This Page provides details of Northamptonshire Police Sailing Section, their local regattas and related information.

2008

Due to the Section hosting this year's Police Nationals, The Northants Police Open Regatta is unlikely to take place. A final decision will be made later in the year.

Local Regatta dates for 2008 :

17th April, 15th May, 5th June, 26th June,
10th July, 7th August, 4th September, 18th September.
 

All dinghy regattas are Thursday afternoons, starting at 2pm.

17th April, 2008

Dinghy racing for 17th April was cancelled due to winds gusting over 30 mph. The opportunity was taken to hold a meeting regarding the PSUK Dinghy Champs being hosted by Northants Police Sailing Section.

On Thursday afternoon 10th July, it is proposed to run the Northants Fire Brigade vs. Northants Police regatta.

15th May, 2008
 

After the recent warm, sunny days the weather has now broken. Grey, overcast conditions with showers greeted the four Lasers taking part in this Thursday's local regatta. All competitors used a standard rig, making the Race Officer's job simple by avoiding handicap calculations.

In Race One all four boats were on the line to make a perfect start but by the first reach they had strung out to a procession with Steve Middleditch leading, followed by Kevin Colman, Martyn Dearsley then Phil Osborne. The wind, coming from the north-east provided a constant breeze and all continued in the race without capsizing. The result would have been a clear win for Middleditch except that he ended up disqualified having 'outside help' - Never ask of a fellow competitor which is the next buoy... Osborne also ended up disqualified having missed out the 'gate' on the first lap.

A scrappy start to Race Two with boats close on the line. There was a collision resulting in Dearsley obliged to turn circles before continuing. Ahead, Colman managed to sit on his mainsheet, broach and end up perched on the rim of his Laser gunwale while Middleditch and Osborne sped on. Middleditch again managed to stretch out a lead whilst Colman pursued Osborne for the rest of the race then, with a noticeably fuller sail, catching up on the last downwind leg and just beating Osborne over the line at the finish.

By Race Three the wind had increased to around 20 mph, but remained fairly steady. A disappointed Osborne found himself over the start line, then having a problem with his mainsheet in the wind, decided to come ashore early. The remaining three worked their way up the first beat with Colman in the lead and Middleditch close behind. The positions remained thus until the last lap when Colman, tacking near the first mark, found himself with too much weather helm, got in irons and going backwards. By the end of the race, Middleditch was first, Colman second and Dearsley closing fast, third.

By and large, the conditions had provided an excellent test prior the the Police Nationals in June.

5th June, 2008

Albeit one racer couldn't get out of bed in time, 4 Lasers took to the water in preparation for next week's Police Nationals being hosted by the Sailing Section. The wind, though light at times, was enough to push the competitors round the buoys: Dick Sivers, Kevin Colman, Phil Osborne and Martyn Dearsley.

With no race officer on the shore, the starts comprised of looking at everybody else to check they weren't over the line.

Race One. Although a small course, the first lap took the leading boat 20 minutes to complete. The light winds made for concentration to avoid the odd hole on the water.
Race Two. Dick Sivers away in the lead again but the other three boats stayed in a cluster fighting for position on a course which comprised mainly a beat and a run - good practice. Osborne having muffed the first race, had an excellent start also got an opportune lift on the final beat to gain a good second place with Dearsley third and Colman, who had had a bad start then hit a mark, fourth.
Race Three. Same course with slightly increased wind-strength providing the odd planing conditions. Using a small windward buoy situated in a corner of the reservoir had made negotiation difficult and positions were liable to change during the race. Colman almost caught Sivers on the last beat, Osborne followed and Dearsley fell badly behind having got stuck in a hole during the race. Despite the race having finished, the latter three decided to sail another lap: it had been a good day to be out on the water.

26th June, 2008

It looks as if June is turning out to be quite a windy month. Four Lasers turned out to take part in the only race, with winds increasing to 30 mph. The full rig Laser (Phil Osborne) retired early whereas the three others - Martyn Dearsley, Kevin Colman, Dick Sivers - opting for a Radial rig, just about managed to get round the course to survive the 30 minute race. Positions altered during the race what with the odd capsize, mainsheet jamming, and those little problems that only beset you when the wind has decided to take over. Race Result: 1st Sivers, 2nd Colman, 3rd Dearsley - in no way indicating the course of events which punctuated the race.

A patient wait on the shore to see if the wind would settle proved pointless and the rest of the afternoon was given over to other pursuits.

10th July, 2008 (Northants Police vs. Northants Fire Brigade)

Report -Results - Picture-gallery for the Northants Police v. Northants Fire Brigade

Race results incorporated into 'Local' regatta race results - see 'Series race details' hyperlink below.

7th August, 2008

After a morning of dismal, heavy showers, the weather brightened for the afternoon's racing. Four Lasers took to the water seeking out a suitable course for the extremely light conditions which prevailed at the beginning of the afternoon.

Race One - a simple triangle - which tested the concentration in the light airs. The odd puff would come across the reservoir and soon sorted out the the four boats lead up the beat by Sivers, then Osborne, Colman and Dearsley. In such conditions Luck had a strong influence. Hove to after the finish a snake, espied making his way across the water, took a determined look at the stern of Colman's boat - maybe looking far a place to board and rest - then swam on having posed for a picture..

Conditions made for close racing

The wind slowly came in for the rest of the afternoon and close racing ensued for Races Two & Three; the stronger conditions creating situations on the buoys where a knowledge of the rules became a factor. However, it was the long beats that mainly decided fortunes as positions continually changed. The wind was never constantly from one direction and although the strength varied between F1 to F2 there were still the odd holes that appeared on the water.

Martyn Dearsley hikes out to win the third race

In the warm sunny conditions with an increasing breeze the three races were completed without further sightings of denizens from the deep... 

Come on in - the water's lovely...

4th September, 2008

The usual suspects arrived at Pitsford with the site awash with teeming rain, to deliberate whether to sail. The wind was fairly light and steady and the water still warm from the (?)Summer's influence. After a little thought given to the conditions and a determination to make the most of the afternoon, all five in Lasers soon got afloat. A handy flag and mini-buoy situated in the middle of the reservoir provided a suitable start-line to sail the three races back-to-back.

Boats position themselves for the start of Race One

Race One: C - D - M - X - Line. 3 laps. Middleditch took an early lead followed by Colman, Osborne, Dearsley then Sivers. Grey clouds were bringing the odd gust across the water and on the first beat Osborne succumbed to his only capsize of the day. The 50 minute race with a long beat to windward from 'X' to 'C' gave plenty of opportunity for positions to change throughout the race. On the very last broad reach from 'M' to ''X' Sivers managed to overtake Middleditch, then cover him on the short beat to take line honours.

Race Two: C - D - W - M - X - Line. 2 laps. At the windward mark Colman had a clear lead only to capsize whilst avoiding hitting 'C' buoy; this gave the opportunity for Sivers and Middleditch to overtake. The race included a short dead run from 'D' to 'W' which provided some interesting moments whilst boats decided which was the best tack down-wind.

Steve Middleditch finishes Race Two

Race Three: C - D - W - P - M - Line. 3 laps. The course was again altered for the final race with a view to include a second beat from 'W' to 'P', a second short run 'P' to 'M' plus providing a fast reach from 'M' to hook directly through the finish line. Blue skies having eventually appeared, the wind changed direction slightly giving Sivers the opportunity to take the advantage from a port tack start and just manage to get clear ahead of the rest of the fleet. However, leading positions constantly changed and for the majority of the race Middleditch, Colman and Sivers vied for the lead whilst behind, Dearsley and Osborne were having their own private battle. By the last lap Colman had dropped away leaving Middleditch and Sivers to dispute the final outcome.

For the race results and an update of the overall positions before the final regatta of the season - see 'Series race details' hyperlink below.

18th September, 2008

The last regatta of the season was something of an anticlimax as just three boats took part in winds that hardly got above 5mph. At least the weather stayed fine.

Race One was a simple triangular course where a good start in next to no wind decided the outcome. Kevin Colman got away well and was first over the finish line.

The wind direction - and strength - had varied all afternoon and a larger course was created for Race Two. Martyn Dearsley made the perfect start, reaching to the correct end of the start and getting good enough speed to develop a healthy lead on the first beat. However, the wind showed every sign of dropping out and he was soon caught up by Colman. By lap two the lead became a simple dispute between Colman and Dick Sivers and with the race already taking some 50 minutes also the wind conditions showing no sign of improvement, it was decided to call a halt to the day's sailing.

Conditions were just too light to justify a third race..

Thus the 2008 season of 'local' regattas came to a quiet end. Final overall positions can be viewed via the Series race details hyperlink below.

NPSC - Previous winners of the local regatta series: