2013 GP14 Youth Championships at South Staffordshire Sailing Club
by Mark Fleming 4 Nov 2013 11:01 GMT
2-3 November 2013
Winners with 6 race wins, Sam Blocksidge and Andy Hunter enjoying the reach back in during the 2013 GP14 Youth Championships at South Staffs © Ed Washington
Day 1
Race 1 started on time at Midday. Connie Hicklin/Rich Booth got the best start of the lot and rounded the mark third behind Will Hawkins/Sam Thomson and Sam Blocksidge/Andy Hunter after a shifty first beat. As the first lap took place there was a huge split in the fleet, with four boats breaking from the rest of the fleet. The squally conditions soon kicked in and a couple of boats were caught out on the next lap with their spinnakers up, subsequently capsizing at the gybe mark. There was plenty of entertainment and Eleanor Davies and Rory McKenzie were certainly trying to win prizes for falling out the boat. While all this was going on, the Coppinger duo were quietly making their way up the fleet, coming from 5th in the race. When the race was shortened 45 minutes in Sam and Andy took the win, followed by the Coppinger duo in 2nd place after a great fight back, and Connie and Rich in 3rd. Megan and Hayley came home a very credible 5th after capsizing on the second lap and falling a long way behind in 10th. Admittedly, they were helped by a few retirements but full marks for perseverance!
The second race presented a change of course. Race 2 took a similar pattern with Sam/Andy and Connie/Rich rounding the windward mark 1st and 2nd respectively. Eleanor/Rory rounded 3rd with the GP14 Association boat sailed by Peter Mackin and Ella Ditchfield hot on their tail. Only Sam/Andy broke away from the fleet while a lot of positions were changing hands and a lot of swims were taking place, making for exciting spectating. Again, Eleanor and Rory had problems. This time Rory decided to fall out up wind after another nasty shift. By this point you started to wonder whether this would be their day... Sam and Andy took the gun followed by Peter and Ella in the Association boat. Connie and Rich were showing consistent performances by finishing in 3rd place. The competitors were very glad when lunch arrived and they could rest their legs and have a chat about what either went wrong or right!
Race 3 was due to start at 3.15pm. However a postponement was made as the wind got up and waves (yes waves!) were witnessed on South Staffs. This was only to last 10 minutes and the racing was underway by 3.35pm. Don't get me wrong it was squally, but not as bad as the sailors thought. Again, Will Hawkins and Sam Thomson nailed the pin end with a great start and the rest of the fleet behaving and staying behind the line. The same old story applied in this race as Sam and Andy rounded first. However, it looked like Eleanor and Rory had got their act together as they rounded 2nd with Connie and Rich; Will/Sam and Meg/Hayley hot on their tail. The gybe mark at number 7 was in more breeze now as the wind shifted and started to increase, causing more issues than in previous races. Connie and Rich popped the kite whilst in 2nd place, and didn't quite hold it at the gybe mark and ended up death rolling. As Sam and Andy disappeared into the distance with some fantastic sailing there was a real scrap for 2nd. Again, Eleanor/Rory got a huge backer and ended up gybing on the beat, which allowed Meg, Peter and Will to break away. Meg and Hayley had dropped back from the Association boat and Will/Sam but the Coppinger duo were approaching but the battle for 2nd and 3rd looked to be between Will and Peter, or so we thought. Will and Sam looked to have got the better of Pete and Ella as they went right up the last beat, only to capsize! Pete and Ella took second place with the Coppinger duo coming in 3rd. Eleanor and Rory had recovered to overtake Meg and Hayley up the last beat. Both Eleanor and Rory had stayed in the boat the whole race – was this to be a miracle? No, just short of the line a smaller header hit and Rory fell out again! They were, however, far enough in front to recover and come in for 4th, with Meg and Hayley 6 seconds behind in 5th.
Day 2
The wind was forecast slightly lighter then yesterday, however there was a constant force 5 gusting 6/7 at times during the first two races. Race 4 started and Sam Blocksidge/Andy Hunter rounded the windward mark in first place, challenged by Connie Hicklin/Rich Booth and others. However over the first couple of laps they pulled out a gap that proved to be decisive as they finished the race first. There were a few boats that didn't risk the spinnaker as the wind was strong. However, those that did were rewarded most of the time. There was a scrap for 2nd however and Connie/Rich held off both Peter/Ella and Eleanor/Rory to finish with some great sailing of their own. The separate battles up and down the fleet were brilliant and with only two or three capsizes in the strong winds; it showed off just how good our youth sailors really are!
The wind didn't let up for Race 5. It was hard for the sailors as the race was back to back with Race 4. However, it brought a nice change, with Peter and Ella the first round the windward mark in the Association boat closely followed by Sam and Andy. They immediately snatched back the lead but they did not get a way as quickly as before. Connie and Will were both showing great pace as they closed up to the front pairing with Megan/Hayley not far behind. Sam/Andy took lifts and gusts at the right time and gradually pulled away. As Connie and Rich chased down the leaders they capsized just shy of number 2 with the spinnaker up. This was the end of their challenge for this race but persevered and carried on to come home 9th. Will/Sam held their own and completed the race, finishing in a credible 3rd place with Pete and Ella 2nd.
Race 6 took place after lunch and the wind was still a Force 4 gusting 5, but dropped throughout the race, much to the relief of the sailors! Sam and Andy had a comfortable lead going around the windward mark with Eleanor and Connie in a real scrap for 2nd place; both also competing for the first female helm. The Association boat was sitting and waiting to pounce on any potential opportunity between the two female helms and got their reward when Eleanor/Rory appeared to have a few kite issues. Connie/Rich had pulled away however the wind filled in from behind and brought both Peter and Eleanor with it. They held their own and came home 2nd in the race, with Peter holding off Eleanor for third. With Sam/Andy sails faltering, another lap and they might have been caught?!
There may have only been 11 boats racing over the weekend but the standard of sailing was fantastic. A big thank you must go to the sponsors: Steve Parker and Elite Sails, English Braids supported by DinghyTech and Crewsaver. Sam gave a speech thanking the Race team, Galley (who did wonderful food!) and the competitors for a great weekend. I would like to personally congratulate you all on sailing in such difficult conditions, especially Craig Broadbent and Adam Din, 14 and 11 respectively, who went and gave it a go in the difficult conditions. Pictures can be found on the GP14 class Facebook Page. Finally, congratulations to the winners Sam Blocksidge and Andy Hunter who sailed immaculately throughout the weekend.