Javelin Inland Championships at Carsington Sailing Club

A windless Carsington SC greeted the 10 home and visiting Javelins for the 2007 Inland Nationals on Saturday 5th May. With no prospect of wind the OD made the right decision and cancelled racing for the day early, agreeing to hold four races on Sunday.

A force 4 to 5 was the order of the day and in the first race Brian and David Earl took an early lead from Richard and Kathryn Smith with Cliff Sagar and Chris Etchells and Davis and John Clements in close attendance. The wind continued to increase to the point where the windward mark began to drift and the race was abandoned.

Race two started in much the same way as the first with the Earls and Smiths battling for the lead with Mike Pickles and Richard Fisher and Sagar/Etchells keeping up with the leaders for the first two rounds. A capsize from Pickles/Fisher was capitalised upon by Sagar/Etchells to secure a comfortable third. Meanwhile the Smith’s had developed and maintained a small lead from the Earls which was extended to the end of the race following an uncharacteristic swim from the Earls’ approaching the leeward mark.

In race three the Smith’s managed to hold onto a slender lead from Dick Dalton and Bernard Chubley and Mike Melles and Andy Cross, Pickles/Fisher and Sagar/Etchells. The Smiths and Pickles/Fisher pulled away from the fleet having their own battle while Melles/Cross, Dalton/Chubley and Sagar/Etchells switched places. Dalton/Chubley had to retire from proceedings early due to rudder failure. Melles/Cross and Sagar/Etchells fought hard all the way through the race with the result eventually ending in Sagar/Etchells Favour.

In the final race Pickles/Fisher capitalised on a biased line and took a port flyer which had them firmly in the lead by the windward mark from Melles/Cross, the Smith’s and Sagar/Etchells. The first leg of the triangle allowed kites to be hoisted and some of the fastest and closest racing of the day took place down the first leg. Pickles/Fisher and the Smiths pulled away slightly. Sagar/Etchells sailed into a firm third while Pickles/Fisher and the Smith’s swapped positions upwind with the Smiths eventually edging in front to win the final race from Pickles/Fisher to take the overall win from Pickles/Fisher.

Overall Results: