Datchet Flyer

Windsor, December 12-13, 2015. Report by Andy Gibson

104 dinghy’s of all classes attended the ‘Datchet Flyer’ this weekend with Victor Perez Campos and Jenna Gibson sailing in Jenna’s snipe.

Datchet Flyer is the second in a 7 event winter series attracting the top UK dinghy sailors racing against each other using the very popular UK handicap rating system .

On Saturday , the lone snipe led the ‘slow handicap’ fleet for 2 laps in race 1, but as the wind picked up to over 35 knots they suffered a torn jib and were forced to retire.

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A late start for race 2 on Sunday morning left them needing to pull out all the stops for race 3 which was a non-discardable , double-counting pursuit race (slowest boats start first with multiple class starts so that at the end time all boats should be at the finish together).

After a great start it was clear that the snipe was very fast in the 6-9 knot wind range and with some close tactical racing coming into the finish they came 6th giving a creditable 18th overall . Results : http://gjw.sailracer.org/eventsites/content.asp?id=44159&eventid=203845&templ=

Next event for Victor and Jenna will be the Bloody Mary pursuit in January ..there are already 250 boats entered including 3 snipes…

The last time I attended ‘Bloody Mary’ 30 years ago the slipways iced over with the water draining from the boats in front and I had to get a warm shower to defrost the hat from my head…

UK handicap numbers : http://www.rya.org.uk/SiteCollectionDocuments/technical/Web%20Documents/PY%20Documentation/2015%20PN%20List%20July.pdf

And guidance on their use: http://www.rya.org.uk/racing/Pages/portsmouthyardstick.aspx