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Win for Hyde-powered Albacore
Thursday, 29 April 2010
Hyde has been busy over the winter developing sails for the Albacore class, we spoke to Mark Fowler to find out more…
Mark Fowler's Hyde-powered boat (7143) has been the testing ground for the development of Hyde's latest generation of Albacore sails. In 2009, Mark teamed up with Neville Herbert and 2010 has started well for the duo with a second in the Excel Dinghy pursuit race, which was followed by a recent win in Maidenhead, where they faced the added challenge of sailing in a borrowed boat as their boat was still in the workshop at Paintcraft.
Mark recalls: "Racing was held in force 3 gusting force 4. Our main rivals were Judy and Paul Armstrong from Scaling Dam, who were fifth at the Internationals last season, and John Woffinden sailing at his home club."
It wasn't an easy win for Mark and Neville, as Mark explains: "Race one went pear-shaped as no sooner had the start gun gone then we were heading for the slipway to bolt on the tiller extension, which had parted company with the tiller, and so we scored a DNF. With the Armstrong's winning and being the main threat we then knew we had to win both race 2 and 3. We had reasonable start in the second race, but with a very short first beat had to watch our back, we were unchallenged in this race and extended to win by a large margin. Race three was closer with Judy and Paul first to the windward mark, we trailed for the first half lap before getting the inside track at the gybe mark, we later hit a mark on the first allowing Armstrong's to close and challenge, but by the finish we had built a comfortable solid lead."
Mark and Neville's next challenge is the Inland Champs at South Cerney on May 1-2, where they plan to be sailing Mark's own boat, which is currently being re rigged with an Alto section mast from Selden by Ian Turnbull Marine. This mast section will give more offwind power, and sail development to suit the mast is already underway.
Mark Fowler's Hyde-powered boat (7143) has been the testing ground for the development of Hyde's latest generation of Albacore sails. In 2009, Mark teamed up with Neville Herbert and 2010 has started well for the duo with a second in the Excel Dinghy pursuit race, which was followed by a recent win in Maidenhead, where they faced the added challenge of sailing in a borrowed boat as their boat was still in the workshop at Paintcraft.
Mark recalls: "Racing was held in force 3 gusting force 4. Our main rivals were Judy and Paul Armstrong from Scaling Dam, who were fifth at the Internationals last season, and John Woffinden sailing at his home club."
It wasn't an easy win for Mark and Neville, as Mark explains: "Race one went pear-shaped as no sooner had the start gun gone then we were heading for the slipway to bolt on the tiller extension, which had parted company with the tiller, and so we scored a DNF. With the Armstrong's winning and being the main threat we then knew we had to win both race 2 and 3. We had reasonable start in the second race, but with a very short first beat had to watch our back, we were unchallenged in this race and extended to win by a large margin. Race three was closer with Judy and Paul first to the windward mark, we trailed for the first half lap before getting the inside track at the gybe mark, we later hit a mark on the first allowing Armstrong's to close and challenge, but by the finish we had built a comfortable solid lead."
Mark and Neville's next challenge is the Inland Champs at South Cerney on May 1-2, where they plan to be sailing Mark's own boat, which is currently being re rigged with an Alto section mast from Selden by Ian Turnbull Marine. This mast section will give more offwind power, and sail development to suit the mast is already underway.
posted by Hyde Sails at
04:50
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