Graduate Nationals at Bala Sailing Club - Days 1 & 2
by Stephen Cockerill 27 May 2013 08:16 BST
25-27 May 2013
Graduate nationals at Bala © Graduate class
Fourteen Graduates travelled to their Nationals at Bala Sailing Club to experience the fantastic views and fresh air of the Snowdownia national park. The venue had encouraged 5 boats from Bolton and 5 from Chipstead sailing clubs, so the team trophy was going to be hotly contested by these two highly competitive fleets from opposite ends of the country. Interestingly both clubs are small restricted inland lakes where Graduate perform their very best. Despite the lack of numbers, the fleet was certainly on paper at lest was one of the highest calibre for many years with the already strong field from last year being joined by John Clementson and Andy Flitcroft. The event was sponsored by Rooster Sailing who were keen to ensure the back of the fleet continue to get some help and recognition.
Graduates do not need much wind to sail in - so the racing was started long before we had stable 5 knot winds which ensured there were going to be lots of place changes on the water. The wind was mostly in the West - although it was often from from every other corner of the compass, but the fleet was not fussy. They were keen to see if these conditions might upset the pecking order on the water.
Race 1 - Starting was an issue, just before the start the wind did a 180 which put many boats in a difficult position trying to avoid each other at the start. The wind later filled in to make the first beat rather a one sided starboard biased one. The course configuration was such that there was another perhaps unplanned beat later in the course. The early lead was gained by Steve and Harry in 3005 followed closely by Andy and Sue Flitcroft in 3001. Tony and Sam Cooper were a close third at the finish from last years runner up - Robert and Maggie Murrell.
Race 2 - The wind appeared to have steadied and increased a little, to give the lighter weight teams more advantage on the long off wind legs. John and Katie Clementson found their upwind pace from the start and were a close second to Steve and Harry who led at the first mark again. There was no slacking in Steve and Harry's boat as there were no more than 10 seconds separating the first two for the whole of the race. The lighter teams came through with Bob and Maggie taking 3rd from Chris Parker crewed by Katie Ross.
The standings after day one were Steve and Harry from Bob and Maggie and Tony and Sam Cooper - surprisingly the order from the 2012 Nationals.
The Crews' Race was hotly contested by three young helms: Harry Kennedy, Sam Cooper and Hamilton Roaf. Surprisingly the new heavier crews were giving the boats a better trim - and perhaps a better speed than when they were helming earlier in the day. First at the windward mark was Hamliton with Sam second and Harry third. These positions stayed the same for the next downwind leg. The second upwind leg saw Harry slip past Sam and round close enough to Hamilton for the next run to pressurise Hamilton's crew into a wrong turn at the next mark - giving Harry the lead which he held to the finish. The boys loved the crews race - they were keen for another if there was ever time over the weekend.
On Sunday morning, the Sailors were greeted by a sunny 'soldiers' wind for Day 2. 5-8 knots South Westerly breeze which was in a relatively stable in direction.
Race 3 - With extra mainsheet tension to help power up the new bigger leach of the Graduate mainsail, Steve and Harry were the first to be hiking fully off the pin of the start line, sailing hard for the left hand bay just off Bala club. There appeared to be a nice wind bend into and out of the bay which helped Steve and Harry extend their lead on John Clementson at the first mark. However, John and Katie's pace downwind was enough to tighten up the racing by each leeward mark. Equally quick downwind Chris Parker and Katie Ross who used the downwind legs to pull through to 3rd by the finish.
Race 4 - The wind increased, perhaps even a sea breeze which is why Bala is sometimes called Garda of the North! The heavier team started to show their pace in the stronger breeze; Andy and Sue Flitcroft and Chris and Amanda Carlisle were very fast to windward showing all but Steve and Harry their transom by the windward mark. Chris and Amanda were not quite able to hold off John and Katie Clementson on the off wind legs but were well pleased with their 4th at the finish.
Race 5 - Garda of the North was definitely 'in' - and once again Steve and Harry were leading Andy and Sue at the first mark in order with John and Katie keeping their pace to windward with good boat and sail trim. Sadly Chris and Amanda were tipped in by a port tacked boat, they filled up and sailed the first leg full of water. Their charge through the fleet from dead last to 6th was legendary and will surely give them many more evening tall stories to tell in the future.
Andy and Sue also suffered from a fill up on the last gybe mark which left them close to being caught by Bob Murrell on the last reach. Unfortunatly for Bob, he opted to pass Andy to leeward which allowed Andy to hold them off by the mark - and then they cover them closely to the finish to keep their second place.
With one more race to go - the Championship was sewn up - Steve and Harry had a clean sweep of firsts. However, the Team Trophy and Buddy Team Trophy were up for grabs.
The Team Trophy was contested by Bolton and Chipstead and with one race to go - Chipstead are 4 points ahead - this team event is worked out on points after discard for the first three boats from each team.
The forecast for Monday leaves the result open for the first time in recent Graduate history - perhaps Bolton can steal the prize - we shall see.
The Buddy Teams had been picked by matching first with half way down the fleet, second with half way +1 etc. The winners are to be calculated on their changed total place scores. With one race to go the pairing of Flitcroft and Carlisle is looking good with 8 placing points better - as Andy had moved from 5th to 2nd - and Chris had moved from 12th to 7th. What did they talk about in their buddy team talks?