Notts County TT – National
Series No 3. & Northern Series No. 1
Leslie keeps
Team Tideway on Course
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| 303's in forground, Liberty's in background |
Team Tideway – Leslie and myself, supported by Hugh and Kate
rolled up to the 3rd meeting in the TT series, which was
held only 2 days after the postponed Wealden meeting, on 23rd May at Notts County Sailing
Club. A very friendly club set in lush countyside in the Trent
valley. We unloaded the boats and set up camp the day before in the
club grounds. The gusty wind was still forcast and was perhaps the
reason only 12 boats turned up to race. In the event though, the wind
was good all day and the sun shone - making for ideal racing
conditions. There was a trapezoid course, again, which made for 2,
exciting, reaching legs in the gusty wind.
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| Fast reach in the gusty wind |
I started the first race well and maintained a decent lead to the end
while keeping watch on the chasing boats in my new mirrors. I had to
drop out of race 2 when the, prototype, sip and puff control stopped
working. We switched back to the old system for the 2 races after
lunch. Race 3 didn't go so well; the competition was fierce and I
struggled to keep up with the leaders. I have become used to the s
'n p control and the intuative control it gives me; the old system
requires me to be constantly flipping switches in to control the
sails independently. Race 4 was worse still; the main sheet got
fouled in the winch and I lost control of the main sail. I came 4th
overall out of 5 Liberty's racing.
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| Struggling to catch up |
Leslie had only one competitor in the 303 single handed class but it
was Kate Hedley, who is turning out to be Leslie's biggest rival so
far in the series. They had a close battle for all 4 races, finishing
on equal points. However, Kate clinched first place by winning the
final race and taking line honours. Leslie is putting in consistently
good races; I need to be doing the same.
Big thanks to Hugh and Kate for their crucial support.
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