International OK Dinghy World Qualifier at Dabchicks Sailing Club

16 hardy souls arrived at Dabchicks to be faced with a rather brisk and cold south westerly. When I say brisk, I actually mean bloody fierce, as gusts over 35 mph were recorded. Expectations were for a few more competitors but maybe the forecast had put a few off, most notably, Daniella Ager (couldn't resist!).

After a midday briefing the fleet made their way out to the race area for race 1. Richard Burton managed to capsize on the way out, in yet another borrowed boat, lost his mast chocks and so went back in to borrow yet another boat from Andy Turner who had wisely decide to let all the younger generation make fools of themselves!

First round the windward mark was Lee Child followed by Robert Deaves, Tom Lonsdale, Dave Bourne and Deryck Lovegrove. Lee and Robert screamed off down the reach towards the impending gybe of doom which most people, surprisingly, managed to get right. At the leeward mark, Lee still led from Robert while Dave had moved up to third. At the windward mark, these three were still leading with Robert all over Lee's transom and Dave chasing hard.

Down the next run was where the fun and games started. Lee and Robert made it through the gybe fairly ok while Dave got it very wrong and spent the next 15 mins looking at his hull allowing Tom and Keith up into third and fourth. Lee and Robert were enjoying a great battle up the beat, with Lee rounding just in front. Old man of the sea, Robert, managed to get the better of Lee at the gybe mark proving that experience trumps youth as Lee went splash, twice. The finishing order ended up Robert, Lee, Tom then Keith.

After an extremely tiring race, the decision was taken to abandon racing for the day which meant that quite a few people had their discard already. It also meant that the sailors could spend the rest of the afternoon and evening drinking copious amounts of alcohol and generally misbehaving, for which the author would like to apologise on Burt's behalf!

Sunday arrived with sunshine and a lovely, gentle force 3 and everyone fit and raring to go for race 2! John Ball had turned up and proceeded to show everyone how it was done up the first beat. Lee got past John to take the lead while Keith and Paul Church were having a great battle all the way round. Finishing positions were in that order, Lee, John, Keith then Paul.

In race 3 Burt got the first beat spot on along with Lee to round first and second followed by Dave, Tom and Toby Ramsay. Lee and Dave managed to get past Burt to take the lead and had a good tussle all the way round with Dave maybe gaining a little on the reaches and Lee extending on the beats. Finishing positions were Lee, Dave, Burt then Toby.

With quite a few people already using their discard, the last race was going to be all important. Lee went off like a train followed by Robert, whose hangover must have worn off, Tom, Dave then John. Lee and Robert extended their lead while Dave and Tom were having a battle all of their own, with Tom coming out on top by the finish. Lee was once again first with Robert second, Tom third, Dave fourth.

In what was an extremely tight series with some great racing, Lee took the win for the weekend with Robert in second and Dave, third. Thanks must go to Dabchicks SC and the race officer, Rachel, for running a great event in what was on the Saturday, testing conditions to say the least!

Overall Results:

1st Lee Child, 3pts
2nd Robert Deaves, 9pts
3rd Dave Bourne, 11pts
4th Tom Lonsdale, 11pts
5th Keith Byers, 13pts