Hi,
Hard to believe this, but sailing was postponed for more than an hour at the AODR 2014 (Anglesey Offshore Dinghy Race) due to a lack of wind, followed by a visit by the remains of Hurricane Bertha later in the day! That was the calm before the storm!
Earlier in the day Race Officer Jez Entwistle, a sometimes Phantom sailor, had “tested the waters” near to the finishing line some 15 miles away and decided that the sea was too rough. A good decision as the AODR handicap fleet would have become stretched over a long distance, making safety cover very difficult.
Strange, rough seas at the finish line and flat calm at the start line – that’s long distance races!
Plan B was a windward and leeward course between Beaumaris and Bangor. This presented a few “logistical” problems for sailors who had already dropped off their car, trailer, trolley and clothes at the finish line.
The race started at noon in a force 3 with the tide falling. During the race the wind increased and so did the strength of the tide. Options for hugging the shore where the tide was less, or going for open water with more wind, had little effect which evened out the tactics. The final run was exciting as the wind has increased to a force 5 – great fun.
Final positions:
1st, 1347 Chris Biglin, Shustoke SC
2nd, 1158 Jim Hopton, Shustoke SC
3rd, 1111, Ollie Shaw, Leigh and Lowton SC
4th, 1175, Matt Harris, Southport SC
5th, 1229, Steve Norris, Red Wharf Bay SC
6th, 1263, Alan Knock, Port Dinorwic SC
Phantom North 2014 series results so far can be found at
https://www.facebook.com/ollie.shaw.16 Ollie Shaw.
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Topic: Phantoms at the AODR 2014 - report (Read 1476 times)