Swallow Nationals at Itchenor Sailing Club

Harry Roome in Skua S3 wins the 2007 Swallow Nationals © Swallow Class Association

Overall winner of the Swallow National Championships 2007 was Harry Roome, crewed by Pru and Charlie Roome in S3 Skua. Second place went to Carolyn Brigg, Sue Glover & David Sloper in S82 Marengo and third was John Walmsley, Mike Ewart Smith and Christine Graves in S92 Cockersootie.

In the overall scheme of things, the weather gods were pretty kind over the weekend of 7/8 July. The passage race from Itchenor to Bembridge on Friday had to be cancelled because of the unsuitable conditions. But dramatically improved winds on Saturday gave the 17 Swallows entered for the 2007 National Championships a good brisk passage race over the Under Tyne once they had cleared Chichester. Mike Wigmore in his brand new boat S93 Gwaihir crossed the line a couple of minutes ahead of Malcolm Green in S74 Archon and Guy Knight in S91 Spectre.

After a short pause they were sent off by the Race Committee (Pete Landon, Colin Samuelson & Vernon Stratton) on a slightly ambitious Special Course 1 (triangle, sausage, triangle) which was shortened at the windward mark after two rounds. Carolyn Brigg in S82 Marengo finishing just ahead of Guy Knight in S91 Spectre and Mike Bond in S66 Buccaneer. After a well deserved lunch break on the moorings at Under Tyne, it was back out for a windward-leeward 'up and downer'. Harry Roome in S3 Skua was in front from the outset and managed to stave off challenges from John Walmsley in S92 Cockersootie and Guy Knight in Spectre. It was by no means a procession; there was plenty of excitement and numerous place changes lower down the fleet.

Sunday's racing started with a mere whisper of a breeze - indeed it was touch and go whether to postpone until conditions improved - however the Race Officers rightly decided to go ahead and a most interesting race evolved. Not often do you see boats heading to the windward mark and other on their way to the leeward mark both with spinnakers up. Anthony Lunch and Andrew Reid in S67 Solitude found the southerly first and finished well ahead of the rest of the fleet; Harry Roome was 2nd in Skua and Carolyn Brigg was 3rd in Marengo.

After finding one windless hole after another, the Race Officers were eventually rewarded with their perseverance and the final race got under way in a nice southerly breeze of around 10 knots. John Walmsley in Cockersootie lead almost from the start, but there was some close racing throughout the fleet. Harry Roome in Skua was 2nd and John Houghton in S57 Avocet was 3rd.

Overall Results: (Click here to fill in Gear Guide information)