Posted 05/05/2009 - 18:07 by fiona
Saturday saw the start of the season 20 ThunderCats with many new teams including local boys Ben Crabb and Jack Gaving, Looe’s RNLI favourites; competed in the endurance race around the bay; luckily the weather changed and the mist was burnt away giving a clear sunny day to be enjoyed by all. From all of us we wish to give our thanks to Dave the local ‘Bobby’ for being our celebrity and handing out the awards.
Saturday Results:
P750 Blueprint 1st: Darryn Harrison & Sam Lane (Microlink) 2nd James Tapp & Byron Smith (VoomVoom) 3rd James Sinclair & Murray McGregor (Project 58)
P750 Standard 1st Bligh Julius & Simon Butters (Southampton Solent University) 2nd Etienne Burnett & Will Driscoll (Zig-Zag Clements) 3rd Jon & Edd Redman (Red Rourke)
Sunday saw an earlier start to the day with the boats racing the surf ‘M shape’ course although unfortunately the surf was more like ripples, although there was a strong wind that saw Charles Croswaite (the most amazing 65yr man you could ever meet) and Lee Flood from Castle Air enjoy a dip (no one hurt!) Excitement and challenges were definitely paramount with the teams that clearly have been testing through the winter striving forward leaving others feeling like they need to up their test programs before Hartlepool. Lynsay Crellin and Sarah Vik (Selftrade – all girls team) with little team practice prior gave the guys a run for their money and definitely one to watch for during the season. Unfortunately they had a hick-up and fell out of the boat in the finals but both are fine except for a few bruises on body and ego!! Girls you will be at the top soon!! As our local RNLI team from Looe won the standard class on the Sunday we had the pleasure to have Mr Colin Crabb a local Looe celebrity to host our final prize giving who just happened to be the winning team ‘Ben’s Dad’.
Sunday Results:
P750 Blueprint 1st James Tapp & Byron Smith (VoomVoom) 2nd: Darryn Harrison & Sam Lane (Microlink) 3rd James Sinclair & Murray McGregor (Project 58)
P750 Standard 1st Ben Crabb & Jack Gavin (RNLI) 2nd Etienne Burnett & Will Driscoll (Zig-Zag Clements) 3rd Jon & Edd Redman (Red Rourke)
Summary: A good start to a new season, competitors now see that ThunderCat racing is not about who can bump each other but tactics, set-up, testing and technical logging. The professionalism is definitely on a higher level with telemetry experts and prop specialists getting involved. Teams need to read the 2009 rules in further detail prior to the next race please!!
‘Characters of the Weekend’ has to go to Peter Bonham-Christie and William Andreae-Jones from Team ISIS! Well done chaps all the race officials loved you!
Overall winner of the events:
P750 Blue Print: Joint winners: Team VoomVoom & Team Microlink
P750 Standard: Team Zig-Zag Clements
A big thank you to:
- Ben Crabb and Jack Gavin for assisting us over the weekend.
- Alaistair Pearn the local event organiser for staging such a wonderful event.
- Looe Sailing Club for the kind hospitality and support, we are all looking forward to coming back to Looe!
- David Jackman (Commodore of the Looe Sailing Club) and his team of safety boats – looking after us so well.
- East Looe Town Trust – for allowing us to use their facilities, we much appreciated everyones help.
- David Haines and his Crew from the Looe RNLI – As ever always being there when you need them!
- The Harbour Master and committee for allowing us to race.
- The MCA and Police for keeping a watchful eye over us.
- Simon and his spinning Octopus
- Mr and Mrs Harvey from the beach front café
- All of the wonderful supporters and locals from Looe
- … Local businesses in Looe for giving us an excellent shopping spree (I think most of us all ended up with a car full of goodies; especially me!)
