With a strong wind mainly from the south west, it was certain to be a good day down at the Common Rd Club. The first of two heats saw Adam Styles take the lead right from the start, with Ian Edwards and Roger Middleton in close pursuit, leaving the rest behind. Adam powered upstream on a dead run, spray everywhere, opening up a lead that, try as he could, Edwards could not keep up with him. This was not helped by a capsize on the run in a powerful gust. Meanwhile, Middleton retired with the conditions not to his liking. Simon Newman in his Mirror showed a surprising turn of speed and kept up with Edwards for over two laps before the leading pair got clean away with Styles in first, Edwards in second and Newman third.

The second heat, in slightly less of a wind, saw a duel off the line between Edwards and Styles, with Styles again getting the advantage. These two stayed well ahead of the rest and the positions never changed. Newman again managed to hold his place and the order was Styles first, Edwards second and Newman a very worthy third.

The forecasted winds were in short supply down at the Common Rd club last Sunday. The event, the Charity Cup which had been postponed from an earlier date, resulted in a large fleet but very little wind. The first heat saw Peter Green sail into an immediate lead, being chased by Ian Edwards and John Pickford in their Moths, Roger Middleton and Clive Edwardes in Comets and the Mirrors of Anthony Parkinson -Johns and Simon Newman. The fickle breeze testing all the crews every turn, Green held on to his lead until the third lap and allowed Edwards to pass by keeping tucked into the bank and making full use of a slight lift on that side of the river. Pickford briefly passed Green only for Green to make a faster run upstream and regain his place. The result: Edwards 1st, Green 2nd, Pickford 3rd.

In even lighter and sometime non existent wind, the second heat started and again Green took the lead showing his expertise in the very light conditions. Again Edwards and Pickford followed closely behind and these three left the others struggling to keep up. Pickford again briefly passed Edwards only to be re-passed on the beat down stream. Neither of these two could make any inroads on Green's lead, and the race ended Green 1st, Edwards 2nd Pickford 3rd.The Charity cup was won by Green, being the winner of the last heat. Adam Styles set the courses trying to make the racing as interesting as possible in the testing conditions.

Anne & Paul Baylis were the race officers tasked to set an interesting course for the members of Evesham Sailing Club on Sunday.

With a good turnout, the first race, a pursuit, had Simon Newman setting off first in his Mirror and gaining a good lead of one lap before the Moths of Peter Green and John Pickford were released to give chase, followed by the Lightnings of Tony Jacks and Simon and Adam Styles. A good twenty-five minutes had elapsed before Newman was caught, first by Green, Pickford and Adam Styles. Simon Styles having sailed the wrong course put himself out of contention. At the front of the fleet, it was now a three way battle between Adam Styles, Peter Green and John Pickford, each taking a turn of the lead at some point before Green made the break and opened up a lead which he held for the rest of the hour with Pickford just holding off Adam to take second, Adam having to be content with third place.

The second race over an altered course to make the best of a failing wind was an handicap. The mass start saw the same three take the initiative with Simon Styles and Tony Jacks hot on their heels. Again the close racing had several leaders until Peter Green again broke away leaving both the Styles and John Pickford fighting for an advantage in the by now tricky swirling wind. Adam led John Pickford and Simon Styles in a three way battle for second place but it was Adam who crossed the line in second position behind Green, only for Pickford to take the second spot on handicap with Adam being relegated to third place.

 

The warm Autumn weather tempted a good turnout at Common Rd last Sunday with two handicap races programmed for the afternoon. With light winds, predominately from the east, but swinging round every few minutes, the sailors were tested every lap. In the first heat, a mass start upstream saw the British Moths of Ian Edwards, Peter Green and John Pickford fight for position to take the first mark, followed by Adam Styles, (Lightning), Roger Middleton (Comet) and Simon Newman (Mirror). Pickford took the mark  in the lead only to be caught on the run by Edwards, Green and Styles. The race developed into an ever changing one, the lead being changed as each sailor gained or lost an advantage. With the wind constantly changing, it was the most observant who managed to take advantage and make most use of it. Green eventually passed Edwards and managed to open up enough lead to take the race, with Edwards in second and Pickford in third.

The second race started in much the same conditions but with the available wind gradually fading. Pickford again was first round the first mark and again being passed by Edwards, Green and Styles. The lead changed on every lap, until Green showed his liking for the conditions and took the lead. Pickford, having recovered some lost ground, slowly closed the gap whilst being closely chased by Edwards and Styles. Green took the win with Pickford in a close second, just in front of a fast last effort by Edwards. Simon Styles was the Race officer whose duties involved setting a challenging course. This he achieved and the afternoon's sport was enjoyed by all.

 

 

Sunday 28th June 2009 - Club Open Day

A few photos from the first four rounds of the Des Dixon Match Racing event, held on a very calm day, are here.

 

The warm summer weather attracted a large fleet of 11 boats on the water to compete in the weekends two handicap races on Sunday. With light winds of varying direction, the first heat set off downstream where they bunched together all trying to find some clear air. Ian Edwards took an early lead followed by Simon Styles and John Pickford. Edwards made the mistake of rounding a mark the wrong way, only to be followed by Styles & Pickford. The rest of the fleet sailed the correct course and by the time the erring three had re sailed the correct course, they found themselves at the back of the fleet and had to work hard to catch up. Meanwhile Tony Jacks had taken the lead from Adam Styles and Peter Green when all three were passed by a surprised Alistair Gordon in his first outing of the season. These positions were not to last, as the trio of British Moths of Edwards, Green and Pickford sailed through the fleet to make up for their earlier errors. Pickford stole the lead off Edwards on the last lap and slowly opened up a gap which was quickly reduced on the run in to the line, with Pickford just holding off Edwards in second, and Green in third, all three being within half a length of each other.

The second heat, in similar conditions , had Pickford first to the first mark only to be caught on the long run upstream by Edwards and Green. These three then opened up a considerable lead over the rest, proving the versatility of the British Moth in light winds. The lead constantly changed between the leaders but it was Edwards who held on when it mattered to take the win from Pickford and Green

The brilliant weather in the Vale unfortunately produced little wind for the crews of ESC to sail their version of "The Worlds Championship". Sailed over three heats, the race officer did his best to set interesting courses using the river between the weir and the clubhouse to maximise the available light winds. The first heat saw a trio of boats leading the fleet with Peter Green, Simon Styles, and John Pickford vying for the lead with Simon Newman, sailing serenely just behind the pack. Green, using his experience of light weather sailing opened up a lead which grew each lap, with Pickford and Styles unable to catch him. The win was taken easily by Green, followed by Pickford and Styles.

After a break for lunch, the second heat saw Pickford take an early lead until he sailed part of the wrong course putting him back in third position. Green and Styles took advantage and sailed away, Newman tacking onto the rear. Green opened up an unassailable lead to win, while Pickford managed to pass Styles for second, Styles having to be content with third.

In an ever failing breeze, the third race again saw Pickford take an early lead before being closed down and passed by Green with his superior boat speed, leaving Styles and Pickford to fight it out for second place. This is how it finished, with the final result first Green, second Pickford and third Styles. Altogether an enjoyable afternoon's sport, with wonderful Bank Holiday weather despite the extremely light winds

Sunday 17th May 2009

In what was programmed as "The Summer Sizzler", it was unanimously decided to rename it "The Summer Soaker " in view of the wet and windy sailing conditions.

The first event, with a mass start down stream, saw the fleet bunched together round the first mark with Adam Styles coming to the front on a speedy planing reach upstream to the next mark . Here he was caught by Ian Edwards and John Pickford but managed to hold his lead as first Edwards got into trouble and then Pickford sailed into a hole in the wind. Pickford had to do penalty turns at the next mark after an infringement putting him back in the fleet. Peter Green and Adam Styles then came into the reckoning and began to hunt down Edwards and Simon Styles. With the lead changing each lap, it was Edwards who recovered from penalty turns and took the win with Pickford in second and Adam Styles in third.

After a well earned break for refreshments, the second race was sailed over a slightly different course. Edwards took the lead with Adam Styles close to his transom while Simon Styles and Pickford battled for third place. The ever changing wind direction and strength tested all the crews with some of the gusts leading to some helms almost losing control. A particular gust capsized Adam Styles and caused Simon Styles to retire after sustaining damage in the gust. As the laps continued Adam recovered to finish second on the water but had to relinquish the place to Pickford on handicap. The result, a copy of the first race with Edwards taking home the silverware.

Sunday 26th April 2009

 

Sunday 19th April 2009

 

British Moth Open - Saturday 4th April 2009

The British Moth Open was held at Evesham Sailing Club on the 4th April 2009. An excellent day of sailing in the sunshine with a good breeze was enjoyed by all.

Photos now online!

 

Sunday 29th March 2009

A glorious sunny day with a fickle wind attracted a good turnout at the Evesham club last Sunday. A pursuit race opened the meeting and the Moths & Comets set off with Ian Edwards taking the lead: one minute and eight seconds later the Lightnings were released to chase down the others. Adam Styles soon caught John Pickford & Roger Middleton to give Edwards a lot of attention challenging him at every tack and turn. As hard as he tried, Edwards just thwarted him and hung on to the lead to the finish, Styles second and Pickford third.

The second race, a handicap, had all the crews starting en masse in a freshening breeze. Edwards again took the lead with Styles snapping at his transom. Pickford was left to duel with Peter Green. The battle at the head of the fleet continued every lap, both sailors having taken the lead at some time but although Styles crossed the line in first place, he was relegated to second behind Edwards due to his handicap. Pickford again took third place.

With a northerly wind of varying strength and sometimes direction, the sailing crews had a fine afternoon's sport on Sunday.

The first race set to start down stream towards the weir saw Adam Styles and Ian Edwards straight into battle at the head of the fleet, Roger Middleton, John Pickford and Stuart Bonham competing for the remaining place. As the race progressed, the gap between the leading pair and the other contenders grew but Middleton and Pickford were locked in a duel which saw Pickford settle for third place behind Styles and Edwards, finishing in that order.

The race officer set a shorter but just as challenging course for the second race with Edwards and Styles repeating their battle of the earlier race. Pickford who had a terrible start, managed to pick up a lift which enabled him to pass the leaders and round the first mark in first place, opening up a slight lead. Mistakes by both Edwards and Styles rounding the marks allowed Pickford to maintain the lead for the first five of the 15 laps. The relentless persistence of both Edwards and Styles eventually overcame Pickford and they continued the battle now for the first and second places. Pickford at one time threatened to split the leading pair, but they both held on to finish just ahead, with Edwards claiming first, and Pickford claiming second over a disappointed Styles who had to settle for third on handicap after leading the fleet over the line in first position. This, all the participants agreed was a thoroughly interesting and exciting race as the leading three were never more than a couple of boat lengths apart.

Sunday 15th March 2009

 

Sunday 8th March 2009

 

2008 Sailing Awards

With the 2009 sailing season almost upon them, the members of Evesham Sailing Club gathered at The Chequers in Fladbury for their annual presentation evening and dinner. See photos