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The Exmoor Beastie - Wimbleball SC, Exmoor, Sunday 24th March
He has only gone and done it again!
Congratulations to Luca Mitchell on following up his win at North Devon YC's 'Wrecker' last month with a back to back win at the Exmoor Beastie at Wimbleball SC! Luca is the first RS Aero to win Exmoor Beastie trophy and finally tame the Beast for the Class since the RS Aero Class became good regular supporters of this event in 2017.
The 26 boat fleet was dominated with good turnouts from nine RS Aeros (eight 7s and one 9) and six K1 keelboats. This pursuit race is a absolute marathon! The slowest boats starting first have a 3 hour race. The RS Aeros started after 21 minutes with just a 1 minute head start on the K1s based on the 'Great Lakes' handicapping. That minute can evaporate very quickly with Wimbleball's challenging breezes!
Conditions were fresh to start with and the downwind start had some excitement with gusts sending the fleet planing towards the infamous Wimbleball Lake high sided narrows. First RS Aero 7 back through the narrows was Luca Michell with Iain Horlock and Peter Barton in hot pursuit. By the end of lap one the RS Aero 7s were up to 2nd with Peter leading Luca after a breezy beat. Luca overtook back again as Peter had a slow exit to the narrows but with a dream shift up the next beat Luca and Peter were back alongside each other as they took the lead from Val Millward's Challenger half way through the race. At this stage with good gusts promoting occasional planing on the first lap the RS Aeros were still holding the K1s at bay.
As the race went on the breeze gradually softened. Luca slid away from Peter and the ever present lead K1 of Simon Hawkes began to make ground. Simon overtook Peter at the end of the long trundling broad reach and half a lap later caught Luca for the lead with 30 minutes still remaining. Luca and Simon were within a few boat lengths all the way back downwind down the lake. With the breeze softening the lead duo reached the narrows again with 15 minutes remaining. By now they were worse than ever, even with some wind inversion and a moment's beating! Luca snuck back onto the lead by the bottom mark but as they returned back through the narrows the K1 snuck by again in the fickle breeze as the final minutes ticked down.
Wimbleball Lake can be a challengingly cruel venue to race sailboats, but there will be winners and heros. So it was, in the final minute the Beast released a timely late swirling puff of wind. Luca adjusted his cap, then accelerated his RS Aero sailing around the K1 to finish just clear ahead as the final seconds of the 3 hour race timed out and the music stopped, to become one of the great legends of Exmoor.
100 meters back Peter had his own dramas to contend as with 10 minutes to go the chasing pack of 4 boats had gained several hundred metres with a good following breeze to the narrows. Peter just hung onto 3rd from the next K1 and Blaze after a very tense narrows finish. Zak Mitchell sailed a great race catching up close to Peter in the end to take 6th with Iain Horlock a short way behind in 8th.
Thanks to Wimbleball SC for another great day out racing on Exmoor, 240 metres up, and thanks to Exmoor Ales for their generous support with their tasty beer. Mark your calendars for next year's event!
RESULTS
Reply
He has only gone and done it again!
Congratulations to Luca Mitchell on following up his win at North Devon YC's 'Wrecker' last month with a back to back win at the Exmoor Beastie at Wimbleball SC! Luca is the first RS Aero to win Exmoor Beastie trophy and finally tame the Beast for the Class since the RS Aero Class became good regular supporters of this event in 2017.
The 26 boat fleet was dominated with good turnouts from nine RS Aeros (eight 7s and one 9) and six K1 keelboats. This pursuit race is a absolute marathon! The slowest boats starting first have a 3 hour race. The RS Aeros started after 21 minutes with just a 1 minute head start on the K1s based on the 'Great Lakes' handicapping. That minute can evaporate very quickly with Wimbleball's challenging breezes!
Conditions were fresh to start with and the downwind start had some excitement with gusts sending the fleet planing towards the infamous Wimbleball Lake high sided narrows. First RS Aero 7 back through the narrows was Luca Michell with Iain Horlock and Peter Barton in hot pursuit. By the end of lap one the RS Aero 7s were up to 2nd with Peter leading Luca after a breezy beat. Luca overtook back again as Peter had a slow exit to the narrows but with a dream shift up the next beat Luca and Peter were back alongside each other as they took the lead from Val Millward's Challenger half way through the race. At this stage with good gusts promoting occasional planing on the first lap the RS Aeros were still holding the K1s at bay.
As the race went on the breeze gradually softened. Luca slid away from Peter and the ever present lead K1 of Simon Hawkes began to make ground. Simon overtook Peter at the end of the long trundling broad reach and half a lap later caught Luca for the lead with 30 minutes still remaining. Luca and Simon were within a few boat lengths all the way back downwind down the lake. With the breeze softening the lead duo reached the narrows again with 15 minutes remaining. By now they were worse than ever, even with some wind inversion and a moment's beating! Luca snuck back onto the lead by the bottom mark but as they returned back through the narrows the K1 snuck by again in the fickle breeze as the final minutes ticked down.
Wimbleball Lake can be a challengingly cruel venue to race sailboats, but there will be winners and heros. So it was, in the final minute the Beast released a timely late swirling puff of wind. Luca adjusted his cap, then accelerated his RS Aero sailing around the K1 to finish just clear ahead as the final seconds of the 3 hour race timed out and the music stopped, to become one of the great legends of Exmoor.
100 meters back Peter had his own dramas to contend as with 10 minutes to go the chasing pack of 4 boats had gained several hundred metres with a good following breeze to the narrows. Peter just hung onto 3rd from the next K1 and Blaze after a very tense narrows finish. Zak Mitchell sailed a great race catching up close to Peter in the end to take 6th with Iain Horlock a short way behind in 8th.
Thanks to Wimbleball SC for another great day out racing on Exmoor, 240 metres up, and thanks to Exmoor Ales for their generous support with their tasty beer. Mark your calendars for next year's event!
RESULTS
Reply
26/03/2024 01:47:00
Peter Barton
Posts: 4683
The Exmoor Beastie - Wimbleball SC, Exmoor, Sunday 24th March
Sailing Southwest Winter Series
So far 10 RS Aeros are entered for this Sunday and a nice fresh breeze is forecast. So we can expect an exciting Class race within the main pursuit race whilst enjoying Exmoor's splendid passing scenery! Are the planets coming into alignment for the RS Aeros to finally clinch this Exmoor classic?!
Any more late joiners?
FUN FACT: at 240m above see level Wimbleball SC on Exmoor is the highest sailing club water in southern England. It is also undoubtedly one of the prettiest!
Reply
20/03/2024 16:02:00
Peter Barton
Posts: 4683
The Exmoor Beastie - Wimbleball SC, Exmoor, Sunday 24th March
Sailing Southwest Winter Series
Chase and be Chased!
That is the fun of a Pursuit Race and what better way to enjoy a long one than by the race course exploring all the various arms and narrows of Wimbleball Lake high up on Exmoor!
With 10 RS Aeros already signed up we can enjoy some good Class racing too within the mixed Clas event.
An RS Aero has never won this event. Could you be the first?!
Online Entry & NoR
Reply
17/03/2024 22:56:00
Peter Barton
Posts: 4683
The Exmoor Beastie - Wimbleball SC, Exmoor, Sunday 24th March
Sailing Southwest Winter Series
10 RS Aeros are now signed up for the Exmoor Beastie. Over half of the mixed class fleet so far!
Online Entry, Entry List & NoR
An annual mass Pursuit Race classic at the rural Wimbleball Sailing Club that takes in a scenic tour of the branches of the beautiful Wimbleball Lake, high up on Exmoor.
10 RS Aeros are now signed up for the Exmoor Beastie. Over half of the mixed class fleet so far!
Online Entry, Entry List & NoR
An annual mass Pursuit Race classic at the rural Wimbleball Sailing Club that takes in a scenic tour of the branches of the beautiful Wimbleball Lake, high up on Exmoor.
This is the final event of the 2023-24 Sailing Southwest UK Winter Series and RS Aeros are in contention for podium places overall! Come and join in for a lovelly day out racing up on Exmoor, with an excellent Class race at Wimbleball shaping up within the main event!
Make it an extra special double header RS Aero weekend with the Burghfield Open on the Saturday!
FUN FACT: at 240m above see level Wimbleball SC on Exmoor is the highest sailing club water in southern England. It is also undoubtedly one of the prettiest!
Reply
10/03/2024 22:52:00
Peter Barton
Posts: 4683
The Exmoor Beastie - Wimbleball SC, Exmoor, Sunday 24th March
Sailing Southwest Winter Series
An annual mass Pursuit Race classic at the rural Wimbleball Sailing Club that takes in a scenic tour of the branches of the beautiful Wimbleball Lake, high up on Exmoor.
An annual mass Pursuit Race classic at the rural Wimbleball Sailing Club that takes in a scenic tour of the branches of the beautiful Wimbleball Lake, high up on Exmoor.
Several RS Aeros are already signed up for this final event of the 2023-24 Sailing Southwest Winter Series - come and join them for a lovelly day out racing up on Exmoor!
Online Entry & NoR
FUN FACT: at 240m above see level Wimbleball SC on Exmoor is the highest sailing club water in southern England. It is also undoubtedly one of the prettiest!
Reply
23/02/2024 00:08:00
Peter Barton
Posts: 4683
