GP14 Midland Bell Open at South Staffordshire Sailing Club

GP14s at South Staffs © Roy Alexander

GP14s at South Staffs © Roy Alexander

The weather forecast looked good for sunbathing and nothing else, but it didn't deter 6 visitors joining 24 home boats for the annual pre 24 Hour Race GP14 open at South Staffs. To be fair, the wind did appear and great racing was arranged throughout the day by PRO Bill Bradburn and his team.

Race 1 started on time at 11.30am and surprisingly everyone was clean away. The pin end proved favourable (as it did all day) and first round the windward mark were the mother and daughter team of Connie and Julie Hicklin, followed by a gaggle of boats that had managed to sort itself out by the end of the race. The Hicklins' held off a fast finishing Mark Fleming and Megan Hicklin (another daughter!) and ex world champs Ian Willis and Keith Dutton.

After a great lunch and odd beer (hare of the dog after the previous night's entertainment) in some cases, the 2nd race again got away cleanly. Justin Jones and Chris Anderson managed to pick their way through the shifts at the end of the beat to round first followed by Dave Young and Nic Booth. Places changed dramatically on the 2nd leg leaving Ed Bradburn and Chris White to sail away and take a deserved win, followed home by Jones/Anderson and Young/Booth.

Going into the last race no one seemed to have a clue who could win, but in the end it was decided by the end of the first downwind leg. The first beat was won by Young/Booth with Bradburn/White in close company. These 2 held their nerve until the next mark where they managed to round cleanly leaving all boats from 3rd down to raft up! Chaos seemed to ensue, and when it was all dusted down the leading 2 boats had sailed off into a seemingly unassailable lead which if held, guaranteed their results. The results of race 3 where needless to say - Young/Booth followed by Bradburn/White and a very fast finishing Willis/Dutton.

After a great days racing, Ed Bradburn and Chris White had sailed brilliantly in their 20 year old, past championship winning boat (powered by HD sails) to win, followed by Dave Young and Nic Booth in their P&B powered Winder, and Justin Jones and Chris Anderson in the brand new SP boat (Elite sails).

During his closing speech, Ed thanked his father Bill for yet again being PRO when he won a home open this year, Mark Fleming for organising both the open and the previous night's party, together with the galley and bar staff. He also thanked the visitors, especially the 2 boats that had made the trip from Southport and Ann Penny/Duncan Greenhalgh who came all the way down from Derwent Reservoir.

Now then, onto the 24 Hour Race...