Corus Sailing Club Moth Open 8th November 2008

Seven Moths braved the forecast, and headed to South Wales for the Corus sailing club Moth open. The ‘curse of Windguru’ was avoided and the intrepid few were greeted by a great range of conditions. Corus gave us a very warm welcome and gave us four good races. 

 Full use of the lake was made with a P style course giving us a start and subsequent gate off the club line, and a selection of tight and broad reaches downwind. 

 Race 1 saw local hero Dave Edwards lead round the top mark, with Cooke and May in close pursuit. The first few rounds were very close with numerous lead changes at the front until May got through upwind with a high mode that enabled him to lay the upwind gate in fewer tacks. Edwards was looking good for second until a broken mainsheet strop allowed Cooke through. 

 Race 2 saw the wind drop a lot down to marginal foiling. The first beat was again very tight but soon May pulled away, managing to foil for longer up the beats. Cooke was second again, with Edwards third. 

 Race 3 was held in more wind again, and solid foiling conditions. DJ was getting stronger and lead early on, but May was able to sail over the top down the second run when DJ sailed just a bit too far into a lighter spot. A little swim by Cooke up the beat while challenging for second dropped him back from the battle for the lead. 

In reduced light now, race 4 saw the forecasted breeze start to show, and the fleet numbers suffered. Mike Cooke peeled off shortly after the start with a control rod issue, leaving Dave Edwards, and Adam May to battle it out. With a movement of the first gybe mark there was some discussion down the first reach as to where it had gone! DJ spotted it first and was able to stay low and prevent May from gybing. DJ then covered May well to prevent him from getting his nose through and held on well for the win. Katherine Knight showed the benefit of the Mini rig in the windier conditions, to take third. 

 With an absolutely shocking forecast for Sunday, the general consensus was to call it a day after 4 good races, and head over the Severn Bridge to home before the forecasted 40/50 knots came through. 

 This left May with the win, from Edwards and Cooke, with Knight taking fourth overall, and first lady. 

Position	Helm	Sail Num.	R1	R2	R3	R4	Total
1	Adam May	3373	1	1	1	2	3
2	DJ Edwards	3277	3	3	2	1	7
3	Mike Cooke	3371	2	2	3	7	7
4	Katherine Knight	4098	4	6	5	3	12
5	Clare Dallimore	2274	7	5	4	7	16
6	Martin Fear	3370	7	4	7	7	18
7	Tom Whicher	?	7	7	7	7	21

Nick Dallimore