2009 NORTHERN BRASS MONKEY SERIES

WEEK 1

A forecast for low wind speeds and even lower temperatures kept the turnout for the first week of West Riding SC’s Northern Brass Monkey Series to a stately 13 boats, with many promised visitors staying away.

Traces of ice round the water’s edge did not hinder launching, but it was slow progress to reach the mid-lake starting area with the race officer sensibly putting the start on hold until the fleet was fully in place. Once underway, however, the wind filled in from the west to produce reasonable conditions for the first of the two races, with upwind hiking required as the race progressed.

Tim Keighley’s Laser 8.1 got away cleanly to open up a substantial lead on the water round the first lap, but Mark Weston wound his Phantom up after a hesitant start to reel in the 8.1 and take line honours. In the middle of the fleet a bunch of Lasers had a great scrap with Abi Morgan managing to keep Adrian Thear at arms length all the way round. Amongst the Solos, John Gledhill’s early lead soon evaporated to James Porter’s downwind charge. Indeed James kept charging all the way round to finish 4^th on the water and a comfortable winner on handicap from Weston’s Phantom and Keighley’s 8.1.

The second race was held back-to-back to try and complete the day’s sport before the wind lost interest. This time Weston was very positive up the first beat and his Phantom soon pulled out what looked like a race winning lead, pursued by Keighley’s 8.1 and Mike Woodhead’s Finn. Once again the Lasers had a good battle with Thear holding the upper hand over Morgan for most of the race. However as the wind died in the closing stages, Morgan pulled back and got the last beat decidedly right to repeat her first race success. None of the Lasers were able to hold the two leading Solos of Porter and Gledhill. Gledhill again had a good start, but Porter revelled in the conditions to go ahead by the end of the first lap and start to make inroads on the faster boats ahead. Despite an agonisingly slow last beat, Porter made it to the line with seconds to spare to make it two wins in a row from Weston’s Phantom, with Gledhill 3^rd.Week 2 continues on Sunday 11^th January with the first race at 12 noon, the series continuing through to 22^nd February. It’s to be hoped more visitors will find a more encouraging forecast next week. At £2 per day or £10 for the series entry fee, it’s got to be a snip!