Sailing the Easter Egg Series at Lyme

> Easter Egg Series at Lyme > Sailed over 3 days, 6 races with one discard, the series incorporated the Junior Cup. The competitors faced a range of wind and sea conditions, from SE/E lighter breezes with short chop to South Westerlies on Saturday, building to 25 knts with 2m waves rolling in on Monday. The 6th race had to be cancelled for safety reasons, only 5 crews completed race 5 with 3 of those being youth members. That race had multiple capsizes, some breakages, all dealt with by the patrol Ribs when needed, everyone returned safely under sail, no injuries! >

Briefing, or karate lesson?
> Easter Saturday saw two races on a triangular course, Race Officer Dave Stubbs started with the windward leg into the SE breeze, but a 60% wind shift meant a pause for a course change before race 2. Of 18 starters, 6 were U 18s in ILCAs, using 4.7 or Radial rigs to suit their weight. A tussle between two Merlins, each winning a race, meant Jon Turner and Tim and Sarah Parsons ended the day joint first, and the two Fireballs, Graham and Will Cook and Allan and Chrissey Tyler made third and fourth, separated by one point. > Freddie Cooper, led for the youth ILCAs, all finished both races.

> Graham hangs out from his crew’s trapeze to maintain boat speed while Will attaches the spinnaker. Photo Dave Stubbs >

> > Ed Stubbs keeps his boat level upwind in the short chop. Photo: Dave Stubbs > > On Easter Sunday, Race Officer Jack Young set a trapezoid course, Race 3 with angles favouring the single-handlers and race 4, the spinnaker boats, adding up to fair competition on handicap over the day. Stiffer breeze, mostly SE, and short races enabling PJ to return to her mooring with strong winds forecast, gave the Cooks two firsts, and Tim and Sarah (2,3) second place, followed by the Tylers holding third overall after a discard. > Star of the day was Ed Stubbs, (3,4), moving him to 5th in the series, ‘sailing exceptionally well’ as one of his his Race Group coaches commented.

> > Stronger breeze and some white horses, low cloud, Race 3. Photo: Dave Beer > > Easter Monday brought the forecast change in the weather. Race Officer Jerry Rook decided to run racing from HumberRib, fewer members wanted to sail but all 6 Youths were keen to challenge for the Junior Cup. The wind and sea built during the morning, from a Force 3 at 9.30 to a 5/6 by mid-day. Jerry set a triangular course, faster boats making two rounds to the slower ones’ single lap. Club members Mary Rook and Hugh Brayshaw led the small fleet of 5 finishers, followed by Stephan Laeger then Ed Stubbs in third. Freddie Cooper and Ben Orlich were 4th and 5th. The Cooks in their Fireball came in under jib when their main halyard broke, before Will couldn’t resist nipping out to enjoy the waves in a friend’s Laser. >

Waiting for the results?
> Sailing Secretary Racing, Graham Cook, announced the results. > Prizes were presented by Vice Commodore Brian Herring. > > Junior Cup

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> From the right, First, Ed Stubbs, second Freddie Cooper, third Ben Orlich, fourth Noah Kenny, fifth Noah Helm, all in ILCAs. Photo Sally > Sixth was Elliot Sammons, not pictured, in his Laser Vortex. > > Overall Results > 1 Graham and Will Cook, Fireball, 2,4,1,1 > 2 Tim and Sarah Parsons, Merlin, 1,3,2,3 > 3 Ed Stubbs, ILCA 4.7, 10,3,4,3 > > Full results on the LRSC website >