Results / National Championship Day 3 Exe SC - 19/09/2010

Day three of racing…

Leading team Tim and Heather needed one more race win from the two races to secure the championship, but with an OCS in the first race they left it all to do in the last race.

Locals Alex and Jen showed exceptional upwind speed over the big seas and took the first race from Charlotte and MJ, who had a stonking first beat, but couldn’t maintain the lead.

It was a wet, windy and wild start to the day’s racing, with big gusts blowing through the course and lumpy seas for the competitors to navigate.

As the second race got under way the top four places in the championship were all to be decided. The fleet got away cleanly off the line and split up the first beat. When they converged at the top mark it was the left hand group led by Charlotte and MJ who arrived first at the buoy, followed at a distance by Tim and Heather in second. By this point the waves had become really big and surfing them downwind was challenging. Tim and Heather showed great downwind speed and overhauled Charlotte and MJ to take the lead by the second mark.

A three-boat line-up approaching the windward mark on round two saw father and son team Peter and Rupert Knowlden whistling up the beat alongside the leaders and Alex and Jen.  Out of this line-up Tim and Heather just managed to squeeze ahead at the rounding and held the lead until the end to secure the championship.

On the remaining two laps Phil and Tamsin showed immense downwind speed to come through the fleet and take second place. This was also enough to secure them second place overall in the championship. A great result from their first event back in the boat after some time.

Charlotte and MJ had done enough to secure third overall from Andy and Emma who came in fourth. She also claimed a prize for the top lady helm. Peter Knowlden finishing six overall was the first master and Hugo and Tim were first youth boat.

All the finishers received a toot from Phil Morrisons’ trombone that had made an appearance the night before in the band. This gave the competitors the signal to head back to the club for freshly baked cake and a cup of hot tea.

A challenging, but ultimately rewarding weekend of sailing was had by all. Huge thanks go to Phil and his race team for a superb event. Exe Sailing Club couldn’t have been more hospitable and welcomed everyone to it’s beautiful venue.

What an excellent three days of racing, not to mention socialising…well done to everyone who made the trip.

The class looks forward to its next event – the Grafham Inland Nationals on October 3^rd and 4^th…just enough time to recover!