Hunts Open
On the 8th June 2002 Hunts Sailing Club hosted their annual open meeting for Mirrors and Toppers. With some sunshine and little wind 8 Mirrors and 18 Toppers ventured out for the start of race 1.
Race 1 - With the wind falling very light for the Topper start position on the line became critical as did following the shifts up the first beat, those who got it right pulled out a small advantage down the first run with a group of 4 breaking away from the main pack. None were more surprised than local sailor Paul Jefferies who found himself in a remarkable 5th position despite being by far the tallest and heaviest competitor in the fleet. The position was relatively short lived as the wind fell light with him slipping back down to 13th until an incident on the next to last beat where he rounded a mark with too much boat speed and nudged the back of slower competitor. Following the required 720 he set off on port and tacked near the top shore of the lake where he picked up a huge lift and reached into the mark some 30 yards clear of the group of boats he was chasing. Meanwhile at the front of the pack a good scrap had been going on for most of the race with Roger Phillips coming out on top followed by Richard Valentine in second and Richard Barlow in third. First local home was Paul Jefferies in 9th followed by Jennie Bain in 14th.
Race 2 - With more wind at the start of this race and a big shift not long before the start gun all the competitors bar 2 or 3 crowded down at the pin end of the line. There were a few mutterings as some people came close to touching. None were more upset than the 2 locals who got caught out by the shifting wind and were left stranded at the Committee boat end. A similar group were fighting at the front of the pack with Roger Phillips again coming out on top and Richard Valentine taking second and William Espiner taking third. Of the locals Paul Jefferies was again home first in 11th place this time followed by Rory Johnson in 14th.
Race 3 - With another change of course in an attempt to combat the shifting wind race 3 started, Roger Phillips having already won the meeting set about trying to take a clean sweep. All was still to play for in the minor placings. With the wind briefly picking up allowing some competitors to get their boats up on the plane the fleet rapidly spread out. Again at the finish it was Rogers Phillips first over the line this time followed by Kyle Paternoster and Williams Espiner in Third. Of the local boats it was again Paul Jefferies leading them home in 13th this time from James Clark in 14th.
Overall this meant Roger Phillips took the meeting with a clean sweep of first places from Richard Valentine second, William Espiner in Third and Kyle Paternoster in fourth. First lady home was Emma Hardcastle in 10th Place overall. At the prize giving as well as the Major prizes for overall placings there were prizes awarded to Rosie Bain, James Clark, Rory Johnson and Tim Dunning who were all taking part in their first open meeting.