Mirror Open at Whitefriars Sailing Club
by Nick Charles 2 Jul 18:54 NZST
21-22 June 2025
Whitefriars Mirror Open Prize Giving © Ron Vass
15 Mirrors arrived at Whitefriars Sailing Club, in the Cotswolds Water Park, to be greeted by tropical temperatures, but less wind than forecast.
After the briefing, the fleet launched into a drifter. Race 1 was held in about 3 knots, Nick and Edie Charles took an early lead but, after an embarrassing roll tacking capsize, were swiftly back in the pack. The single-handed sailors took full advantage with Bob Presley winning, with Jewels Vass in 2nd and Hannah Blore with 3-year-old daughter Hester in 3rd.
For race 2 the wind had filled in closer to the forecast, and was now a solid 8-10 knots. James and Merris Date took full advantage of a massive right shift up the 1st beat and were never challenged. Nick and Edie came through to a comfortable 2nd followed by the other half of the Charles family Juliet and Seb.
After sailing everyone enjoyed the heat and sunshine, especially those camping. The club ran its traditional model boat (on a string) race, and many enjoyed this alongside a fish and chip dinner.
Sunday dawned with yet more heat and more wind. In race 3, Nick and Edie rounded 1st, but James and Merris slipped past. Hannah and Hester again sailed fantastically in breezy conditions to take 3rd.
For race 4 an attempted a port flyer caused a little chaos. Juliet and Seb and Scott and Eryn Bonner took full advantage, before James & Merris and Nick & Edie managed to get past - finishing in this order.
James and Merris therefore won with a race to spare and decided to sit out the last race as did the Blores / Bonners. This left the Charles' to take 1st and 2nd (in a surprisingly light wind race), followed by Chris Hargreaves leading the pack of single-handed mirrors.
All in all Whitefriars where fantastic hosts and everyone had a great weekend - thank you! I'm sure many will be back next year...
Overall Results:
| Pos | Sail No | Helm | Crew | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | Pts |
|---|
| 1 | 70967 | James Date | Merris Date | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 16 | 3 |
| 2 | 70961 | Nick Charles | Edie Charles | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 5 |
| 3 | 70810 | Juliet Charles | Seb Charles | 8 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 8 |
| 4 | 70537 | Bob Presley | | 1 | 8 | 7 | 16 | 4 | 12 |
| 5 | 69746 | Hannah Blore | Hester Bonner | 3 | 6 | 3 | 7 | 16 | 12 |
| 6 | 69929 | Alan Bennett | | 7 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 14 |
| 7 | 71026 | Chris Hargreaves | | 15 | 15 | 8 | 6 | 3 | 17 |
| 8 | 70648 | Scott Bonner | Eryn Bonner | 11 | 9 | 4 | 4 | 16 | 17 |
| 9 | 70972 | Ron Vass | | 6 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 22 |
| 10 | 70606 | Jewels Vass | | 2 | 5 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 23 |
| 11 | 59254 | Derek Butterworth | | 13 | 14 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 24 |
| 12 | 70126 | David Benjamin | | 9 | 7 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 32 |
| 13 | 39305 | Suzanne Ems | | 10 | 15 | 16 | 10 | 16 | 36 |
| 14 | 69000 | Mark Holden | | 12 | 11 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 39 |
| 15 | 71040 | David Palmer | | 14 | 12 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 41 |