Symmetric Hikers Challenge at Datchet Water Sailing Club
by Peter Rose 10 Sep 2008 20:41 BST
6-7 September 2008
Datchet Water Sailing Club hosted the second symmetric hikers challenge event over the weekend of 6/7 September. The event was open to any non-trapeze classes with a symmetrical spinnaker and attracted twenty five entries from the Merlin, Flying Fifteen, Kestrel, Scorpion, Lark and Wayfarer fleets. Prizes were sponsored by Speed Sails, Paintcraft, Fotoboat and Xclusia holidays. The event comprised six races around a trapezoid course.
The first race each day was run as a pursuit, allowing the slower boats a clearer first beat, with the remaining races run on a normal handicap basis. The breeze ranged from force 3 to 4 with much stronger gusts which saw most of the teams swimming at some point. The first pursuit was won by Catherine Putt and Simon Maguire from Peter and Andrew Rose just ahead of Martin Collen and Terry Palmer.
Race 2 was won comfortably by Tim Parsons and Allan Tyler followed home by Dusty Miller and John Ellingham and the Roses.
Race 3 was won by the Roses with Dusty in second and Catherine third.
Slightly lighter conditions greeted the competitors on the Sunday morning and the second pursuit was dominated by the Scorpions with Catherine in front, followed by Tim and Peter.
In the fifth race Tim pulled out a good lead on the final lap but a squall filled in from behind to bring Catherine, Dusty and Peter back into contention. Dusty capsized at the gybe mark and Tim managed to hold off Catherine and Peter who all finished within 20 seconds of each other.
This set up a tense final race with Catherine, Tim and Peter separated by only two points. An over-eager start led to a general recall but the fleet were able to get away at the second attempt. Dusty established an early lead pushed hard by Catherine with Peter in third. Tim got stuck in traffic on the first beat but was soon pulling up and posing a threat to the leaders. On the final lap a squall helped the Roses to sail over Catherine as they both planed in to the leeward mark. Dusty was first to the line but second on handicap behind the Roses, with Catherine third and Tim fourth. This left the two leading Scorpions level on points with the tie broken on the final result.
The three leading Scorpions enjoyed the blustery conditions and finished the regatta with two wins apiece after some close racing. Dusty and John, 2nd in the Kestrel nationals kept up a strong challenge and didn’t let the Scorpions have it all their own way, and Martin, 2nd in the Wayfarers nationals in a 50 year old boat was rarely out of the front five. Holly Hewat and Ruth Johnson were the first Lark in 7th overall and Ruth was the first lady crew. The leading Flying Fifteen in 12th was sailed by Mark Firth and Tony Mumford from the host club.
Overall Results:
1st Peter & Andrew Rose, Scorpion 1995, 10pts
2nd Catherine Putt & Simon Maguire, Scorpion 2001, 10pts
3rd Tim Parsons & Allan Tyler, Scorpion 1962, 12pts
4th Dusty Miller & John Ellingham, Kestrel 1558, 16pts
5th Martin Collen & Terry Palmer, Wayfarer 88, 24pts