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National Championships - SCYC – Race 1

Report: Paul Simes

Full Results - Race 1

Race 1 started after a 150 minute delay in a Force 1 to 2 with the sea in a confused and lumpy state.

 Carl Jeffs/Jim Toothill from Trimpley SC started two thirds of the way down the line, tacked right when they could, tacked back onto the starboard layline and led round the first mark. They were followed by Ian Dobson/Andy Tunnicliffe from Burwain SC in 2nd with Toby Taylor/Alan Jones from South Staffs SC in 3rd. The rest of the fleet follwed round in good order.
Toby/Alan managed to pass Ian/Andy down the 1st reach and these positions remained the same until the leeward mark. Meanwhile behind them much place changing was happening as the wind rose to F4/5 with some spectacular planing down the waves. The wind became lighter again on the second beat and those boats who again went right up the beat took advantage of a windshift to gain many places. One of these was Graham Flynn/Frank Nickless from Bartley SC, who moved from 7th to 2nd. whilst multiple champion Richard Estaugh/Simon Potts from Chase SC moved into 3rd. Some flew their spinnaker to the syacer mark before starting a slow and fairly windless run down to the leeward mark. Carl/Jim sailed from the spacer mark on starboard with Graham/Frank gybing onto port. Halfway down the run Graham/Frank crossed ahead of Carl/Jim, but crucially they failed to cover Carl/Jim, who gybed back onto starboard and gained the inside line for the leeward mark. They duly rounded 1st and sailed the short distance to the finishing line to the win the race from Graham/Frank. Richard/Simon were 3rd with Ian/Andy sailing holding their place down the run to finish 4th with Andy Hateley/Andy Thompson from South Staffs SC coming through in 5th.

The Silver Fleet was won by Martin Brennan/Alistair Knott from Hollingworth Lake SC who finished an excellent 10th with the Bronze Fleet being led home by Richard and Joanne Harding from Frensham Pond SC finishing a remarkable 11th having been somewhere near that place the whole way around the course.

Moment of the day:
Gold Fleet sailor and multiple Area Championship winners Justin Jones and Chris Anderson from South Staffs were approaching the last mark when Justin fell out of the back of the boat. Whilst Chris was trying to help Justin back in, the boat capsized and they failed to finish. I normally like to have a quote frrm the people concerned, but unfortunately as would be expected this is unprintable.

Positions:

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