THE LAST RACE OF THE YEAR FOR ACCESS TRAVELLERS.
We left Ipswich at 7pm on Tuesday heading along the A12. After 15 miles Judy asked me if I had packed the parcel Johnty wanted me to deliver to Frensham Pond! I thought she had packed it so back we go to Ipswich again and now we are an hour behind. We drove through the night and parked up outside Frensham Pond at 1am and we slept till 7am when the dogs in the kennels oposite started barking. We were let in at 8-30am and we start rigging the boats hoping Chris Atkins is not held up in traffic as he has the keels. Then our disadvantage started showing. There were instructions to register within 3 minutes then at the other end of the site we have 3minutes again to attend the briefing and everything is one mad rush. This is OK for the other sailors as they have a team each rigging their boats and getting them afloat. We dress quickly and eventually get afloat but there is no wind! We manage to get to the start but some boats have to be towed there. Chris Atkins is very experienced and he can handle light airs whereas we prefer plenty of wind to mask our lack of experience and skill. We get away OK but the whole fleet just floats round the course with the more experienced leading the way. Unfortunately this was the pattern for the whole day and we never made the first four in any of the races.
The host club were excellent and tea was supplied free in the club house as the season came to a close. We now know many of the other sailors by first names and an enjoyable day finished with friendly and muscular chaps loading the boats back on the trailer. It is at times like this it is apparent just how much we have relied on Brian Honour and now Sam Honour is not racing Access Dinghies we are without help and must rely upon the good nature of the host club and Frensham are definitely among the best hosts. We left and drove through the night back to Ipswich where we arrived at 11-30pm and were soon asleep in our bed. I have posted a selection of pics and as readers can see most boats are sponsored/supplied by various Rotary Clubs throughout the UK and to them us sailors are very gratefull indeed. Here is a link to the pictures;
http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/peterturtill/FenshamPond?feat=directlink
Next year Judy and I want to race in every race meeting in the Traveller series but that must depend upon the continuing support of Johnty Dickerson and the Woolverstone Project.
pete
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