Interfleet Championships at Draycote Water Sailing Club
by Jeremy Atkins 22 Jun 2014 20:48 BST
22 June 2014
Interfleet Championships at Draycote Water © Mary Woolley
In much the same way as many Clubs have an annual regatta, Draycote Water Sailing Club has an Interfleet Championships. 6 of the Club's fleets compete against each other in a series of short races in matched boats to determine the Interfleet Champion.
2014 saw the 8th running of this event. After 2 windy years, this year competitors arriving at the Club were greeted by a mirror-like surface on the lake, ruffled only by the fishing boats setting off for a competition of their own.
While some of the 60+ competitors may have felt this was an excuse not to compete, the organisers had other ideas and laid on a series of races, padding windsurfers with hands and paddling Picos, two-up, with paddles.
In about 1 ½ hours 17 races were held, with lots of laughter and some exhausted competitors, before the event was bought to a close as no-one had the energy to carry on.
The Laser fleet set down an early marker, winning the first two races, with the Fireballs not far behind. Youth & Junior were losing out a bit until some handicapping was introduced which gave them nearer buoys to round.
While the Laser fleet had some slip-ups, and some last places, they maintained their lead as the results of the races were added up. Behind them, with 11 races gone, there was just one point separating the Fireballs, Menagerie and Youth & Junior fleets.
The Fireballs then put in a burst, getting second place in the last 5 races run, giving them second place overall ahead of Youth & Junior.
As the cup was presented to the Laser fleet for the first time, most were amazed that a fun and competitive championships had been run in no wind.