Inlands 2011

[BenR]

So far behind the start line, we're not even in shot. 

[phil_kirk]

Stories for the Y&Y report here please over the next two days.

I must start my dit by thanking Nick for being an excellent crew.  I really enjoyed the close racing, the fantastic weather and seeing Atum, Ronin and Banshee Ambulance in the hands of their new owners.  

racing,  I was really please with all my starts actually being on or near the right part of the line in every start.  In the first race we taked off to the right hand side for extra pressure and came in on the stbd lay line and leading round the windward mark. On the second beat we made the mistake of going right again but into lighter breeze allowing Usagi and Rit van to overtake.  Antidephobia were also close on our tail and fast off wind hitting the laylines perfectly. On the next beat we sailed round riot van finding better pressure and a lift and finished second.

race two. We went left with most the fleet. Antidephobia led for the first lap. (i think) but were passed by Usagi.   I can't really remember much about this race except we gybed inside someone on the run and gained a place or two to finish second again.  All the boats were quite close at the finish.

Sunday after a delay of 1 1/2 hours the wind filled in.  The breeze dropped a bit at the start but filled in and steadily built through the afternoon.  Paul and Peter in Ronin led from E-numbers for the first 2 beats but had an issue at the second bearaway allowing E-numbers through with riot van hot on their heels and usagi close behind.  On the second beat Nick had to re-tie the kite block on at the back of the sock.  ( two much muscle used on the drop).  On the second or thrid run we got a knot in the retreival line which stopped the kite from filling properly.  Nick sorted this out while I sailed the whole boat.  We also got the retrival line caught under the bow at one point (but yet again nick tip toed to the front to free it whilst under thre sails. I barely toched the T foil all day.    

[BenR]

Although exciting, it might be best to leave Atum's demasting out of the Y&Y report as it may be somewhat bad publicity. If anyone thinks otherwise then I will gladly write a little account of first time Cherub racing and the joys of losing a mast.

[Banshee Ambulance]

We did well to finish 3/4 races given we could not turn corners at all a couple of weeks ago! During an epic kite blast late on Sunday we hit a gust and the kite pole gave way. Big grins all round though. See you all for the circuit next year!

[B14_Al]

Hi, I'd just like to pass on thanks from the B14 fleet for allowing us to hijack your event- i think it worked pretty well, and I'm sure the club were more than happy to have the number of boats doubled.  it was certainly a big help to us as our TT has been a little chaotic this year with two events cancelling on us* and we rather forgot that changing builders would mean being disinvited to the Ovington Inlands.  I think we'd happily share with you lot again if it means getting into better venues.

As I'm our website editor, do you have any more photos from the weekend that have been "ruined" by a bunch of wide winged hiking boats? Can I nick that one of the boats on the shore- ideally with full accreditation for the photographer?

[Graham Bridle]

Thanks Al, I think the club and both classes benefitted from the increased numbers, we even all managed to sail round some of the worlds shortest courses without banging into each other too much.

I am sure there would be no objection on our side to doing it all again next year, I think the photo came from the race officer but Roland posted it, pretty sure neither will mind its distribution but Roland will be along soon to confirm.

[andy_peters]

I think sharing with the B14's worked OK, except for the last race where the short course and increased wind meant a 5 minute lap!!  The race officer did apologise generally afterwards for that slight 'miscalculation' - and asked me to pass it on.  If we return to QMSC I'll get a cast iron pledge from them that we will have the big side at least one day - I thought we had it this time and a bit miffed to be bumped by a bunch of toppers.  I guess their parents shout louder than us 

As to the racing, genuinely close is my recollection.  Our bad starts meant we were usually playing catch up.  In race 1 I think Phil and Graham were ahead, we passed Phil quite easily on the 2nd beat as he sailed into a light patch.  Graham I think we managed to pass on one of the runs.

The 2nd race John made a good showing.  We managed to pull out a bit of a lead but on the second downwind we sat pretty motionless in the middle whilst Jon and Graham twinned down the wall and Phil wired down the bund.  Good job the sky was already blue otherwise you would have seen my language.  Jon pulled into the lead and held that round the last windward mark through a combination of good boat speed and pointing.  He went off again in search of the wall gust whilst we gybed hunting the gust down the bund.  It was the bund that gusted and we arrived at the final leeward mark with a few boatlengths lead on quite a gaggle of Cherubs.  I think there was a bit of a slow down and sort out which Phil got the best of to finish 2nd and Jon just holding off Graham for 3rd.

On Sunday our appalling starting continued (as evidenced by the photo on this thread).  Paul on Ronin I think lead for most of the first race but we and Phil were catching and an untimely capsize by Ronin at the windward mark let Phil into the lead with us in hot pursuit.  Phil lead round the final windward mark first but a cunning early gybe into a gust put us over the top of them on the last run and we managed to sneak the win.  The most amusing part of the race was watching Kate gracefully disengage from Loco a few boatlengths before the line with Tom shouting out he would be back after he had finished!

In the final race increased wind and the close attentions of a number of B14's meant the cherubs got a little divided and we couldn't get too close.  I think Phil and Graham has a bit of a race at the front but Phil looked to have a pretty solid grip of first place.  Ronin was nibbling our heels in 4th but some B14 dirty wind pushed them back.

[Graham Bridle]

Suggested write up, I'll leave here for 24 hrs for people to edit. Please note that heavy detail on each race is deliberately missed out as I am using this as much as an advert for the class as a write up.

Cherub Inland Championships at Queen Mary SC


The baking weekend of October 1st and 2nd beckoned a healthy entry of 12 cherubs set to battle for the 2011 Inland title. The weather on the other hand had different ideas bringing 30 degrees but no wind.

On Saturday, after a long wait eventually the race officer got 2 races in around 5-8 knots of breeze. These light and testing conditions take real skill to maneuver modern narrow cherubs and Race 1 was a hotly contested affair with four different boats in first place, however in the end the Ellway 5 designs took line honours crewed by local talent Andy and Jill Peters, with Phil Kirk and  Nick Pratt closely behind.

In Race 2, another Ellway 5 design sailed by John Hamilton and Maff Kiddle joined the front runners as did current national champions Graham and Eddie Bridle in their Banshee design, however Peters and Kirk showed great consistency in the tricky conditions to take 1st and second respectively pushing Hamilton and Bridle down to 3rd and 4th. With time drawing on the Race officer decided two races was enough for the day.

On Sunday the crews had to wait again for wind in hot conditions. With 10 minutes to go before the Race Officers deadline a steady and building 5 knots of breeze arrived getting the fleet underway for a third race. This time newcomers Paul and Peter Jenkins appeared to have had their three Weetabix leading for a lap and eventually taking a cooling swim during the second hoist allowing E-Numbers and Riot Van through to battle it out, both eventually overtaken by the local Peters crew showing blistering speed once again.

Race 2 was started in nearer 10 knots of breeze and on the same short light wind course the fleet immediately headed into a pack of downwind B14’s that had started 5 minutes earlier causing some interesting avoiding maneuvers. This time E-numbers built up a comfortable lead from Riot Van and Usagi. With time ticking on and drives home beckoning the Race Officer again decided two races was enough and called it a day, undeterred however in sunny 15 knots now most Cherubs stayed out for another hour making the most of the flat water and warm breeze.

At the prize giving, 3rd was awarded to Graham and Eddie Bridle in Riot Van, 2nd to Phil Kirk and Nick Pratt in E-Numbers and the 2011 Inland Title for the 2nd year in succession to Andy and Jill Peters in Usagi Yojimbo.

Pleasing to see class newcomers at this event. Atum Bom crewed by Ben, Sam and Charlie (not at the same time) were learning loads from the fleet and this was clear in their improving performances on the water. Rob and Alex finally proved that the Banshee Ambulance does exist and that it can sail at speed when they get it right. Paul and Peter Jenkins (Just 12 years old) showed excellent consistency pulling in a 4th overall and on occasions worrying the front runners, definitely ones to watch, and new crew Katie Miller, Young Sailor of the year, with Tom Kiddle smiled constantly even if she wasn’t always attached to the boat.

This was the final event in the Cherub 2011 Travelers Trophy and the best attended outside of the nationals all season. President Graham Bridle said “We have had an excellent response to the class since we exhibited six Cherubs at the RYA Dinghy Exhibition in March, where the Cherubs also won the Prix-de-elegance award for the best looking boat in show. Since then we have several new crews in the fleet and more new boats being built, this is an exciting time for the Cherub fleet and 2012 looks set to be a cracker !”

The next event for the Cherubs is their annual sticky weekend. Held in Weston Super Mare this is a time for people to build carbon parts, previously masts, t-foil rudders, daggerboards and all manner of accessories have been made at this weekend and it’s a great place to learn the skills necessary to be able to build ideas over the winter from guys and girls that have been getting sticky all their lives. All are welcome to come and build, help, onlook or make tea. Usually a beer and a curry are standard wind down fare on Saturday night. For more information see the cherub website at www.uk-cherub.org

[roland_trim]

Raw upload form camera is below.

Some goof shots of Born Slippy and Duck wars, some average shots of almost everyone else and some very 3rd rate snaps. Some gif animations will be rescued form this- but if anyone spots anything they want in higher resolution please shout.

https://picasaweb.google.com/110044885139843498248/QMSCAll

[roland_trim]

So how many years was it since this shot was taken with Kiddles and Will in the same boat?

[Hayley_Trim]

Not quite this shot - to be fair Kiddles and Will were airborne off waves.

[Stuberry]

I can't edit posts anymore so please see below:

"and new crew Katie Miller, Young Sailor of the year, with Tom Kiddle smiled constantly even if she wasn’t always attached to the boat."

"improving performances on the water. Rob and Alex finally proved that the Banshee Ambulance"

[Hayley_Trim]

Sorted Stu - cheers

[B14_Al]

Raw upload form camera is below.

Some goof shots of Born Slippy and Duck wars, some average shots of almost everyone else and some very 3rd rate snaps.  Some gif animations will be rescued form this- but if anyone spots anything they want in higher resolution please shout.

https://picasaweb. google. com/110044885139843498248/QMSCAll

If I could get the high-res ones of B14s (especially the after-race ones of the yellow kite blasting :) ) it would be most appreciated- I'll put them on a gallery on our site.

[phil_kirk]

Hayley and I both did a write up in isolation last night.  I think yours is really good and deserves to be submitted.  I think Hayley was going to submitt soemthing today with a few choice photos.