Finn UK National Championships at West Kirby Sailing Club

Finn UK National Championships at West Kirby © Alan Jenkins

Finn UK National Championships at West Kirby © Alan Jenkins

Twenty three Finns contested the 2014 British Finn Association National Championships, held at West Kirby Sailing Club over a long weekend July 10 – 13. The venue of West Kirby was a new and exciting venture for the class, who were not disappointed. A competitors briefing was held on Thursday evening to enable the competitors to be ready for a 09:30 start in the morning. Race officer Chris Hoppins set a relaxed tone but reminded the fleet that he would have no hesitation in flying the black flag if boats misbehaved on the start-line, due to the tight schedule afloat.

Friday morning dawned with the forecast light south-westerly and a vast expanse of sand at the end of the slipway to greet competitors. The sand was rapidly replaced by fast moving water as the tide raced, in filling the Dee estuary and allowing the Finns to launch and sail to the race area. With a strong tide holding the sailors behind the start-line the first race soon got underway.

Early leaders John Greenwood and Neil Robinson were soon overwhelmed on the run by Julian Smith who then stretched out his lead as the tide began to slacken. Race two started with heavy bias at the pin end of the start-line with the ebb tide picking up pace across the course. The sailors were very cautious; aware the tide was going to push them over the line and many headed for the pin end.

With no more than 10 seconds to go before the start, a significant shift to the left came through, making it hard to make up ground and cross the line on starboard. Local boy David Potter took full advantage of this - crossing the fleet on port from a great pin end start. In the middle of the line Martin Hughes tacked onto port early and took full advantage of the stronger ebb tide on the right hand side of the course to go for speed and round the windward mark first and extend his lead over the next two legs to win the shortened race at the windward mark. Julian Smith maintained his early dominance with a second and the port hand flyer David Potter taking third.

Other top sailors including Allen Burrell and John Greenwood struggled in this difficult race and recorded scores they would later be pleased to discard. A third start was impossible with the tide ebbing at pace, most sailors just made it back to the tarmac slipway before the water receded completely.

Afternoon sailing continued on the marine lake with six boats making the most of the opportunity of close quarters racing with a competitive upwind downwind series of races. West Kirby Sailing Club hosted a fantastic barbeque for the sailors on Friday evening. The news of light winds forecast for Saturday caused several sailors to imbibe heavily despite the early start in the morning.

Saturday morning again commenced with the sailors greeted by at a vast expanse of sand, but the race officer and his beach team had prepared for this and the boats where wheeled onto the sand to await the incoming tide. Boats soon floated off as the rapidly incoming tide released them from the trolleys. The beach team loaded the trolleys onto the passing tractors that pulled them back to the slipway, leaving the sailors free to get to the race course.

The forecast 5-6 knot breeze from the south-east ensured the wind against tide situation set up on the start-line soon required the use of the black flag. After several general recalls the fleet got away with Simon Percival and David Potter tacking on the committee boat to head out to the right hand side of the course into the deeper water. Halfway to the windward mark both tacked too early, understanding the windward mark and leaving Julian Smith and Martin Hughes to capitalise and catch up.

Simon Percival rounded the windward mark first followed by Pete Ashworth, both bore away onto a run towards the leeward mark. Julian Smith and Martin Hughes took a higher line to get into the shallower water and weaker tidal stream and so rolled over the other sailors and establish a commanding lead by the leeward mark. They increased the gap up the next beat and following run to the finish, with Allen Burrell carefully taking places to finish third with early leader Simon Percival relegated to fourth.

Race four commenced in barely 6 knots of breeze with extensive bias luring sailors out of the tide towards the shore. A significant lift out of the start line gave an early advantage to those who started at the pin end, as others got headed as they sailed into the stronger tide. However, as the wind filled in the right hand side of the course came true. By the time the leaders Allen Burrell, John Greenwood and Julian Smith reached the windward mark they were well ahead of those who had stayed on the left, leaving several sailors stranded in unfamiliar territory. In a breeze that increased form astern the run gave some hope to the backmarkers who then sailed into the same hole as the leaders.

Another windward leg and run left the leading pack well ahead with Allen Burrell taking line honours followed by John Greenwood and the consistent Julian Smith in third. New Finn sailors Steve Hayles and Irishman Colin Leonard took fourth and fifth. Racing was abandoned for the day so the wind duly increased as the sailors sailed back to the clubhouse for another feast of salmon, beef salad and a range of deserts at the West Kirby SC Regatta lunch.

The combination of the Finn Nationals and the West Kirby Sailing Club regatta meant there were around 100 boats all racing off the sailing club that morning, it was a great atmosphere with many Finn sailors quizzed by club sailors about "just how hard is it to sail a Finn". The AGM followed the lunch and in the tradition of Finn sailing this was followed by some beer and another meal and social with a band provided by the club. Another excellent evening.

The overnight rain cleared early Sunday morning to reveal a bright and breezy morning with 14-20 knots of westerly blowing straight into the Dee estuary. Fantastic Finn conditions yes, but many underestimated the very strong flood which carried away the windward mark twice and created havoc as sailors tried to judge their starboard tack approach on the first lap of race 5.

Martin Hughes and John Greenwood looked best placed to round first but the strong tide favoured those who stood inshore longest, allowing Simon Percival to lead around the mark pursued by Allen Burrell, Julian Smith and Andy Dennison, who kindly stopped at the windward mark to re-tie his mainsheet and allow Martin Hughes and John Greenwood to go through on the inside, very kind Andy!

The waves on the run in the channel were just big enough to surf and make the experience a thrilling but not too scary a ride. Little had changed as most of the fleet took the left had gate and port tack towards the shore. The race was won by Allen Burrell who left Simon Percival in second and again the consistent Julian smith in third with Martin Hughes and John Greenwood in fourth and fifth.

The results of race five left the second third and fourth place in the balance between Allen Burrell, John Greenwood and Martin Hughes with all three having everything to play for, one slip up could change the final results.

Race six started with a flurry of activity especially at the pin end of the line with the young ebb pushing the fleet over the line, David Potter, Dan Farrimond and Martin Hughes were all OCS but Hughes returned around the pin but had to complete full 720 having made contact with Dan Ferrimond who had taken him over the line.

This left him at the very back of the fleet in a race he needed to win to maintain his overnight second place. Half the fleet quickly tacked to port to go further inshore to pick up the stronger ebb tide whilst the rest stayed in the deeper water, but the tide had not yet changed in the channel and those who went inshore gained some ground. John Greenwood and Allen Burrell rounded the windward mark first and began the sleigh ride downwind. The wind had increased to over 20 knots and the waves were beginning to increase in size providing a great opportunity to surf and really get up speed.

However for some this was too much and several sailors were thrown from their boats as they rolled in to windward. Rounding the windward mark in the final three Martin Hughes picked up the pace downwind and got back to ninth at the leeward mark and then seventh at the final windward mark. Catching the leaders looked nearly impossible but ex-Laser sailor, Irishman Colin Leanord was in his sights along with Julian Smith in third.

Working very hard he was within a couple of boats lengths of Colin at the finish to take fifth place with Leonard fourth, Julian Smith third John Greenwood second and Allen Burrell first. All that was needed now was time for the results to be computed. The final reach home was exhilarating with wonderful rolling waves and plenty of wind.

Finn UK National Championships at West Kirby - photo © Martin Swinburn

Ashore the sailors where treated to yet another slap up feed before the prize giving. Julian Smith took a well-deserved first place followed by Allen Burrell and Martin Hughes. All the competitors were very pleased with the event and praised the hospitality and friendliness of the flag officers and members of West Kirby Sailing Club.

West Kirby is certainly a venue the Finn class would like to return to, the hospitality was superb, the food excellent and the sailing was tremendous. However, next time we will make more use of the marine lake and include races on there in the afternoons as part of the series.

Overall Results: