Blaze National Championships at Paignton Sailing Club

Blaze nationals at Paignton © John Murrell / www.fotoboat.com

Blaze nationals at Paignton © John Murrell / www.fotoboat.com

With Jonathan Saunders absent on Thespian duties bringing culture to the Germans, I was reminded of my responsibilities as 3rd place finisher to provide a report of the event. Being a person of impeccable integrity the level of coercion exerted was not really necessary. So laptop in hand and with time to kill at various airports I set to work.

37 Blazes turned up at Paignton to be greeted by possibly the most ideal conditions and welcoming club that you could imagine for a National Championship. The English Riveria didn't disappoint and was as the locals promised; sun, sea, sand and plenty of real ale!

The majority of the fleet arrived on the Thursday night and headed off to find fine food and local drinking establishments, which meant for some, including or mainly the "Welsh" contingent, there was a fuzzy start to Friday morning, which arrived with a chorus of seagulls and a smiling sun. A quick look around the dinghy park revealed a good turnout, as several more people arrived including Mr Saveker nursing a whopper. Several of the boats sported the newly delivered carbon masts. With no previous events to go on, talk was all about set up and would they be quicker?

At the briefing, it was explained that the breeze, currently at a steady NE force 4, with beautiful rolling waves would most likely disappear as the sea breeze fought against the (not normally like this) wind direction, so be prepared to expect a quick turn around and prompt racing.

Standing on the beach to launch had some a little nervous, not helped due to the few locals using the breaking waves to surf around on in kayaks. After some co ordination, a few shoves and capsizes, we arrived at the start line to be greeted by a pin end port bias line. Mind you, despite this, there was one individual, who mistook a buoy the other side of the committee boat for the end of the start line (no names mentioned to protect the afflicted!).

Race 1 was already decided at the gun, with Christian Smart winning the pin end and port tacked the fleet. He then headed out to the left hand side of the beat, closely followed by Bob Cowen to be clear at the windward mark. The trapezoid course was very biased with the first reach a close fetch, and the second, almost a continuation of the run, which didn't leave much opportunity to pass. So, there were very few place changes throughout the race. However, Rob Jones who was last off the start line having tried to moor on the pin end buoy, managed to sail through the fleet to finish in 5th.

Race 2 swiftly followed as promised with everyone having learnt from the first start. As a result, nearly everyone was bunched up at the pin, with Christian Smart not managing the same again, having been blocked by Martin Saveker, Myles Mence and Simon Beddows who all had to go round and find a way through the pack. Somewhere in the congestions Christian caught his elbow on a passing wing, which forced him out of the race, and eventually out of the weekend. Luckily for the profits of the local pubs and bars, this wasn't his drinking arm, so normal service was not interrupted.

Bob Cowan led to the windward mark again, to the delight of his fellow Warsash sailors who cannot understand how someone who doesn't hike goes so fast, quickly followed by Stefan Smart and Ian Clark. Rob Jones, again, managed to start badly and ended up sailing through, and around the fleet over the next three laps to the finish. Bob Cowen with his first well deserved nationals win, followed by a well sailed Rob Jones, Stefan Smart, who was wondering, "what am I doing up here", Mike Lyons and Ian Clark.

We all returned to the beach successfully, after a superb sail back into the beach with the whoops that only the Blaze offers, covered in spray and surfing down the waves on the perfect Blaze designed reach. Martin Saveker was anxious to uphold his reputation of a swim every day with a capsize in the surf. He maintained he was using his net tramps to try and catch his dinner! The shore team were the most helpful you could ask for, assisting us ashore by catching boats in the surf and fetching trollies.

After a quick sunbathe and Ice cream, we were welcomed to the club for the Commodores reception which swiftly led onto several ales, some food and evening fun, with the Warsash contingent basking in their overnight positions of 1 (Cowen), 2 (Jones) and 3 (Clark).

Saturday arrived with much the same as the day before, sun, wind and waves. After a quick briefing (much the same as before) we launched through the same surf which this morning attracted a few more capsizes, seaweed riddled boats for the less confident, including Mr Saveker who returned through the surf missing a tiller which a watching Simon Beddows maintained, he tried to mount Harry Potter style. A few of the infirm and less brave stayed ashore (Ben Fullalove and Williams leading the charge for lunch and Ice Cream).

With a change to triangle and sausages and a slightly more constant breeze, this rejuvenated several of the fleet who found themselves back in the pack and relishing the conditions and the new course. Rob led off the first race followed by Martin Saveker, Myles Mence, Ian Clark and Bob Cowen. Rob Jones went all "hero" up the beat, flat hiking and working hard, and pulled out a significant lead by the first mark.

Down the first reach (which was outstanding sailing) Ian Clark and Myles Mence had a close battle with Ian Clark just getting water at the gybe mark. They followed Martin Saveker round who managed to miss his toe straps and pirouette off the wings (difficulty 5.6) still holding onto his tiller extension (on the borrowed rudder from his earlier adventures) resulting in the inevitable snap, bad language which only the fishes heard and an early return to shore for repairs. Bob Cowen also followed suit capsizing on the gybe mark, leaving a nice gap for Mike Lyons and Hugh Kindon to catch up and eventually overtake Myles Mence on the way. Rob Jones led from start to finish followed at the end by Ian Clark, Hugh Kingdon, Mike Lyons and Myles Mence.

Race 4 found Hugh Kingdon discovering some pace and height to windward and he led to the windward mark followed by Rob Jones who spotted a gap as Hugh Kingdon bore away to sneak inside and take the lead. The pack followed down the stunning reach with waves to surf and plenty of breeze, Mike Lyons, Ian Clark and a newly tiller extensioned Martin Saveker led the chasing pack. Martin Saveker decided that he was too high up the results again and decided this time, to swim at the final gybe mark, leaving Ian Clark and Mike Lyons to chase the leader with no pressure.

On the final leg, to the finish Mike Lyons took Kingdon high and managed to pass through underneath and left enough room for Ian Clark to also pass before the finish. Ian Jones secured his 2nd win of the day followed by Mike Lyons, Ian Clark, Hugh Kingdon and a brilliant to see up there, Ben Pickering.

Race 5 was underway promptly as promised to beat the forecasted dropping breeze, Ian Clark led from the middle of the line to the windward mark, with Myles Mence following him round with a clear gap back to the chasing pack of Mike Lyons, Hugh Kingdon and Rob Jones.

As the race progressed the breeze slowly died, but left the waves and swell which made for some interesting sailing conditions, and a few seasick sunbathers in the fleet. Ian Clark led to the finish very slowly praying for the wind to hold for his first Blaze Nationals win, followed a little way back by Myles Mence, then a bigger gap to Hugh Kingdon, then Rob Jones who had just snuck past Mike Lyons to the finish.

After the fleet drifted back to shore nice and early, we spread out to sunbathe, tinker, repair boats, eat ice creams, lunch and just enjoy the day before the evenings curry night at the club. This was lovingly prepared and organised by the better halves of Nick Ripley and Mike Holmes.

A quick look at the results showed a new overnight leader (still Warsash) (more smugness) of Rob Jones heading for his 3rd title in 4 years, Ian Clark and Mike Lyons. The evening was a success with several casks of the local Storm and Cloud Ale being consumed before the crowd fragmented. The older element disappeared to more refined locations including bed, the Warsash crowd plus several hangers on were finally evicted from the club by a barman desperate to go home, and the Welsh plus attendees, were last seen heading off in taxis, in search of cool refreshments to soothe injuries, sunburn and parched throats.

It is probably a good job it is a couple of years before, the fleet returns to Paignton so the town will have time to recover. The Welsh are pleased to report that Adam Pullen passed his Nationals initiation after falling asleep in the changing rooms and a local Chinese take away after an acceptable intake of ale.

There is also the issue of the Palm tree climbing. It was reported that a certain Mr Holman was seen ascending one rapidly. It is possibly best to allow one in attendance to describe exactly what happened.

"I'm not sure of the exact reason that made him feel he should see what the view was like from the top. However, I have a sneaking suspicion that alcohol had something to do with it. From my recollection it was particularly foggy at the time and maybe he wanted to see if he could see over the top of the fog to get to the next pub? Maybe somebody had told him that the palm trees had the same flex as a carbon mast and he wanted to test it? Maybe it was a form of warm up for the physical rigours of the next day's sailing? Most likely somebody saw a mouse and we all know that there is only one thing that Chris is afraid of. In fact it was some time before he would come down again after much persuasion that there was no mouse, and anyway if there was it had probably gone now. He was shrieking like a girl at the time too."

For more details, the video on the Blaze Facebook page can explain more. Not to be outdone Ben Pickering rose to the challenge and also climbed up. However, he is now so tall, all he had to do was reach up, grab the branches and pull himself up.

So, Sunday arrived, earlier than planned for some, with several of the walking dead still suffering from the activities of the previous night. There was plenty of sun but a lower breeze, with what we had, due to disappear earlier than the day before. With 3 races scheduled, an early start and prompt races were the order of the day.

Rob Jones was spotted adjusting his new carbon rig with some one large hanging off his halyard doing what looked like bend testing the new stick.

So for Race 6, Hugh Kingdon flew up the first beat, pointing high but somehow carrying good speed too. Rob Jones took the low and fast approach again and rounds the windward mark 5 boat lengths down. Status quo is maintained down the down the reach when Rob Jones passes Hgh Kingdon at the gybe mark by taking the single boat width offered on the inside. On the 2nd beat Hugh Kingdon again sails higher and faster to re take the lead. Down the run Rob Jones works the waves better to take the lead by 2 boat lengths, crucially there was a gap to 3rd place. So, a tacking duel ensued up the final beat with Jones closely covering Kingdon all the way to maintain the lead which is then stretched on the waves to the finish. Ben Pickering showed the future of the Blaze class with consistent speed to take 3rd.

With Rob Jones in an almost unbeatable position at the head of the table, this left 3 boats in contention for the next 2 places with it all to play for.

Race 7 started with a dying breeze. With all the usual faces going up the middle or left, a crowd went right getting the benefit of the swinging breeze, resulting in a change of names at the first mark. Ben Pickering led with a group containing Simon Beddows, Mike Lyons, Hugh Kingdon and Stefan Smart with Rob Jones hanging off the back. This bunch got away from the rest with Rob Jones initially going low on the reaches to break through and get up to 3rd.

The next lap was in a dying breeze with the emphasis on trying to keep the boat moving in the waves that were left behind. This allowed the inland sailors to demonstrate their "technique" with Mike Lyons finally to pass Simon Beddows on the final run. This was to be the final positions as the race was shortened at the end of the run due to the rapidly dropping breeze. This resulted in a final positions of 1st Mike Lyons, 2nd Simon Beddows, 3rd Rob Jones.

With the fleet ashore after a slow drift in, boats were packed away and everyone congregated at the club house for the prize giving.

The Blaze 2013 National Champion for the third time was Rob Jones, winning by a very comfortable margin in the end. Mike Lyons took 2nd overall plus the Grand Masters Prize, 3rd was Ian Clark, Hugh Kingdon was 4th, also securing the Masters prize. Myles Mence 5th and Bob Cowen 6th.

Ben Pickering was in 7th overall but also won the Youth Prize for best under 25's. Mind you, he had to crouch down for the photograph due to his excessive height and the low centre of gravity of the Paignton Commodore.

Andy Whitcher was awarded the Endeavour Prize for the 2nd time, no mean feat whilst being a key member of the Welsh Social Club.

After Rob had made his "usual" speech thanking the club for the fabulous sailing, fantastic socials and hospitality as well as the fleet for providing some close sailing, the fleet departed, some weary, some injured, some more tanned than arrival, all refreshed and rejuvenated with the Blaze as a choice of boat.

The Blaze fleet would like to thank Nick Ripley and Paignton SC for being simply fantastic hosts and look forward to returning in 2016 to the club, and to Mike Lyons and Cirrus Raceboats for the continued support and prizes. Special mention to John Abbott who after a trapping his finger between the rudder blade and stock whilst coming back in the surf spent 5 days in hospital undergoing 2 minor ops. We hope to see him back afloat shortly!

What of the change to carbon masts? The Blaze fleet voted unanimously to allow Carbon masts at the AGM last October. The decision having been made, Mike Lyons at Cirrus Race Boats set about ensuring all prototypes were finalised, and supplying the new mast. Fast forward 6 months and after several delays the initial batch arrived just in time for the Nationals. Several including myself, only put the masts up for the first time on the Friday morning. This is only my view, but the boat felt better balanced, more rewarding to sail and lighter. We all came away impressed by the quality and armed with more information to perfect the set up of the mast even more.

Were they quicker? Well the top 5 all had them on, but that doesn't necessarily mean the results would have been different than before? Races were still won by boats with aluminium masts and those sailors at the front had been at the front previously so time will tell. The event was headed by those with consistent results.

Why not try one and see if you prefer it!

Overall Results: