6M Model Yacht Open at Norwich Model Yacht Club
by Vinnie Zammit 9 Sep 01:54 NZST
7 September 2024
Duncan Ellis wins the Norwich 6M Open at Whitlingham © Vinnie Zammit
Norwich Model Yacht Club held its first 6M Open Event at Norwich on Saturday 7th September. The event was also part of the Eastern District 6M Champion Skipper event. Other events for the competition were held at Harwich and Dovercourt and the Broads Clubs.
Initially there were fifteen boats entered for the event, unfortunately due to various reasons, only eleven boats from three ED clubs came to the start line. Once again this showed the congestion of events on the calendar.
It was nice to see Geoffrey, Graham and Peter from Dovercourt attend. You are welcome to visit us any time.
Wind or lack of it was from the East, which allowed PRO Vinnie Zammit and his team to set a Windward /Leeward course with a gate at the end of the downwind leg.
It would be fair to say that the favourites to win the day were, Mark Holt, Lester Gilbert and Duncan Ellis who was competing in a 6M event for the first time.
There were 16 races run over the day with 4 different skippers achieving a first place, Duncan with 7, Mark with 5, Lester with 3 and Graham Lewis with 1.
Up until lunch with 7 races under our belts, Mak Holt came out on top closely followed by Lester and Duncan. Winds were very light and flooky which made for quite a few changes in the leading boats.
After lunch the wind strength improved and suddenly the race was on between the three favourites. It was interesting to see that both Lester and Duncan's boat speed seemed to improve as the wind increased.
Mention must be made of Stuart Reynolds and Eric Curtis who once again were racing at Open level for the first time with some notable results.
At the end of the day and with 16 races sailed, the front three positions changed with Duncan on top, Lester in second place and Mark third.
It was very pleasing to see the manner with which all skippers sailed, staying within the rules and when not, carrying out their penalties without argument.
With Lester in second place, it was enough for him to take the ED Champion Skipper title. Well done that man.
Big thanks to the Race Team for once again giving up their time to help in the running of the event.
Overall Results:
| Pos | Skipper | Sail No | Club/City | Hull | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | R7 | R8 | R9 | R10 | R11 | R12 | R13 | R14 | R15 | R16 | Pts |
|---|
| 1 | Duncan Ellis | 95 | NMYC | Romanza | 1 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 12 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 23 |
| 2 | Lester Gilbert | 40 | NMYC | Ravenna | 7 | 3 | 2 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 12 | 4 | 8 | 2 | 38 |
| 3 | Mark Holt | 47 | NMYC | Ravenna | 2 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 9 | 12 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 40 |
| 4 | Eric Curtis | 6 | NMYC | Renaissance | 3 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 50 |
| 5 | Geoffrey Anderson | 69 | Harwich & Dovercourt | Rococo | 8 | 2 | 6 | 5 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 9 | 8 | 58 |
| 6 | Stuart Reynolds | 8 | NMYC | Unknown | 4 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 9 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 6 | 12 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 61 |
| 7 | Graham Lewis | 15 | Harwich & Dovercourt | Romanza | 9 | 11 | 7 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 63 |
| 8 | Peter Lacock | 81 | Harwich & Dovercourt | Renaissance | 6 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 6 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 8 | 9 | 5 | 5 | 9 | 6 | 6 | 97 |
| 9 | Barry Graver | 56 | Broads RYC | Ravenna | 10 | 5 | 8 | 3 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 101 |
| 10 | Michael Howard | 0 | Broads RYC | Rococo | 11 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 7 | 6 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 4 | 9 | 106 |
| 11 | Graham Nelson | 14 | NMYC | Cerberus | 5 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 130 |