There were 26 entries for the Masters sailed over three days in Hayling Bay. They were joined over the weekend by the less mature to provide an open meeting for any Finn sailors wanting to join in.

Friday saw ideal conditions for Masters – a good force 3 providing planing conditions and waves over a triangular course. John Greenwood and Adrian Brunton lead the first beat from Martin Hughes, John De Leeuw and Neil Robinson. Pumping was not at this stage “open” as judge Chris Watts explained to Neil by way of whistle and yellow flag. By the end of the reaches Graeme Macdonald had moved into third spot ahead of Alan Burrell, both of them showing the downwind speed of the B4. However Graeme could not maintain his speed upwind and compounded this by losing two places on the line to Dave Potter and Graham Page, with Alan Burrell finishing third behind John and Adrian who were never seriously challenged.  

Race 2 saw much the same order but was marred by both Tony Lock and Graham Page being BFD. There was place changing as a 25 degree veer hit the course with Richard Hart and Graeme being on the wrong side of it as they fought out their private battle, won by Richard on this occasion. The race officer expertly swung the course and racing was fair through to the finish with the same front three being followed by David Potter and Neil Robinson. Racing was followed by supper and the rugby –the sailing had been infinitely better than the rugby! 

Saturday dawned bright and warm and before climate change would have promised a stiff sea breeze. As it was we raced in a light south-easterly which rarely reached force2 over a windward-leeward course. The start at the pin end was won in classic style by Dan Belton hitting the line at such speed as was possible. The majority of the fleet headed out to sea, but newly arrived Tim Carver kept inshore with Graeme, Andrew Mills, John G and Dave Potter. Tim went further east than anybody and rounded ahead followed by Alan, Graeme, John and Dave. Andrew rounded first at the end of the run followed by Tim at the west of the gate and Graeme to the east. Thereafter Alan and Graeme battled it out as they sailed eastwards and inshore in an ever lightening breeze finishing in that order at the end of the second beat where the course was shortened. John then followed pursued by Keith Fedi and the wily Tony Lock. The second race was sailed in an equally fitful breeze which, together with the sun, hurt the head. Andrew again took the lead this time from Adrian Brunton, Howard Sellars and Graham Page. Adrian proved quicker downwind and won from Andrew followed by Graham who in a piece of daylight robbery stole five places from the gate to the finish line by tacking out to sea. The third race was postponed to the following day given the falling breeze and the promise of more wind the following day. 

The forecast of a force 4 got Ed Greig and Giles Scott out of their beds and they were not disappointed by the wind at least, but both, with Neil were BFD for the first race. It is noteworthy that Adrian Brunton was not, throughout the whole series –is this a change of strategy?  With the wind at force 5-6 and the windward leg set at .8 of a mile in order to complete three races, the races were 45minute sprints with the big boys (and younger ones) to the for, Andrew leading from John G, Tim, Henry Bagnell and John De L.   

The second race saw the youngsters a little more line shy and gave Tim just room to execute a perfect port tack start. Ed Greig won from Giles with Andrew third, and Tim taking masters’ honours from John and Neil. The final race saw the same characters  but a different order with Giles followed by Andrew and Ed, and John getting the better of  Tim. It was wonderful to see these guys sailing their boats so well downwind, surfing the waves at seemingly impossible angles to the wind. They were worth watching, but so too was Graham Page’s face as he came into the leeward mark with his boat all but capsized to windward with Graham peering over the side to see Graeme coming in at full tilt at 90 degrees on a reach – that one moment perfectly encapsulated both fear and panic!!

Inevitably there was some damage, but once again the overriding impression was of a superbly seaworthy boat, generally well sailed. The rescue crews and race team were all suitably impressed and would certainly have been more comfortable in a Finn as opposed to bobbing up and down in a displacement boat. As Neil Robinson, new to the class last year, observed, most modern classes would not have raced out in the Bay on Sunday. Further up the age spectrum, however, Howard Sellars did ask why he put his body through it, to which the answer was - because he likes coming out to play with the rest of us; after all, that’s what keeps us going. 

Prize giving saw John G, Martin Hughes and Graeme receive champagne and the appropriate glasses as Master, Grandmaster and Greatgrandmaster champions respectively, with wine and beer and receptacles for second and third. Andrew won the open but being an athlete was only allowed lucozade with his pint mug! 

The race team did well throughout the weekend, and were especially slick on Sunday in starting on time and in the speed of turnaround between races. As always the Club was welcoming and we were well fed, but what made such a difference, especially on Sunday when age really did begin to tell, were the trolley dollies. Thank you one and all for a well organised and thoroughly enjoyable regatta.