Shearwater Catamaran 2002 Results

 

Shearwater Nationals at Newhaven & Seaford Sailing Club

by Richard Hambline 11-16 Aug 2002

 

20 Shearwaters attended their 46th National Championships, sailed over the week of the 11th – 16th August at Newhaven and Seaford Sailing Club during the clubs 50th year celebrations. With difficult conditions throughout the week, and a demanding social schedule, the club were able to lay on a superb championships at a great venue, with Mike Woollard, principle Race Officer, managing to complete the busy sailing programme despite the tricky conditions especially towards the end of the week. The week also benefited from the support of a number of local companies including SBFI who donated all of the commemorative shields, Hyde Sails, White Sails, Yachts and Yachting, Rooster and Dinghy Magazine, and even thanks to the efforts of Bill Giles from the club were favoured with fly pasts form the Red Arrows and the BBMF on Thursday and Friday.

A practise race was sailed for the Pevensey Bay Trophy on Sunday morning and comprehensively won by Derek Williams and Jamie Farnborough sailing UFO.

Race 1 was sailed in an onshore force 4 to 5 Sunday afternoon with big seas making for exiting sailing. Local sailors Jamie Lynch and Jamie Ferguson sailing Metisse took an early lead but were undone after a round by a capsize, a fate that befell a number of the competitors. Daniel Tindale and Lee Saunders sailing Caned & Unable took up the leading position and held on to this in increasing winds to take a well-deserved victory from Greg Wilcox, sailing with Anna Crooks as his crew had been taken ill, sailing Foreigner and Roger Crooks and Bonnie Crooks sailing Ruby, both of whom sailed excellent races in testing conditions.

Race 2 on Monday had to be abandoned owing to a mark shooting incident and was resailed in light and fluky winds on Wed afternoon. Ruby was the early leader, but was passed by Richard Hamblin and Ian Simkins sailing China Crisis on the first downwind leg, Ben Farnborough and Amy Tindale, sailing Genesis and Geoff and Jack Tindale sailing Boat 8 were also in close contention. These 3 passed China Crisis on the beat and Genesis opened out a small lead, meanwhile Caned & Unable were working there way up from a bad start to challenge the leaders. On the final run it was Genesis and Boat 8 fighting for the lead, going into the final mark a number of incidents occurred leaving both boats doing penalty turns, allowing Caned & Unable to grab an unexpected victory, with Genesis second and Ruby third.

Race 3 was sailed in a shifty offshore 2-3. Neil Struys and Charlotte Duck sailing New Flame lead at the windward mark followed closely by Caned and Unable, Alan and Jenny Howland sailing Cat et Al et Jen and Boat 8. Caned & Unable, sailing faultlessly, quickly overhauled New Flame to take the lead, which they continued to hold all the way to the end and a well deserved victory. Behind them a close battle was being fought in the following pack with Ruby sailing a fine race to work though the fleet to join in the tussle. Eventually Cat et Al et Jen broke clear to briefly challenge Caned and Unable but were unable to pass, and settled for a comfortable second, followed by Ruby in third who had managed to overhaul New Flame and Boat 8.

Races 4 and 5 were sailed in perfect conditions, but a strong tide, in a light force 2 which gradually increased to 3-4 as the day progressed. 

Race 4 saw the early port tack starters benefiting with Caned and Unable once again leading at the windward mark, followed closely by New Flame, China Crisis, Cat et Al et Jen and Ruby. Caned and Unable managed to open up a small lead with China Crisis Cat et Al et Jen and Ruby quickly overhauling New Flame. These 3 continued to have a very close race all the way to the finish with China Crisis just taking second and Ruby third.

Race 5 saw a confused start with the fleet split half and half port / starboard but a clean start was made with Ruby leading at the windward mark, followed by Cat et Al et Jen, Caned & Unable, Genesis and Boat 8. Ruby was able to extend their lead in the early stages, and once again a very close race was being fought behind them. Eventually Genesis was able to break clear and challenge Ruby for the lead with Cat et Al et Jen finally passing Caned & Unable. Ruby hung on to take the win followed by Genesis and Cat et Al et Jen.

Race 6 was sailed in the faintest of breezes and the early leader was again Ruby, followed by Cat et Al et Jen and Boat 8. For the first three rounds it was cat and mouse between Ruby and Cat et Al et Jen, however the fleet closed up on the penultimate beat allowing first John and Clifford Hill sailing Space Odysseys to lead, then Boat 8 and even briefly Caned & Unable but on the final round it was Genesis that managed to take the lead and victory followed closely by Boat 8 and Cat et Al et Jen in third. 

Race 7 was sailed in a light and fluky force 1 dying as the race progressed. Ruby was the first to round the windward mark, closely followed by Cat et Al et Jen, Boat 8, Caned & Unable and Roger Brown and Derek Clarke sailing New Dawn. On the downwind legs both Boat 8 and Caned and Unable were able to close up, but Ruby continued to lead onto the beat. Boat 8 was able to round the windward mark in first, but with the wind fast failing and beginning to shift 180 degrees Ruby was able to retake the lead and take the victory, with Boat 8 a very close second, Genesis was able to nip past Cat et Al et Jen to take third, leaving everything to be decided on the last day. 

Race 8 was sailed in a light force 1, and after a general recall it was New Dawn who lead the restarted race at the first windward mark, with Caned & Unable, Cat et Al et Jen and Boat 8 in close contention. These 4 continued to fight out the race just ahead of the field and as the wind started to fade it was Caned and Unable who managed to grab victory and a thoroughly deserved championship win, with New Dawn second and Boat 8 third.

 

Overall Results:

 

1st - Caned & Unable - Dan Tindale& Lee Saunders - Stone Sailing Club

2nd - Genesis - Ben Farnborough & Amy Tindale - Hastings and St Leanords Sailing Club

3rd - Ruby - Roger Crooks & Bonnie Crooks - Stone Sailing Club

4th - Cat et Al et Jen - Alan Howland & Jenny Howland - Stone Sailing Club

5th - Boat 8 - Geoff Tindale & Jack Tindale - Stone Sailing Club

Other Trophies:

Classic Trophy – 1st - Old Shaped Boat - Catherine Howland and Tim Dowley

First Lady Helm - Catherine Howland

Clarke Trophy - Barry and Barry Duck

 

Shearwater TT at Seasalter Sailing Club

by Clifford Antill 30 Jul 2002 16:45 BST

 

Seasalter Sailing Club hosted a combined Shearwater TT with the penultimate GP for Catapult and provided both fleets with a well-run, enjoyable weekend. This was a true spectator weekend of hot sunny conditions but a little disappointing for the 20+ combined fleet with light wind conditions...