Results / GUL National Inland Championships Draycote SC - 02/10/2004
24 Vareos travelled to Draycote Water Sailing Club for the
Gul Inland Championships on 2/3rd October 2004 to be
greeted by a stiff breeze and the promise of exciting
sailing.
The first race saw probably the windiest conditions of the
weekend, and there were many capsizes. Chris Larr set the
scene for the rest of the weekend winning, whilst National
Champion Jon Lewis managed to break the kicker on a
borrowed boat (sorry Eddie) and had to retire. Carl
Whitehead finished second, with Robin Saunders third. In
the second race Jon regained his form winning with Chris
Larr second and recent returnee Luke Fisher third. The
third race saw many capsizes and a number of retirees,
Chris Larr again taking first place with Carl Whitehead
second and Jon Lewis third.
With the promise of gales on Sunday the fleet returned
ashore having had spectacular and closely matched racing -
certainly the standard of the fleet has improved markedly.
A lively class meeting and a discussion of rules, events
and tips - with Jon Lewis imparting some of his wisdom -
meant the fleet left happy - one of our number even braved
the conditions and opted to sleep in a tent!
Sunday started with very light winds and the lightweight
(and younger) members of the fleet relishing conditions
that should have been very much to their liking. With the
lightest competitor weighing somewhat under half that of
the heaviest competitor it was extremely interesting to
watch the variety of sailing (and hiking) styles on offer!
The first race, in light winds, saw Tim Greenwood take a
flying port-end start and lead the fleet by a mile to the
first mark, but he was soon overtaken to finish third
behind Jon and Chris. Race 5 saw slightly increased wind -
and the fleet keeping very tight upwind - the skill was in
getting downwind deep enough and quick enough - again with
different styles - but no definite conclusions. In Race 6
the promised increase in wind strength materialised and the
conditions became quite testing. With a slight shift it
seemed to pay to go as near the dam as one dared - watching
out for shoreline obstacles, before almost having a single
gybe downwind. Chris Larr proved that he was as human as
everbody else and managed to capsize just before the finish
to let Luke Fisher take line honours and fourth place
overall. However, with 3 firsts and 2 seconds, Chris Larr
had an emphatic victory - Jon Lewis with 2 firsts coming
second, and Carl Whitehead with 2 seconds and 2 thirds
coming third overall.
Very many thanks are due to Draycote Water Sailing Club,
and especially Chris Smith - drafted in as PRO only the
night before - who proved to be an extremely able race
officer, and an excellent barman as well!
Andrew Trigg was awarded the merit prize - not only the
lightest and youngest competitor - he showed many of the
old stalwarts a thing or two by managing to finish every
race.
Looking forward to seeing as many of you as possible at
Northampton.
Tom Smith
Pos | Sail No | Helm | Club | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | Pts | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 361 | Larr Chris | Grafham Water | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 7 | � | |
2 | 179 | Lewis Jonathan | Burghfield | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 9 | � | |
3 | 215 | Whitehead C B | Filey | 2 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 15 | � | |
4 | 210 | Fisher Luke | Milton Keynes | 4 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 18 | � | |
5 | 261 | Greenwood Tim | Chew Valley | 7 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 24 | � | |
6 | 354 | Barrett Martin | Craven | 5 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 29 | � | |
7 | 315 | Sanders Robin | Chase | 3 | 8 | 7 | 9 | 6 | 33 | � | |
8 | 313 | Frossatt Dennis | Covenham | 4 | 10 | 9 | 11 | 4 | 38 | � | |
9 | 206 | Machin Dave | Netley | 12 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 39 | � | |
10 | 260 | Manders Steve | Covenham | 10 | 6 | 10 | 12 | 9 | 47 | � | |
11 | 239 | Craft Paul | Teignmouth | 15 | 9 | 7 | 10 | 13 | 54 | � | |
12 | 252 | Smith Tom | Grafham Water | 13 | 4 | 17 | 13 | 10 | 57 | � | |
13 | 305 | Harker M J | Eastbourne Sovereign | 14 | 11 | 8 | 15 | 11 | 59 | � | |
14 | 162 | Froehlich Christopher | Burghfield | 6 | 10 | 13 | 8 | DNF | 62 | � | |
15 | 172 | Wray-McCann Hugh | Teign Corinthian | 16 | 17 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 67 | � | |
16 | 199 | Cooper Josh | Draycote Water | 18 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 76 | � | |
17 | 375 | Small Peter | Langstone | 8 | 19 | 13 | 20 | 17 | 77 | � | |
18 | 156 | Trigg Andrew | Burghfield | 17 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 81 | � | |
19 | 197 | Faulkner Ian | Leigh & Lowton | DNS | 14 | 18 | 19 | 14 | 90 | � | |
20 | 243 | Clark Gavin | Chichester | 18 | 16 | 19 | 16 | DNS | 94 | � | |
21 | 346 | Shaw Geoff | Roadford | 9 | 12 | DNS | DNS | DNS | 96 | � | |
22 | 278 | Williams Steve | Bala | 11 | DNF | DNS | 21 | DNS | 107 | � | |
23 | 369 | Dyer | Rutland Water | DNS | DNS | 21 | DNF | DNS | 121 | � | |
24 | 148 | Norris R R | Burghfield | DNS | DNS | DNS | DNS | DNS | 125 | � |