2000 class Nationals at South Caernarvonshire Yacht Club - Day 1
by Chris Jordan 9 Aug 2015 23:48 BST
9–15 August 2015
Getting ready on day 1 of the 2000 class Nationals at Abersoch © Chris Jordan
43 boats gathered at Abersoch for the 2015, LDC and Noble Marine sponsored, 2000 National Championships. After a 2 mile run out to the start (with one or two practising their swimming / righting on the way!), the fleet had a great two races in 15 to 20 knots. "Championship length" beats, 3 laps, an awkward chop up wind and some great wave action downwind - a superb first day run by the South Caernarvonshire Yacht Club.
After a short postponement the fleet had a good clean start on a nice long line in a 15 knot breeze with a swell throwing the boats around. A left shift just before the start meant the pin end was slightly favoured, and it was Fergus Barnham & Serena de Nahlik and Matt & Clare Sargent and who got the vital first tack onto port correct and cleared the fleet. Natalie Roach & Alex Pickles slowly picked up their pace during the race, managing to get the Navy to overtake the Army (Matt and Clare) down the final run to take 2nd place.
A long wait was needed before the start of the 2nd race, as a number of boats had been swimming. But the fleet managed a second clean start - this time with a small shift to the starboard end. Natalie & Alex claimed the committee boat spot, while Chris & Gill Jordan came off the middle of the line in clear air.
But once again, it was Fergus Barnham & Serena de Nahlik who nailed the first tack onto port to clear the fleet. Chris & Gill spent the next 2 laps as a rolling-road-block, allowing Fergus & Serena to sail away into a clear lead. Matt & Clare Sargent took the low and deep (but not slow!) course down the 2nd run to squeeze ahead of Chris & Gill, while Simon Horsefield & Tom Bernal gybed off early down the final run (which was not a good tactic when others had tried it earlier in the race) and planed through into 3rd place at the finish.
The Sidmouth Pecker (awarded for "incidents" thru the fleet) was in the boat with Natalie & Alex, after an incident with a concrete slipway at the end of the previous Open Meeting. But it was awarded to Chris Cunningham from the Army Sailing Association after the days racing. The ASA had numerous dinghy instructors as well as some very well known and respected sailors; and they had also bought some lovely new sails for the event. They HAD remembered to buy enough numbers to put onto the sails - but Chris and Jay managed to put their numbers on upside down!
The Chairman's Champagne Moment was awarded to Irene Hinks & Donna Bold - sailing in their first ever National Championships, and finding the waves slightly different to their normal smooth home waters at Lilliput Sailing Club.