Graduate National Championship at Chipstead Sailing Club - Overall

Graduate nationals at Chipstead day 3 © Tim Harper

Graduate nationals at Chipstead day 3 © Tim Harper

It was an early start for the Graduates on the final day of the 2015 Nationals at Chipstead with the first race of the day being scheduled for 0930. The wind was there; unfortunately, it was from the north which meant short beats and long reaches.

Race 5, the first of the day, started close the club house shore with little room to manoeuvre. After the cramped start it was a search for clear air and pressure. In the light airs Tony and Sam Cooper led at the windward mark closely followed by Roger Cherrill and Sarah-Jane Critchley. The Coopers held to first for a further half lap before Cherrill and Critchley got past them. The chasing pack was led by Andy and Sue Flitcroft.

By the second lap team Cherrill and Critchley continued to lead but with John and Jamie Clementson now up to second place and Chris Parker with Katie Ross in third. These top three positions were held to the end of the race. Lower down the fleet, positions were changing with every gust which passed over the lake.

Race 6 was the same course as race 5; however, the start line was further from the shore giving a bit more room to manoeuvre. Taking best advantage of the extra room were Bob and Maggie Murrell who navigated clear of the fleet and were not to be caught. Second round the windward mark were the youth team of Bryn Abendenstern and Annabelle Coppinger with the Clementsons third.

Graduate nationals at Chipstead day 3 - photo © Tim Harper

Later in the first lap the Coopers moved up to third with another youth team, Ben and Gabe Hill, moving up to fourth. However, by the end of the lap the Clementsons had claimed second position.

The race was finished after three laps with the Murrells first, the Clementsons second and the Hills third. All boats were ashore for noon where lunch and prizes waited.

With all six scheduled races completed the Championships had clear winners, with four bullets, of John and Jamie Clementson (Chipstead). Second place went to Bob and Maggie Murrell (Chipstead) and third overall were Ben and Gabe Hill (West Lancs). The team trophy went to Chipstead, the Junior prizes were won by the Hill brothers, Liz Stockdale (Chipstead) was the lead female helm, David and Sandra Wilson (Broadwater) won the halfway up cup, Duff Burns with Tony Cooper (Chipstead) won the Ruislip Paddle, silver fleet winners were Chris Parker with Katie Ross (Crosby) and bronze fleet winners were Neil and Neil Beaton (Chipstead).

Graduate nationals at Chipstead day 3 - photo © Tim Harper

The next Graduate championship event will be the Northerns at Bassenthwaite on the first weekend of August.

Overall Results:
If you finished in the top ten at the Graduate nationals then enter your Gear Guide information here