MPBA SCALE FINALS 2011

The big event of the year that we had been planning and working on since November 2010, finally arrived on the 18th September.

The good weather we booked came through and the weed stayed away (despite the best efforts of the chain gang on the opposite shore), till the next day phew!!

We were all busy setting up from 8:00 in the morning and getting the course ready, work on the new course has been going on over many weeks, with some brand new untested ideas going in to the make up of it.

The MPBA competitors started turning up at about 9:00 with the competition starting at 10:00 after a short briefing. Everyone was eager to get going, the competitors, judges and organisers.

The competition got underway with the first navigation rounds, 3 boats on the water at any one time, followed by the static judging.

Reg Preece from our club came 2nd in the Open navigation sailing his HMCS Snowberry with only one point against him and Derrick Banton got a Bronze award for his HMS Woodpecker in the Semi exact competition, a very big well done to them both, it was not an easy sailing course and the static competition was very competitive with a high standard of models.

The MPBA and competitors thanked the club for putting on a good day and a very big thank you to all the members who helped make the day a success.

Reg came 4th out of 14 in the Semi Kit class, which was brilliant, well done Reg. Moira won best on stand and found it very, very embarrassing, it did say displayed by Moira and not built but the prize is for the boat that stood out and lots of people were taking photographs of the French fishing boat, Moira was not at all ready for the paper weight she won, camera poised ready for Reg, Mick, Mark, Joe or someone else!!!!!

Offshore racing at Branston Water

The first event of the year at the water took place on 27th March with an Offshore Race meeting, this year organised by Andy Rennie from Coventry who has been a regular at the water park for some time at different events we have held, this being Andy's first in charge of a big event.

Pete was contacted by Andy to say they had a Gazebo and P.A system organised, Pete added that they would take the clubs anyway, on arrival at the water the guys had set up the Gazebo at the end of the point, this left Alan and Pete to just get the course organised, some nice new large bright yellow markers had been made up for better visibility ! and were told by everyone that these were brilliant and could be seen by everyone clearly !!!!!!!!

Well nearly everyone could see them

Good job we took the P.A as there guy who was bringing it forgot it (must be something to do with putting clocks forward) we think!

Racing got underway just after 10-10am and the 5 heats of 20 minute seemed to fly by, the rescue crew of Captain Crowden and First Mate (Old Git) Pete had a few rescues to do, but enjoyed a pootle on the pond for most of the time.

Lunch break followed and the Captain and First Mate quickly made the dash to a well known watering hole nearby for their Pizza, thinking they had ordered it by phone????? but the Landlord has changed since last November so they had to wait for food and were forced to have a pint, yes I know this sounds very silly but I can assure you they denied themselves (gotta be a first that) !

They returned to the water and as arranged the second race session was underway with a relief crew, all went well giving the pair a chance to have a chat with some old friends, Alan and Pete took over duties from there till the end, some spectacular racing took place, a couple of crashes, a few close shaves between other boats some leading to rescue others not needing the duo, a couple lost props and shafts as a result of the collisions, Alan guiding Pete to the island and recovering on prop and  sheared shaft.

All too soon the event came to a close at 4-45pm, Pete was asked to officiate at the presentation of certificates, the Burton club were thanked for the use of the venue, and Alan and Pete thanked for their services during the event.