2000 Open Meeting at Dell Quay Sailing Club
by Roy Dyton 13 Sep 2013 15:50 BST
8 September 2013
Wild weather for the 2000s at Dell Quay © Chris Hatton
A "brilliant" 2000 open meeting was the enthusiastic response of one young competitor who successfully completed Dell Quay's event on Sunday September 8. The weather provided unusually exciting and challenging conditions for the eighteen competitors as the benign conditions of the second race gave way to heavy squalls, torrential downpours and a sky illuminated by lightning.
Andy Gray, the Dell Quay race officer, set a windward/leeward course into the prevailing south westerly wind, ideally suited for 2000s.
Those who bravely hugged the eastern shore during the first race gained most from avoiding the incoming tide, with Matt and Clare Sargent (Thorney Island SC/Army SA) maintaining their lead throughout. In some close racing, Pete Harrison and Anne Watkins (Chichester YC) were beaten into third place by Will Sloper and Katie Burridge (Weir Wood SC), with Katie's father Rob edged into fourth place.
The wind conditions were generally far lighter during the second race when getting a good start was essential to success. The Sargents again took the lead, which they maintained throughout the race. Once again, the battle for second and third places was a family affair (there were three 'Burridge' boats in the line-up) but this time Dad prevailed, with Rob and Sarah Burridge taking second place ahead of Will Sloper and Katie Burridge.
Race three followed a similar pattern as Matt and Clare Sargent took an early lead, only this time the weather played a part in the proceedings, producing a noisy thunderstorm, some serious wind-over-tide conditions and 30 knot gusts. The Sargents capsized, yielding first place to Rob and Sarah Burridge, with Will Sloper and Katie Burridge in second place and Pete Harrison and Anne Watkins third.
Overall results
1. Matt and Clare Sargent (TISC/ASA) 2pts
2. Rob and Sarah Burridge (Weir Wood SC) 3pts
3.Will Sloper and Kate Burridge (Weir Wood SC) 4pts
4. Pete Harrison and Anne Watkins (Chichester YC) 6pts
5. Mike Fitzgerald and Tim Dormer (Dell Quay SC) 10pts
6. C. Brown and C. Pollock (Weston SC) 11pts