ASAP International Vortex Nationals @ Mayflower Sailing Club

Racing in the ASAP International Vortex nationals in Plympouth © Sam Tucker

Racing in the ASAP International Vortex nationals in Plympouth © Sam Tucker

Racing in the ASAP International Vortex nationals in Plympouth © Sam Tucker

The ASAP International sponsored 2007 Vortex Nationals were a resounding success with fabulous racing and a nail biting finish. Friday was reserved for the ASAP sponsored training event; twelve boats enjoyed coaching from 3 of the “hot shots”, with on shore tuition followed by on the water exercises and short races in perfect conditions. Mike Gower won the mini-regatta from John Turley and Terry Pressdee. All attendees were delighted with the chance to get accustomed to the race area, check out the tidal conditions and pick up tips from the front of the fleet.

Saturday was bright, sunny and warm with a gentle Force 1-2. Triangle / sausage courses were the order of the day. In race 1 Chris Stanbrook port tacked the fleet but defending champion Keith Escritt romped home the clear winner from Phil Whitehead who sneaked past John Turley at the last mark.

In race 2 Race Officer Mark Evans set tight reaches to allow trapezing downwind - much to the approval of all competitors. Escritt led from the start, this time with Jonathan Carter and Phil Whitehead doing the chasing. In race 3 Terry Pressdee was very fast upwind and clung on to Escritt for a while these two easily holding off Chris Tillbrook and Whitehead.

The overnight leader board was dominated by Keith Escritt – would the forecast of a stronger breeze for Sunday materialise and give the rest of the fleet a chance to fight back?

Sure enough race 4 started in a solid F 4 with a nice swell which suited Whitehead perfectly. His ballistic upwind speed was matched only by Lister - sailing in a standard mode – and with no mistakes Whitehead went on to win from Tillbrook, Chris Cunningham and Angus Winchester, all revelling in the breeze. Newcomer Jon Steward was lying in second until an exhibitionist pitchpolel earned him the most spectacular capsize award. Escritt meanwhile was having serious kite problems and finished down the fleet, blowing the event wide open.

Whitehead and Tillbrook knew they were on the pace and both had to win races to possibly take the title. Whitehead smoked off the line and had established a lead, but unfortunately didn't notice that the windward mark had been moved, so whilst Whitehead sailed off towards France for next years Carnac Europeans, Tillbrook, Cunningham Carter and Escritt took advantage to finish in that order.

At the start of race 6 the points were now so close that either Escritt, Tillbrook or Whitehead could still take the title, with Escritt needing 3rd or better and the other two needing wins. The main contenders split off the start line with Whitehead and Steward going left, Escritt and Tillbrook going right, but a very large Brittany ferry prevented the left group from reaching the windward mark. After the restart Whitehead once again won the first beat with Tillbrook in contention; Escritt dropped to the back of the fleet whilst clearing weed from his rudder – was this the chance that the 2 front runners needed? Apparently not as a lap later Escritt had battled back into 3rd place until a careless capsize at the leeward mark put him back to 6th – game on again! Whitehead and Tillbrook pressed on to finish in that order, but they couldn’t influence events behind them as Escritt blasted down the final set of screaming reaches to take Carter and Cunningham for the vital 3rd position and the championship.

With just 2 points between the top three boats this was yet another cliff hanger, with Escritt the winner from Whitehead, Tillbrook and the fast improving Cunningham.

Competition in the middle of the fleet is certainly hotting up with Jonathan Carter, John Turley, Chris Stanbrook, Terry Pressdee, Mike Gower and Angus Winchester all on the pace in certain conditions. Jonathan Lister had broken 2 ribs prior to the event but gamely sailed in standard mode – often arriving at the windward mark ahead of the pack, without a kite he was easily rolled downwind but earned the Classic Championship for his efforts and pain!

Mayflower SC were very welcoming and provided top class race management both on and off the water; this is a venue and club that the Vortex fleet can recommend and would love to return to.

Overall Results: