Footy Internet Course competition held at Crawley Mariners Yacht Club
27-06-2012

Whilst the wind conditions were ideal at Fleetwood, the same could not be said about the wind conditions at Hedgecourt lake, where there was very little wind and very variable.  Because of members holidays, I was particularly concerned about support for this event.  However Richard Kirkham and Slieve McGalliard and myself had 3 Footys to race around the Footy Internet Course.  Fortunately we were joined by 3 Footys from Southwater Dabblers; John Cadenhead, Bill Letten and Nick Burden.Obviously news about this event had spread into other parts of the Southwater Dabblers and there was a group of scale modellers with some superb models including a hovercraft, a beautiful Brixham trawler, fishing boat and several semi-scale sailing boats as well as Donal Roche's elderly Marblehead. Crawley Mariners made us very welcome and provided tea, coffee etc as well as a buttered current loaf for all to enjoy. 
The challenge Local organiser, Donal Roche had provided prizes for the best time, top lady and top junior and it was disappointing that no juniors took part. Taking part required a lot of concentration and patience because there was so little wind. That also applied to me, as timekeeper!  It was not difficult to put in a poor time!  I ndeed Slieve McGalliard should have received a special prize for sticking to the task, including overcoming technical problems with his rig sticking and filling up with water and finishing the course in 31 minutes and 5 seconds!
 A photograph of the Top Footy board is attached, showing the results. There were 9 attempts but only 5 finishers. Richard Kirkham kicked off with the SUPABUG, rigged with its biggest sails 750 mm high in a time of 12 minutes 17 seconds. There was a little wind then! From then on the wind died further and became more variable. However that did not put off the 2 lady competitors, both of whom had not sailed Footys before. My daughter, Linda, who believe it or not has never raced a radio model before, put up a time of 19 minutes 50, only to be beaten soon after by local RYA instructor Caroline Fisher who put in a time of 18 minutes 33. As well as putting in a good time Caroline had by far the best buoy rounding technique, keeping tight to the marks at either end which help to achieve the good time.   At the prize-giving Richard had already left so the prizes in the form of bottles of wine were awarded to Caroline and local sailor Keith.   Guildford Model Yacht Club has been invited back once again on the last Wednesday in June by Donal Roche, so please put this in your diary for 2013."