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

2010

The Northants Police Open Regatta will take place this year Wednesday, 13th October, 2010.

Local Regatta dates for 2010 :

Regattas start at 2pm on Thursday afternoons (except where shown below) at Northampton Sailing Club, Pitsford Reservoir.

16th April (Friday), 7th May (Friday), 20th May, 17th June,
1st July, 22nd July, 2nd September, 23rd September

Northants Fire Service v. Northants Police Regatta details for 1st July and race results - see below.

16th April, 2010

An excellent turnout for the first regatta of the season with 6 Lasers, all sporting a Standard rig, which was pretty brave considering the blustery conditions (25mph) which first greeted the competitors on arrival at Pitsford. However, with the wind fairly constant coming down the reservoir and a bright, sunny afternoon, conditions were inviting for those sailing for the first time this year.

Thus, Race One started in windy conditions with a small course around the buoys and allowing for just one gybe mark. Three boats mainly contended for the lead but Colman, having found the best way up the first beat, kept a lead throughout the race although consistently harassed by Middleditch with Dearsley not far behind.

For Race Two the course was changed slightly to introduce a longer beat and two gybe marks. This time Middleditch and Colman vied for the lead. Wind conditions were not as strong but managed to catch out Fathers tacking near the windward mark, capsizing and losing touch with the fleet. Ahead, three boats stretched away with Middleditch involved in a luffing match with Colman towards the leeward mark - and getting his revenge by the finish.

Conditions eased somewhat for Race Three and the course was made longer with a dead run introduced. At the first mark Osborne was in the lead but closely pressed by Colman and Middleditch. As the wind became slowly lighter, holes were appearing in the wind and the beat became a bit of a lottery. Positions therefore altered considerably and Colman finding himself once more in the lead, managed to sit tight and keep the rest of the fleet at bay. At the finish Colman was over the line first with Sivers working his way through the fleet to be 2nd and Middleditch, just behind 3rd. Osborne's excellent start enabled him to finish ahead of Dearsley with Fathers, completing all three races in his first racing regatta, a happy 6th.

Northants Police Sailing Section members gather for their first 'local' regatta of the season

Friday, 7th May, 2010

Despite a moderate turnout on the shoreline at Pitsford, the inclement weather determined that racing was abandoned. The Series now reverts to 21 races; 10 discards.

Thursday, 20th May, 2010

There was only the slightest breeze to push the three contestants round the buoys. Nevertheless, Dearsley spent a little while in the water, having been caught out balancing on the leeside of his Laser when his mainsheet became uncleated, allowing him to slip ungracefully into the reservoir. Meanwhile, Sivers and Middleditch, after hurling recovery advice across the water, managed to slip away, but only for a while. The vagaries of the light airs allowed Dearsley to get within a couple of boat-lengths of the two leaders when rounding the penultimate mark together. All depended on position on the water, should the wind pick up. It never did and Middleditch held his slim lead to the end.
After a little deliberation on the shore, it was decided to call it a day with the wind unlikely to propel boats around a proper course. Thus Races 2 & 3 were scrubbed.
We are now down to 19 races to score in the Northants Rosebowl series.

It is hoped to send three boats to the Police Sport UK Dinghy Championships which take place at Chew Valley Lake in June - before the next 'local' regatta.

17th June, 2010

A perfect day for sailing. Bright, sunny conditions and a moderate to fresh breeze equating to F4/5, making up for recent regattas when races were cancelled. Four full rig Lasers turned out for the three races held.

Race One was a simple triangular course which included one gybe mark. 3 laps. Colman sped ahead from the off and the close racing developed between Osborne and Fathers. On lap 2  it looked as if they would catch Colman up who had got caught out at the end of a long run and tipped over, but managed to right the boat almost immediately. On the windward leg of lap 3 Osborne, fresh from his endeavours at the Police Dinghy Nationals got caught by the wind, luffed up and just started to go backwards before recovering, giving Fathers the opportunity to reach the windward mark first and retain his position to the finish some minutes after Colman but well ahead of Osborne.

Race Two was a figure-of-eight course which included two gybe marks. The wind remained fresh. 2 laps. At the start, Osborne on a flyer was judged 'over the line' and quickly returned to re-start. This gave Colman, who was suffering with 'tennis elbow', the opportunity to get ahead and, with no immediate pressure apparent, relax a little. Fathers had a poor start and once again he and Osborne were in close proximity throughout the race. Slowly Osborne caught up, managed to round the windward mark just feet ahead of Fathers to maintain that position until the end of the race which was won easily by Colman.

Race Three; same course. Colman secured yet another solid win. The race became a close competition between Osborne and Fathers vying throughout the race to secure second place. They were rarely further than 30 yards apart and by the time they came to the last gybe mark, they were still almost touching. Osborne rounded the mark ahead with Fathers, when trying to squeeze inside, struck the buoy with the end of the boom and was obliged to take the penalty. Thus, by the last mark, Osborne looked to have second place in the bag. Rounding the leeward mark he stayed on a starboard tack just a little too long, then tacked to find Fathers just ahead and nearer the finish line. It was a fortunate shift in the wind combined with lots of recent training which gave Fathers his revenge, crossing the line in second place with Osborne third, some six seconds behind.

It had been a splendid afternoon's sailing and good practice for the Northants Police v. Northants Fire Service regatta which takes place next time.

1st July, 2010 -       (Northants Police v. Northants Fire Service)

Apart from the results counting towards the Rose Bowl series, the afternoon represented a regatta with a difference. Six Northants police sailors turned out to compete against a team representing Northants Fire Service; an event last held two years ago. The previous day at Pitsford conditions had been still, but for the regatta the wind perked up to a good Force 4 - gusting Force 5; wind strengths which a number of competitors were experiencing for the first time. Nevertheless, all 11 competitors (6 Police, 5 Fire Service) braved the conditions for every race.

The first race was a 'figure of eight' course which effectively had two gybe marks which was always going to be a challenge for all competitors. From the beginning, the rescue boat was kept busy as boats coped with the southerly wind blowing straight over the dam and up the reservoir. Most boats managed to start whilst one Laser managed to scupper an opposition Laser running through his mainsheet. Was that how it was going to be?!! Meanwhile, the fastest boat, Adrian & Sarah Sherratt (Fire/Merlin Rocket) carved its way up the beat closely followed by Martyn Emberson (Fire/Laser) and Richard Sivers (Police/Laser Radial) then Steve Middleditch (Police/Laser) who lost use of the kicker for a while and fell back. Mid fleet came Kevin Colman (Police/Radial), Allen Henson (Fire/Solo) and Martyn Dearsley (Police/Radial). The back markers were finding it literally 'heavy weather' and some lost their way. Fortunately, the rescue boat was always on hand to attend and help out; it having been decided that there would be no penalty for having their assistance on this especially windy occasion. Despite the struggle, 8 out of the 11 recorded a finish with the Sherratts first on corrected time by over a minute and Sivers second by one second over Emberson. Then it was a dash ashore to sort out problems and repairs.

The wind never abated though there was the odd time when the wind would drop only to come back with ferocity. After spending a large amount of time in the water during the first race, Dominic Goble (Fire/Laser) changed down his rig to a Radial - this is a friendly competition... After sorting the various problems ensuing from Race One, all competitors got afloat for the next race.

Race Two was a simple triangle and a smaller course which kept the rescue boat in close proximity to the fleet most of the time. The start was somewhat biased towards the pin end which gave good starts to Emberson, Henson and Sivers. After the short beat, a good reach then a very broad reach which, at times changed into a run. The one gybe mark caught a few out but nowhere was safe as the wind changed direction and force constantly. The Merlin shot ahead eventually getting five laps in before the race was stopped. The heavy conditions and the course suited Emberson who came first on corrected time by 17 seconds, Sherratts second, Sivers third, four seconds behind with the Solo in close fourth. Clive Beasley (Fire) sailing the Pico single-handed managed well after early repairs following the first race and managed to stay upright throughout the race whilst Ben Fathers (Police/Laser) and Goble also complete two laps to record finishes. Amazingly, 10 out of the 11 boats completed the course.

Races Three was held back-to-back.  Back to the 'figure of eight' course and the dreaded two gybes. - and the wind still blew. The majority of helms managed to start the race at the gun. The wind had backed slightly towards SSE, again giving a slight advantage to pin end starters - but not for long as making the windward mark still took a number of tacks. Sailing was close among the leaders and the Solo was not so far behind and in contact with the Lasers. The last race saw a number struggling as tiredness crept in after so many capsizes.  Part of the race became to avoid capsized boats; particularly a pair of Lasers which appeared to be mating. An early retirement was Goble who succumbed to a broken mast and torn sail for his trouble. Sivers retired after recovering from a capsize leaving the first three places to be filled by Team Fire with the Sherratts first on corrected time by a second from Henson's Solo and Emberson third. All eventually got ashore with everyone intact bar a few bumps and bruises.

It had been a hard afternoon's racing yet eight out of the eleven finished all three races.

Although many of the participants are 'regular' sailors, both teams had varying standards of ability and the middle fleet had had a strong part to play in the final points position. The overall results indicated a good win for the Fire Service. Prizes were presented to the winning team and a donation made to Northampton Sailability.

We are grateful to both rear-commodores at NSC who volunteered their time to run the event and with the local Sailability who provided Rescue - and without whom the event may not have taken place.

22nd July, 2010

Attendance was a little disappointing for a mid-summer regatta. Four full rig Lasers took part on an afternoon which provided varied conditions. The forecast was for the odd shower of rain..

The first race was a simple triangle in very light winds and where starting well was important, thus providing an upset to the usual pecking order with Dearsley, still suffering with his injured wrist, having a distinct lead until half-way up the first beat where Osborne managed to tack in the right places to end up first to the windward buoy. From there on, it became a procession with Osborne followed by Sivers, then Middleditch and Dearsley who had lost his way in the wind which had now started to vary in direction and strength, influenced by the grey clouds gathering above.

After a break ashore, Race Two was another triangle using a slightly different course as now, the wind was veering some 45 degrees and thus, the fleet was introduced to a 'running start'. Then the rains came.. Fortunately, so did the wind which made up for the thorough soaking received. With boats now planing on the reaches in a good wind the race was quickly completed to run the third race back-to-back.

By this time the wind had changed from east to north. A different start line but another running start; this time the course was set clockwise. At the start there was a significant amount of sound effects emanating from the heavy clouds but little evidence of lightning. Sivers, pressed closely throughout by Middleditch, maintained a lead to the end of the three lap race whilst Dearsley just managed to squeeze over the finish line before Osborne.

There had been no capsizes but it wouldn't have mattered too much as the reservoir water was distinctly warmer that the rain - and given half an excuse, might have been preferred.. Boats and sails were packed up in the drying conditions and the 'après sail' was enjoyed immensely with everyone staying on to enjoy home-made cakes personally baked by one of the competitors. A pleasant end to the day's regatta.

2nd September, 2010

Despite the forecast indicating light airs, five Lasers enjoyed varying winds maxing at 17mph which made for easy sailing in the late summer sun. The reservoir was infested with boats from the fishing lodge involved in a competition and courses were planned accordingly with a view to avoiding problems.

In Race One Colman sprang into the lead hotly pursued by Middleditch. Negotiating a gybe mark combined with a fishing boat intent on floating up-wind allowed Middleditch to get ahead and the pursuers to catch up. At the finish Middleditch had a clear lead followed by Colman and Dearsley who, having managed to ram Colman at the final gybe mark, did his penalty to come third followed by Osborne and Sivers.

The second race was planned as a long beat to 'M' with a zig-zag downwind to encourage some planing conditions. It didn't quite work out and the course ended up as boring. Middleditch again finished well ahead whilst behind, it was Osborne's turn to hit Colman thus giving away a safe second place.

By Race Three the wind had picked up to its maximum for the afternoon. The wind had changed direction and it was a beat to 'D' before a close haul to 'M', another close haul to 'X' positioned by the woods, then a long dead run to 'C' for the finish. The angles made it hard work to reach each buoy without tacking whilst the run could be negotiated on port or starboard. This time Sivers sailed in anger to be first finisher with Middleditch, Colman, Dearsley and Osborne all close together, not so far behind.

It had been an enjoyable afternoon with some close racing. All five stayed behind for the 'apres-sail' when matters pertaining the Northants Open regatta in October were discussed over an early evening aperitif..

23rd September, 2010

Just four boats for the final local regatta of the season; 3 Lasers and a Pico. A light wind of anything between 3 and 15 mph but the promised rain held off to make conditions easy for the Laser but not enough wind for the Pico.

The first race comprised a short beat with 3 gybes downwind. The boats soon spread out with Dearsley, having opted for the right hand side of the beat, establishing a clear lead until the end of the race. Race Two was kept short with a simple triangle with Dearsley again winning. The last race of the season started with a short beat to 'C' followed by the long trek down to the Causeway and round 'H' buoy, then a beat all the way back to 'C'. Despite the long race Dearsley and Osborne remained extremely close to each other all the way to Holcot and halfway back up the beat where Osborne nudged ahead. Coming round Edge, both boats were together, hovering in the middle of the reservoir and tacking in the wind which was slowly dropping at the end of the afternoon. Once more Dearsley chose the right hand side of the beat which gave him the win by nearly a minute after a 50 minute race. With the wind dropping, Fathers (currently 'Laserless') in the Pico limped in nearly 30 minutes later. Nevertheless, the race to Holcot and been the best race of the afternoon followed by the usual relaxation on the club balcony whilst plans for the future were discussed.

Congratulations to Steve Middleditch on being the overall series winner, beating Kevin Colman by just 2 points. Both were absent from the last regatta.

NPSC - Previous winners of the local regatta series: