2.4mR Inland Championship at Rutland Sailing Club

2.4mR Inland Chamion Iain Stowe (left) with race officer Charlie Stowe © Simon Hill

An encouraging turnout of 21 boats from all over the country, and a very varied entry ranging from 13 to 77 year old sailors, from disabled to able-bodied and petite to plus grand, no one could have imagined just how tight the racing was to be. This just shows the unique quality of the 2.4mR fleet with different winners emerging from each days racing and no one really dominating the fleet in the varied conditions.

The race officer Charlie Stowe and team laid some superb courses and predicting gales on the final day, had the foresight to set an extra race on day one. This was Will Street's day with two firsts and a third behind second placed Iain Stowe, a past national winner and race winner Martin Wittingham Jones. The top three showed great form having just returned from the class world championships in Finland.

Day two, and race four saw Steve Bullmore, another past national champion gain his first bullet after a disappointing first day with an unassailable lead. A general recall in race five saw Carol Dugdale cross the line first only to be DSQ black flagged and local Iain Stowe winning. Iain again proceeded to win race six, well ahead of Will in 10th and Steve at 15th.

Bullmore led race seven but nearly sank at the end, due to a faulty pump, and was saved by a shortened course in the last minute squall.

The breeze came in with vigour on the final day but the fleet still came out in force and had some memorable downwind surfing. Simon Hill, another past national champion, won both of these races followed closely Carol Dugdale and John Brooker. Will Street suffered a submerging following a dramatic nose dive but most of the fleet survived unscathed and the racing was just as competitive. John was forced to do a port starboard penalty in the final race letting both Carol and Bruce Hill (yet another past champion) through.

Summarising: The 2.4mR class excelled here in a fantastic event with superb, well run racing, at a stunning location and in a most welcoming club, may it continue.

Overall Results: