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505 Open Meeting at Queen Mary Sailing Club
Author: Frank Rainsborough
17/18 November
Some entrants' boats had emerged from containers only days earlier, but for little reward because the high pressure during the week-end meant that only the lightest of the twelve crews actually went trapezing on either race day, despite the ability to use the recently allowed bigger spinnakers. Two races both days were run by Les Everitt, who set modified Olympic triangles. All four races were won by Ian Pinnell in 8774 crewed by Steve Hunt. Richard Lord, helming Simon Lake's 8705 was 2nd in both Saturday races, the Cram brothers Francis and Dougal in 8535, 3rd. On Sunday, in Race 3 Terry Scutcher helming Christian Diebitsch's 8787 took 2nd place in front of Lord. In Race 4 it was the Crams returning to 2nd, Scutcher 3rd.
The Crams and Scutcher sailed with standard spinnakers; Pinnell and Lord/Lake used big ones, as did Chris Pearson in 8745 crewed by Frank Rainsborough. By coming 4th or 5th, in front of the rest of the fleet, Pearson proved the benefit of the bigger spinnaker but the consensus opinion was that in light wind there was not much difference. Existing spinnakers can have a panel inserted at minimal cost, and only a few external modifications need to be made to the mast.
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