505 UK Inland Championships at King George Sailing Club

The long-awaited 505 Inland Championships got under way at KGSC in a glorious 15 knots of breeze. The first day saw 3 keenly-contested races, with plenty of place-changing in perfect sailing conditions.

Vince/Christian led from the gun in their brand-new Ovington boat, hotly pursued by Ben/Richard and the rest of the fleet. Ben/Richard managed to take the lead, but a rounding error at the leeward mark handed the lead back to Vince/Christian. Choice of route, both upwind and downwind was critical, with many place-changes occurring, notably Jim/Darrel storming through to second by the end, with Ben/Richard third.

The excellent breeze stayed for race 2, a close fight in the top 3 between Vince/Christian, Ben/Richard, and Jim/Darrel, eventually finishing in that order. The racing was close throughout the fleet, with choice of route proving crucial.

The OOD set the fleet a windward/leeward course for race 3, with Vince/Christian and Ben/Richard fighting for the lead, only to see a large windshift promoting Jim/Darrel to first, and closing up the fleet with Adam/Neil in third. Tactical choices with the spinnaker caused more place-changing, with Adam/Neil fighting up to second and challenging for the lead, only to be overhauled by Ben/Richard on the last downwind leg. Jim/Darrel had unfortunately suffered gear failure and were unable to challenge for the lead. The race finished Vince/Christian, Ben/Richard and Adam/Neil.

Day 2 saw an additional team join the racing. Charlie Walters and Dougal Cram arrived and started rigging, as sore heads emerged from the clubhouse....clutching much welcome butties!

Race 4 (4 laps) was set with the wind swinging. The course ended up off-set to the wind to starboard (a tough day to be the PRO). Winds were about 5/8 knots and you had to try to line up for the gusts which you could see as they came across the lake. Thus the beat was a really long tight port-tack fetch, with the runs basically a broad reach. However there were surprising tactical opportunities on all legs, as you could go slow and direct, or heat the boat up and put in extra tacks/gybes. Vince/Christian carried on as they had left off on Saturday, leading the race from the 1st mark onward.

Although they were battling with Charlie/Dougal for the first 3 laps of the race, their direct and slow approach tended to seek out gusts more effectively as they spread across the lake. Finally, they latched onto a gust (that the other leading boats had tacked out of), and pulled a decent lead of nearly a minute which made the final run easier for them. Behind, Ben/Richard were flying through the fleet and closed Charlie/Dougal right down. A close finish, with Charlie/Dougal just clinging on for second.

Race 5, and with a reset course, giving a truer beat as the wind settled into the SW corner of the lake, all boats started on port towards the favoured pin end (the wind dialled left at the start). Oddly, Charlie/Dougal (who had started furthest from the pin on port) had the best wind. When the wind swung back – they were able to tack onto starboard and cross to the next header on the port layline. They led by about 50 yards at the top mark, but suffered on the downwind, as the fleet closed up.

And that was how it stayed, with Charlie/Dougal extending upwind, and being caught again downwind. At moments the lead was pretty sizeable, although Jim/Darrel chased well, and refused to stop chasing for the win. Ben/Richard displayed great speed and tenacity to make it back through the fleet into second place, they were able to threaten the lead right into the finish, close with Jim/Darrel on the line.

Race 6 saw the best wind of the day and with a left shift again, a port-tack drag race off the start line. All crews were flat wiring, and again Charlie/Dougal started a little way down the line but came through with good height and pace, tacking onto starboard as the wind returned to its median. A good lead was again cut back on the run – with the leaders simply trying to stay in the middle of the course, as boats behind all tried different strategies to get into the game.

However Ben/Richard and Vince/Christian hoisted and heated-up (taking reaching angles) in a good gust to sail around Charlie/Dougal. The top 3 rounded the leeward mark in that order. Again upwind, nose to tail with all the main players seeking to avoid the 'snakes' and find the elusive golden snitch! (mixed metaphors, but you get the idea).

Charlie/Dougal emerged again with about a 50 yard lead...which they promptly lost downwind again. And that was the way it stayed, with neither Vince/Christian or Ben/Richard able to catch a shift to get Charlie/Dougal upwind....but both closing right up and fighting with each other on the gusts downwind...all the way to the finish.

They finished in that order.

So 3 good races, with the threat of a protest.... which was resolved in the typical 505 fashion (50 points from Griffindor, Vince!).

There are photos available on Flickr

Final Results:

1. 9124, Vince Horey/Christian Diebitsch
2. 8514, Ben Iliffe/Richard Nurse
3. 9032, Jim Blyth/Darrel Samanjoul
4. 8835, Charlie Walters/Dougal Cram
5. 9104, Adam Kenney/Neil Rabbitts
6. 8906, Bill Hooton/Tom Hooton
7. 8860, Bobbie Johnson/James King

National Championships 2014

The 505 fleet is looking forward to its National Championships, taking place at Felixstowe Ferry Sailing Club between Thursday 24th July and Sunday 27th July. The Association has scrapped the late entry fee for the Nationals, so late-comers can join us for exciting racing, friendly socials, and lots of tips and advice to make you go faster, whether you're at the front of the fleet or challenging for the Endeavour trophy.

We are very grateful to our sponsors, HD Sails, Ovington Boats and Pinnell & Bax for their generous support.