Ely Sailing Club Met On Sunday
SAILING ELY Sailing Club s Sunday meeting saw a spectacular first race with seven Solos, an Optimist and an Enterprise competing, but halfway around the first lap a strong squall hit the boats. Early leader Niall Pearcy lost his position by capsizing, an
SAILING
ELY Sailing Club's Sunday meeting saw a spectacular first race with seven Solos, an Optimist and an Enterprise competing, but halfway around the first lap a strong squall hit the boats.
Early leader Niall Pearcy lost his position by capsizing, and he was joined by Gary Ungless (Solo), Mark Loach and Martin Mills (Enterprise) who were all knocked down as they tried to gybe in heavy winds.
Although the conditions saw boats able to reach high speeds - throwing up large amounts of spray - retirements soon followed as Graham Tory, David Whitehead and Gary Ungless sheltered from the conditions, whilst Loach and Mills were unable to get their swamped Enterprise going again and were towed in.
Alex Tory took the difficult conditions on however, and stretched into a lead which he maintained until the end of the four lap race.
Second place on the water was Niall Pearcy, third was Steve Mair and fourth was John Cant in the diminutive Optimist who was finished after three laps, but was given second position on handicap on a pro-rata basis after his time was adjusted.
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The second race was a very different event, with rain coming in and killing off the wind and lead boats taking half an hour to complete the first lap.
The field was now thinned to six Solos and at the start, with Alex Tory and Niall Pearcy separated from the rest of the fleet on lap one, Graham Tory retiring and Gary Ungless lying third. Steve Mair and David Whitehead also retired.
Tory led for most of the race which was shortened to a lap and a half, but Niall Pearcy drew in close as Tory came to a lull in the wind.
He managed to defend the inside line on the last buoy however, and although Pearcy nearly stole the finish Tory went over the line with only inches separating the boats. Ungless found a last minute breeze to finish third.
*If you would like to have a go at sailing then why not go along to the Club's Open Day on May 3 from 1pm-4 pm or May 8 from 6pm till dusk and try out the boats and equipment for yourself?
