MYA VANE “M” CLASS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Date 16th
& 17th April 2011
Venue / Club Fleetwood
MY&P
Race Official Eric
Watkinson (Race Official)
Trophies “Marine
Models” International “M” Class National Championship Cup
“Model Maker” Trophy for highest
placed skipper in the event who has not previously won a National Championship.
Report of the event
Saturday morning, about 9-00 am, a car pulled onto the car
park with the first of the competitors for the event. Alan, David and
Robert
Bell promptly walked over to the lake and cried, almost in unison, “Where is
the water?” The level was about 15in below
the top. A phone call to Wyre
borough Council revealed that the water promised to top up the lake could not
be delivered due to
the pump being broken down and awaiting spare parts and
could not be repaired until the following week.
By now the remainder of the competitors had arrived and some
frantic rebuilding took place to reduce the draught of the
Boats to prevent
scraping the bottom of the lake. Racing started at 11-00 am in a light SW wind
giving a 3-leg beat and a run
back with spinnakers. By lunchtime we had sailed
3 heats and Peter Whiteside was leading, followed by Damian Ackroyd and
John
Brooks. The wind slowly shifted to the NW corner and it was then possible to
sail through on a single leg. At the end of
the day 6 heats had been sailed and
the above 3 boats led the field in the same order.
On the Sunday morning the wind conditions were very similar
to the previous day. Racing continued until 2 complete rounds had
been sailed.
My thanks to all skippers for an excellent 2 days of racing and for their
efforts in helping each other on the mates’
bank.
Position Skipper Club Yacht Design Points
1st Peter
Whiteside Fleetwood Swag 42
2nd John
Brooks Fleetwood Starkers 33
3rd Alan
Bell Fleetwood Swag 24
The Model Maker Trophy was awarded to John Brooks
Eric Watkinson
Race Officer
“CLASSIC &
VINTAGE” VANE “M” WEEKEND
FLEETWOOD 8TH
& 9TH MAY 10
Skippers journeyed from England, Scotland and Wales to take
part in this annual event, held on the world famous model yacht lake
at
Fleetwood. Furthest travelled was Martin Bandey, representing the Gosport Club
and sailing K1218 “Gallivant”, designed in the late
1940’s by Ted Hook of the
USA. Hughie Shields from the Greenock Club brought “Ragtime”, which was
originally of KS registration, but
the sails bearing the number had been lost
in the mist of time. Tom MacBeath, also from Greenock Club brought his two
vintage “M”
Class yachts and decided to sail KS318 “Maireaid”, a Stan Witty
“Manta” design, on the first day.
Fleetwood members Alan & Margaret Bell had left their
home on Anglesey, hence the Welsh connection, at first light that morning.
Although they are both of Fleetwood origin, they have lived on Anglesey for
about 30 years. They brought Alan’s pride and joy, K1324
“Tempest”, a Charlie
Adams “Foxtrot” design, built for Alan by the designer himself, in 1961. Two
local yachts made up the fleet, Eric
Watkinson’s K2807 “Blue Peter”, a Roger
Stollery “Blood Axe” design, regarded as a “Classic” rather than a “Vintage”
design, for the
purpose of the event, and my own K1567, “Bosun’s Mate”, a Stan
Witty “Bosun”. She was built in 1967 by my old friend, Wesley
Rodrick, who was
born in Glasgow and sailed model yachts there with his father, then moving to
Lancaster and sailing at the Sandylands
Lake on Morecambe beach until the
demise of that club around 1960. Wesley then joined Fleetwood Club where he was
Secretary for
many years and then finally President until his death a few years
ago.
So we had six yachts at the starting line. The wind was
blowing from the NE and very strong, necessitating the use of small sails. Some
yachts were coping in second suit but others were down in third. Although the
people already mentioned were joined by my sister,
Carole, and Hughie’s friend,
Ian, there were not enough people taking part to ensure two per boat. We therefore
decided it would be
prudent to have just one pair of yachts racing on the water
at a time so that we could all help each other. Also, as our legs were
definitely “vintage” rather than “classic” (except for the ladies of course),
we agreed not to use spinnakers.
On the run down from the East or Clubhouse end of the lake,
the wind tended to straighten about half way down the lake. Those who
had set
their vanes to keep off the lee bank then found their boats climbing up to the
weather bank on the seaward side of the lake.
Coming back on the beat it was
generally three legs. Three heats were sailed before lunch, then the final two
to complete the
competition were commenced after our refreshment, with the
event finishing around 4-00 pm. At lunchtime Alan revealed it was
actually
Margaret’s birthday that day! How many wives would agree to play toy boats in a
gale with their husband on their birthday?
Alan had “Tempest” trimmed to perfection and only lost one
run all day, thereby winning the Walter Jones Trophy. After a poor start Eric
had “Blue Peter” sailing well and tied for second place with Hugh. Eric was the
highest placed “Classic” yacht and received the Mayoral
Cup. Martin received a
bottle of wine for having travelled the greatest distance to take part.
Final Scores
1st “Tempest” Alan & Margaret Bell Fleetwood 23 points
2nd “Blue
Peter” Eric Watkinson Fleetwood 15
2nd “Ragtime” Hughie Shields Greenock 15
4th “Bosun’s
Mate” Peter Whiteside Fleetwood 10
5th “Maireaid” Tom MacBeath Greenock 7
6th “Gallivant” Martin Bandey Gosport 5
In the evening the competitors who were staying locally
decided to meet at the Fleetwood branch of Wetherspoons, where good food
and
real ale were enjoyed. Martin, always the perfect gentleman, arranged a
birthday card and flowers, which he presented to Margaret
during the evening.
Sunday 9th May
Only five yachts took part, as Martin had to travel down to
Brighton, to sail a real yacht over to Southampton. Tom decided to sail his
other yacht, K834 “Solvieg”, a Mcdonald “Saida” design. The remainder of the
fleet were as the previous day. Fortunately the wind had
moderated with most
skippers choosing a broad top suit of sails. Initially the wind was from the
NE, then changed to NW during heat 4.
Even though there was less wind than the previous day, it
was decided to do without spinnakers, as there were fewer helpers.
A complete round was sailed and the final positions were as
follows:
1st “Bosun’s
Mate” Peter Whiteside Fleetwood 15 points
2nd “Solveig” Tom MacBeath Greenock 12
2nd “Tempest” Alan Bell Fleetwood 12
4th “
Blue Peter” Eric Watkinson Fleetwood 10
5th “Ragtime” Hugh Shields Greenock 2
“Bosun’s Mate” won the Hayes Trophy for top “Vintage” and
“Blue Peter” the Pearson Trophy for top “Classic”. Bottles of wine
were
presented to each of our Scottish friends in recognition of the long distance
they had travelled to take part.
The weekend was enjoyed by all participants. What a pity
some of the other 40+ people invited did not take part! However,
we shall carry
on regardless next year!
Peter Whiteside
Race Officer
