barlow, Merlin 507
2nd Steve Winter and Paul Athay, Merlin 1477
3rd Sandy Lavell and Pat, Merlin 2121