South Wales Area Championship Report and Full Results
The Crofts Davies GP14 South Wales Area Championship took place at Cardiff Bay YC on 9th/10th July with visitors from West Wales and the Midlands basking under sunny skies and luckily, contra to the weather forecast, with some wind. The 1st race started on time at 1pm on Saturday with Race Officer Colin Farr setting a classic Olympic Triangle Sausage course. 13789, Dave Pickering and Linda Estaugh from South Staffs SC showed how they meant to carry on by heading left and leading around the windward mark from 13709, Paul Leavers and Keith Bundy from Midland SC with 13667, Paul & Tom Simes from the host club in 3rd. Down the 1st reach Paul & Tom sailed low with 13815, Richard Instone and James Goodfellow from Chase SC & South Staffs SC, to edge out Paul & Keith at the gybe mark. Richard & James rolled Paul & Tom to move into 2nd by the leeward mark, Many place changes took place due to the plentiful wind-shifts and eventually Richard and James managed to go on to win with 13810, Graham Flynn and Frank Nickless from the RYA sneaking past Dave & Linda to finish 2nd.
The 2nd race was held after a short tea break over the same course and again Dave and Lynda led round the windward mark with Graham & Frank 2nd and Richard & James in 3rd. Graham and Frank defended vigorously against Richard and James allowing Dave and Linda the freedom they required to sail on and win in emphatic fashion. Graham and Frank managed to shake off Richard and James successfully to finish 2nd with Paul & Tom staging a late comeback to finish 3rd.
Saturday evening was spent cruising the bay, visiting the packed Inner Harbour for a Fish and Chip supper or by the barbeque at the club.
Sunday dawned and the fleet opened their tent flaps to not a lot of wind, but at least there was some more by the time the 3rd race started at 10am. The overnight leaders, Dave and Linda felt the pressure and slumped to their worst result of the weekend of 5th. Graham and Frank started late, hit the right hand side of the beat and led by a country mile around the 1st mark to sail on and record a win. 2nd round was Richard and James followed in 3rd by Paul and Tom. These places remained the same but one highlight? was 13836,Neil and Hannah Davies from Chase SC tangling with the committee boat anchor rope on the 2nd beat, I think the anchor rope won on points!
The Championship was now wide open with any of the 1st three able to win it if they won the last race. Dave and Linda regained their confidence to round the windward mark in 1st and despite Richard and James’s best efforts, resisted all challengers to record their 2nd win of the Championship and their 1st ever Area Championship title. Richard and James finished 2nd in the race and 2nd overall on count-back, by virtue or beating Graham and Frank in the last race, with Graham and Frank 3rd in the race and 3rd overall.
A great weekend was enjoyed by all, especially the shore crews, who had great sunbathing weather and with his maiden winners speech, Dave thanked the club and the Race team for a great weekend, The visitors then left early enough to miss all of the traffic, a result!
Overall Results:
| Pos | Sail No | Helm | Crew | Club | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 13789 | Dave Pickering | Linda Estaugh | South Staffs SC | 3 | 1 | 1 | 5 | |
| 2 | 13815 | Richard Instone | James Goodfellow | Chase SC / South Staffs SC | 5 | 2 | 2 | 5 | |
| 3 | 13810 | Graham Flynn | Frank Nickless | RYA | 2 | 1 | 3 | 5 |