Graduate National Championships at Chichester Yacht Club - Day 2
by Alistair Roaf 27 Jul 2014 21:23 BST
19-21 July 2014
Day two, the Sunday of the Graduate Nationals at Chichester Yacht Club, were race numbers three and four. The wind had backed to northwest from Saturday which resulted in the outer loop of the trapezoid course being close to the main channel and stronger tidal streams.
It was clear that the Grad fleet were keen to get going with the first start being marked by a general recall. The race officer brought the fleet back and with the "I" flag flying got the day's sailing going on the next attempt. Tony and Sam Cooper again took control and were first around the windward mark. Bob and Maggie Murrell, and John Clementson and Melanie Titmus, led the chasing pack. During the second lap John and Melanie closed the gap with Tony and Sam, and for a while were exchanging tacks with each other before Tony and Sam got clear again.
While this was happening Andy and Sue Flitcroft were working their way up the fleet and when John and Mel got buried in the handicap fleet who were sharing the course, they took the opportunity to find clear air and move up to second which they held to the finish.
The race officer fearing the sea breeze was about to cancel out the northwesterly wind decided to shorten lunch and get everyone back out onto the water. Race four was sailed in light winds and an ebbing tide. Finding pressure was the name of the game with most boats suffering the horrible experience of sitting in a hole and watching the rest of the fleet moving swiftly in a nice gust.
Initial leaders up the beat were the teenage team of Ben and Gabe Hill who subsequently rounded the windward mark first closely followed by Tony and Sam Cooper, and James and Anne Gardner. By the end of the first run John and Melanie had worked their way up to second.
The lead dramatically changed when Tony and Sam Cooper found the biggest hole of the day and had to sit and watch several of the fleet sail past them. The race was won by John and Melanie with Bob and Maggie Murrell second and Alistair and Hamilton third making it a Chipstead one-two-three.
At the end of day two Tony and Sam lead the fleet with all to play for on Monday's final day of racing.
Results after Day 2:
| Pos | Sail No | Helm | Crew | Club | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | Pts |
|---|
| 1 | 2873 | Tony Cooper | Sam Cooper | King George | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 7 |
| 2 | 3008 | Bob Murrell | Maggie Murrell | Chipstead | 2 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 12 |
| 3 | 2979 | John Clemenston | Melanie Titmus | Chipstead | 5 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 13 |
| 4 | 3001 | Andy Flitcroft | Sue Flitcroft | Bolton | 9 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 20 |
| 5 | 2901 | Alistair Roaf | Hamilton Roaf | Chipstead | 3 | 7 | 8 | 3 | 21 |
| 6 | 2962 | Roger Cherrill | Meg Warren | Chipstead | 6 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 23 |
| 7 | 3010 | David Wilson | Sandra Wilson | Broadwater | 8 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 24 |
| 8 | 2840 | Ben Hill | Gabe Hill | West Lancs | 7 | 9 | 7 | 9 | 32 |
| 9 | 3016 | Rob Riddelsdell | Sally Riddelsdell | Chipstead | 4 | Ret | 10 | 7 | 34 |
| 10 | 3003 | James Gardner | Anne Gardner | Hayling Island | 11 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 38 |
| 11 | 2700 | Ann Bottoms | Stewart Bottoms | Hunts | 12 | 10 | 12 | 11 | 45 |
| 12 | 2977 | Roger Francis | Kaine Brown | Dell Quay | 10 | Ret | 11 | DNC | 47 |