D-One National Championships at Castle Cove Sailing Club
by GBR D One Class Association 16 Jul 2013 22:41 BST
13-14 July 2013
The 2013 D One nationals were hosted by Castle Cove Sailing Club and sponsored by Sandiline, North Sails and Harken. The host club managed to deliver Mediterranean like weather both days with light winds.
At the end of the first days racing Nick Craig, current D One European Champion,led with a two point lead over Charlie Chandler. Four boats were tied for third place showing just how close the racing was.
Saturday evening's entertainment was traditional bar games hosted by Castle Cove Sailing Club as part of their regatta weekend. The evening was great fun with the D One fleet showing their dominance in games requiring strength and power, however games involving teamwork left a little to be desired... Maybe we sail single handlers for a reason?
Sunday morning dawned with the usual start: Gorringe, Chandler and Hopkins feeling 'a little delicate' after the night before. With this start, if racing was to follow the recent form book we could engrave Nick Craig's name on the trophy. However, in a year that provided a British men's Wimbledon champion things were not over...
In race one Chandler led the fleet out to the left of the course off the start line and was first at the windward mark. Chandler maintained this position to the end with Chris Sallis second and Nick Craig third.
In race two Craig won the pin end of the start and led the fleet out to the left. However it was Robin Foster-Taylor who led halfway up the first beat when the fleet crossed for the first time but by the first windward mark Chandler again led, with Craig back in the chasing pack. The wind filled in from behind on the final run, squeezing the front of the fleet together. Chandler held his nerve and took his second win of the day, with Giles Chipperfield second, and Foster-Taylor third, with Craig coming in fifth.
In the third and final race of the day, Craig led off the start line and round the first windward mark. Chandler rounded the first windward mark in fifth but was up to third by the leeward mark behind Chipperfield. Chandler climbed up to second during the second beat, closing the gap slightly on Craig. Down the final run fleet positions at the front remained the same with Craig taking the race win, Chandler second and Chipperfield third.
Overall Charlie Chandler took the 2013 GBR D One nationals by two points from Nick Craig, with Giles Chipperfield third and the 2013 Master's National Champion. VERY generous prizes were provided by Sandiline / Suntouched Sailboats. First prize was a set of Sandiline winter hiking shorts, second a pair of summer hiking shorts and third a technical top. Sandiline prizes were awarded to the top 6 overall.
More photos and details can be seen on the GBR D One Association Facebook page.
The UK fleet continues to grow with several demos planned for the next couple of weeks. The next event on the UK circuit is at Lymington at the end of August. If you are interested in the D One and fancy a go, please contact the GBR class association, either through its Facebook page or via the GBR class secretary, Charlie Chandler:
The next international event for the D One's is the D One Gold Cup being hosted by Austria during early September. There are already 8 boats booked to go from the UK, with international entries expected from 9 different countries. Charter boats will be available, if interested please contact Russ Hopkins:
Overall Results:
1st - Charlie Chandler GBR 4 (Olton Mere Sailing Club)
2nd - Nick Craig GBR 5 - Team Sandiline / Harken (Frensham Sailing Club)
3rd - Giles Chipperfield GBR 140 (Lymington Town Sailing Club)
4th - Chris Sallis GBR 119 (Gt Yarmouth and Gorleston Sailing Club)
5th - Robin Foster-Taylor GBR 106 (Thorpe Bay Yacht Club)