20th March 2010
Very un-tropical weather greeted the British Moths for the SEVERN SAILBOATS and ENGLISH BRAIDS Sponsored “Suspense Trophy “ at Frampton. Blustery conditions and showers[persisted all day] that mediated thro the day provided testing conditions in the Class,s first Open of 2010. The first race,in the strongest breeze of the day,saw Jeremy Higson 861 fly off the line to lead from Tim Davison 846 and Roger Witts 880 at the windward mark and for half of the first lap.Davison took the lead on the final beat of the first lap only to be immediately overtaken by Witts. Witts and Davison were locked in their customary battle and tacking duels for two laps before Witts gradually edged away to take the win. Davison capsized on the 3rd Lap but righted after a brief swim and held onto 2nd place. Graham Pope 881 in the new and very attractive Severn Sailboats X Moth was 3rd with the quick starting Higson in 4th ahead of the main pack.
Race 2 in slightly less wind saw Davison and Witts at it again.Davison was first at the windward mark with Witts and ultra-lightweight Bill Gribble 838 pushing hard close behind down the first reach. Gribble fell back slightly on the next upwind leg to leave Davison and Witts to continue their duel as they edged away from the pack. Witts broke cover on the 2nd lap to head Davison for a lap only to let Davison thro on the final beat of the 3rd lap. Davison took the win,Witts was second with Pope scoring another 3rd in the newly launched X Moth. Behind Mark Wiltshire 872 took 4th with Gribble in 5th ahead of Ian Haywood 871 and Elaine Laverty 850. Race 3 was a personally handicapped event with the Fleet divided into 4 groups…with 2½ minutes separating the early starters from the two race winners, Visitor Simon Hall-Maidenhead S.C.[who was only visiting to pick up a Mast,but was loaned a boat]in 851 headed the Fleet only to be robbed of a good final position when his Halyard broke.The lighter breeze favouring Haywood [Frampton,s light wind specialist]who despite a 1½ minute penalty carved quickly through the main gaggle and lead for all 3 laps to take the win. Scratch starters Davison and Witts were also making rapid progress thro the fleet and eventually finished 2nd and 4th respectively.”Mr Consistency” Graham Pope splitting the two with another 3rd place. Gribble finished 5th,Higson 6th with Wiltshire 7th.
Tied on points overall, the discard gave Davison the overall win with Witts 2nd and that man Pope 3rd.
Event ”lubrication” was generously provided by Severn Sailboats plus contributions fro Frampton Moths. British Braids provided Dyneema lengths which were presented to the “luck less” Simon Hall,ever present at Frampton events Elaine Laverty,and Frampton stalwart Steve Kendall.
Special thanks also to very damp and cold Race Officers and Rescue Crews provided by the National 12 Fleet.
Interestingly Godfrey Clark boats of Davison and Haywood finished 1st and 4th with the new John Claridge built boats of Witts ands Wiltshire 2nd and 5th. The new Morrison lines of Pope.s X Moth also proving to be quick with a 3rd overall. Witts and Wiltshire used all carbon rigs with matched sails from North and Rowsell respectively. 2010 looks like being a very interesting and exciting year for the British Moths. Next event is at MWYC in Leamington Spa a new venue for the Moths.
Overall Results 1st – Tim Davison 846 – ------ Medley S.C. – 2 ¾ pts 2nd – Roger Witts 880 -------- FOSSC --------- 2 ¾ pts 3rd - Graham Pope 881 ----- FOSSC --------- 6 pts 4th - Ian Haywood 871 ------- FOSSC --------- 7 pts 5th - Mark Wiltshire 872 ----- FOSSC --------- 9 pts 6th - Bill Gribble 838 ---------- FOSSC --------- 10 pts 7th - Jeremy Higson 861 ----- FOSSC --------- 10 pts 8th - Elaine Laverty 850 ------- MWYC --------- 15 pts 9th – Richard Keefe 817 ------- SESCA -------- 16 pts 10th- Steve Kendall 639 -------- FOSSC -------- 21 pts 11th- Simon Hall 815 ------ Maidenhead S.C.- 23 pts
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Last Edited 21/09/2010