State Heat 1

The forecast for rain kept a few competitors away from Saturdays CPYC State Heat 1.

Starting down on the bank at Burnside, 16 SoPYC boats were in the fleet of 36 starters. The long, 13 checked mark event, was held in blustery wet conditions. SoPYC, still showing dominance in the sport, placed six of our best in the top 10. Well done.

The win went to Royal Freshwater Bay, skipper Tim Cornish on Havana with 6 and 2^nd to Claremont’s Chas Milner, Sansterre with 7. Thanet, PC Guy Skinner and Richard Evans placed 3^rd on a countback with Amazon Steve Wall and Amanda Watson both with 8 points lost, placed 4^th. The Club’s Least Points Flag will be shared by Amazon and Thanet.

Interestingly the new 3-point CoS penalty pinged 3 out of 5 Royal Freshie fleet including the winner who only lost 3 on the course! Unfortunately, Purrfect, John and Lynne Cooper also penalized with 3pt CoS at Sampson, which cost them outright second place on a countback from Sansterre, their score of only 7 points lost on the course. Cookie was another boat doing well until a 5pt blowout on Sampson, up to which he’d clocked 5 zeros and 4 1’s. All great scores team.

Luckily most were finished the course and heading back from Armstrong when the heaviest showered filled in to dampen jetty drinks. As results are posted to all clubs simultaneously on Sportspage, we do not hold presentations after some state heats.

Coming Up this week: We complete for Robert E Blanckensee Memorial trophy. Bob Blanckensee was the father of Ian, skipper of Nereedes II, the Randell 38’ his father launched c1978. Vicky Blanckensee, navigator for Troy on Dalusional, is Bob’s granddaughter.

On the Sunday morning of the Long Weekend following is the Lloyd Anderson Marathon time trial incorporating CPYC Heat 2. The event will be followed by results, presentations, give- away prizes and lunch, hosted by Claremont Yacht Club. DON’T FORGET TO NOMINATE