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Weymouth 2008 |
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Southern Championships
at Weymouth 7- 8 June
2008 It was the Europe Southern Championships, as well as the National Championships for the Moths, Wanderers and Devon Yawls, and just another Open for the Bytes, Isos, Laser 4000s, Buzzes and 14s! That made over 120 boats, not counting the 30-strong Scorpion fleet at Castle Cove, and assorted Oppies, Picos etc doing their own thing. So it was a busy weekend in Portland Harbour, and fortunately there was enough wind for everyone all the time on the Saturday and most of the time on the Sunday as well. Day 1 Given the breezy outlook, Gareth Williams was showing signs of confidence at the pre-race briefing, until Chris Gill made his usual last-minute appearance in the dinghy park! Launching took a while as we waited for thirty-odd foiling Moths to get away. Once on the water the duel between Gareth and Chris began in earnest and lasted for the day, each searching for a little bit extra, so small was the margin between them. In race one Chris touched the windward mark to let Gareth through, Gareth got the better of the runs in the windy race two, but Chris pulled out something extra in the last race of the day. Richard Eagleton was third in each one, close in the last race but a whole leg adrift in the other two. Katie Mapplebeck and Chris Wilkinson and Natalie Campbell took turns at fourth place, but there was a lot of swimming done in race two, and some non-appearances in race three. So the day ended 2 -1 to a very chuffed Gareth! Day 2 Sunday was an earlier start, our turn to be first at the launching ramp! The wind was in the north so some shifts were to be expected. Richard and Chris Wilkinson got the best shift of the day when having been spat out of the back of the start they both tacked to the right and got lifted almost up to the windward mark, all according to their pre-race strategy. Katie briefly threatened Richard's domination of third spot, and Brett Hill, new kid on the block, almost snatched a fourth place in race four, while Jane Stevens never quite got to grips with the downwind legs. Meanwhile at the front of the fleet Gareth's cheery grin slipped slightly as Chris Gill found his touch, going faster and faster (or was Gareth going slower?) as the wind eased to score three firsts for the day. Training Day Friday's training day, coached by Dave Cockerell and funded largely by the RYA support for class associations was a great success for those that attended. Dave being a former expert Europe sailor had some good ideas about sail trim and mast rake, as well as bringing all his coaching skills as the national Topper coach. We all enjoyed the day, so did Dave, and if we had a spare boat he would have loved to join in! Results
Richard Eagleton GBR330 |
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