Leader Nationals at Dell Quay Sailing Club

14th/15th June 2003

Gentle breezes and glorious sunshine welcomed the Leader fleet to their National Championships at Dell Quay SC on 14-15 June. Racing was extremely close and the final positions were undecided until the last, with only 3 points separating the first three boats.

The first race started with a port-end flier from Robin and Carol Smith of West Wittering SC who led the fleet to the windward mark. Roger Kenchington and Chris Davies (Porchester SC) and Chris and Jane Wharmby (Milton Keynes SC) were close on their heels but were overtaken on the reach by Mike and Tom Sherwen (Deben YC). The Smiths held the lead to the end, with the Sherwens in second place and Roger Kenchington finishing a boat length ahead of the Wharmbys on the line.

Race 2 saw the Wharmbys and the Smiths round the windward mark together, with the Smiths pulling ahead on the downwind leg. The Wharmby’s regained their lead on the beat but the Smiths and the Sherwens were never far behind. The Wharmbys took line honours, Sherwens 2nd and Smiths 3rd. The next bunch of boats approached the final mark in a cluster with Pete Driver and Richard Morris (Melton Mowbray SC) emerging from the battle in 4th position, Roger Kenchington 5th, Mike Fitzgerald and Tim Dormer 6th and Richard and Chris Morris (Melton Mowbray SC) 7th.

The second day’s racing was again blessed with sun and a steady force 2-3 breeze. Although the fleet would have welcomed more wind, the conditions made for an idyllic day’s sailing. Race 3 saw Angus and Chris Cook (Porchester SC) get off to a flying start but once again the Smiths, Sherwens and Wharmbys battled for the top 3 positions. The final run was a nail-biting affair with the Smiths and Wharmbys neck-and-neck trying to get every last bit of power from their spinnakers… and the goose-winged Sherwens just off their transoms. The three boats rounded the downwind buoy with a whisker between them but the Sherwens blasted through as both the Smiths and the Wharmbys stalled dramatically in a patch of wind just beyond the mark.

The winner of the final race would take the Championships and any one of the top 3 boats could still do it. After a very close first lap, Robin and Carol Smith established a healthy lead and a convincing win, with defending champions, the Wharmbys 2nd and 2001 winners the Sherwens 3rd.

Final positions were the Smiths in 1st, the Sherwens 2nd and the Wharmbys 3rd.

Prizes were also won by Angus Cook for Best Junior Helm, the Morris family for the furthest travelled team and the Sherwens for highest placed wooden boat.

With a new National Champion the Leader fleet left Dell Quay having had a fantastic weekend both on and off the water. A huge thank you to Dell Quay SC for an extremely enjoyable event.

Overall Results: