Report by Dave Griffiths
Over the week 26th to 31st May, Coppet Week was hosted by Saundersfoot Sailing Club in Pembrokeshire.
54 boats were entered for the event, with 52 hitting the water. The fleet was made up of boats from Teras to an RS 600 and most things in-between. The largest fleet was the Solos followed by the Osprey with a fleet of 5. Unfortunately one of the no shows was Ted & Lucas from Tenby (missing from action!). Keith & Andy hitched the wrong boat to their car and were sailing their Fireball.
Race1
The race started in a pleasant SW 2/3 with Dan Jackson & Mathew Goldwait sailing 1380 ‘Bare Necessities’ leading around the windward mark. On the first reach Gareth Caldwell & Jon Gibbons in 1331 ‘Odeline’ took the lead. By the leeward mark Dave Griffiths & Maurice Clarke in 1365 ‘ Carpe Diem’ and Oscar & Lisa Chess in 1348 ‘ Jammy Dodger’ had closed up. On the beat 1365 went out to sea leaving 1331 and 1380 to go inshore. Converging at the mark, 1365 came in on a big shift to take the lead. At this point the wind had freshened and 1365 & 1380 opened up a lead. At the gybe mark 1380 took a swim leaving 1365 to power down the broad reach on a big gust. At this point the race track was white with waves and many upside down boats…. At the finish it was 1365, 1331 and a great effort by Oscar & Lisa coming in 3rd on the water and 4th on handicap, with three Ospreys in the top 4 and the Merlin coming in 2nd.
Race 2
Monday’s race again started in a pleasant W 2/3 and finished in a 5+ blaster. With the beat being port biased it was 1365 who tacked first dipping 1331 & 1380. This turned out to be the lay line. 1365 extended the lead to take the win being able to keep a loose cover on 1331 who sailed to a comfortable 2nd. 1380 came in 3rd. On handicap it was a 1, 2 for the Ospreys with a Merlin 3rd and Scorpion 4th.
Tuesday was abandoned at a 7.30 race team meeting with forecast of 22 knots and gusts up to 30 with poor visibility. No real moans from the masses on this decision with two races scheduled for Wednesday.
Race 3
In a solid SW 3 /4 with the course closer in shore there were more shifts to contend with. 1365 managed to tack out first and was leading at the windward mark closely followed by 1380. 1331 was held back doing turns at the pin end. 1365 kept the lead for first two laps but at start of lap three 1380 got a great shift being further right on the beat to take the lead which they maintained to the finish. 1365 was 2nd with 1331 recovering to take 3rd. Handicap results were Ospreys 1st and 2nd, Merlin 3rd and Osprey 4th.
Race 4
1365 got on to port first and led at the windward mark closely followed by 1331 and 1380. There was never much between the three boats with all being within 30 sec for most of the race. At the finish it was 1365, 1331 ,1380. On handicap a 12 sec win for the Merlin followed by the three Ospreys.
Thursday‘s race was cancelled with the wind again up to over 22 knots, but it was a lovely sunny day so the time was well utilised by all in and around Saundersfoot.
Overall, the order for the series was
1. Osprey 1365 'Carpe Diem'
2. Merlin
3. Osprey 1331 'Odeline'
4. Osprey 1380 'Bare Necessities'
So a good week for the Ospreys with three boats in the top four.
Pursuit Race
The week is always finished off with a pursuit race on the Friday. There was no Gareth &Jon or Oscar & Lisa for this one.
There was a reaching start for this one and it was 1380 who led at the first mark. After problems on the drop for 1365 it was Mike & Pam in 1312 ‘Bakers Dozen’ through to 2nd. As the race progressed 1365 had got to the front and at what turned out to be the last gybe mark 1365 was outside the Scorpion. 1380 gybed and climbed over the top of the Scorpion, they then sailed a gust over 1365. At the last leeward mark it was the Merlin leading with the two Ospreys closing in. With time running out all three boats were closing in on the windward mark. Rounding in sequence of Merlin, Osprey 1380, Osprey 1365, with kites just starting to pull it was game over so finishing in this order.
This concluded another Coppet Week, where we had all enjoyed great sailing conditions and a busy social week with well run socials organised by the Social Committee of the Sailing Club. Already looking forward to next year. So if any of you are looking for a relaxed week of sailing with good competitive racing and a good social scene then you are all welcome to join us next year. Always starts on the Sunday of the late Bank Holiday weekend in May.
