2.4mR National Ranking Event at Weymouth & Portland Sailing Academy
by Megan Pascoe 21 Sep 2015 13:19 BST
18-19 September 2015
2.4mR National Ranking event at Weymouth © Simon Hill
Seventeen 2.4s turned up to a sunny Portland harbour for the second in the series of Autumn RYA rankers at WPNSA. Friday saw the wind coming off Castle Cove causing some big shifts.
Will Street lead the early running in the first race but could hold onto the lead down the last run to Megan Pascoe. Current National Champion Iain Stowe was showing pace on the second beats of the race course to take second in the second race. John Brooker was showing a consistent pace and tactical ability all weekend to be inside the top 4 in all races.
Jonny Currell won the start of the final race of the day and the first 3 legs showing why he is a European Bronze medallist. Unfortunately the wind conspired against him leaving him in a hole and losing him 3 places.
Saturday was a light NE which was dying by the start of the first race. By the last run the wind was nearly gone. Carol Dugdale had a great start and first beat but got stuck on the wrong side of the second beat but made up for it in the last race of the day getting a 3rd. Steve Bullmore managed a second in the first race as along with Megan managed to get down the run in the failing breeze. Only 5 boats managed to finish in the time limit and then it was a wait for the sea breeze.
Iain woke up for the middle race of the day and lead from start to finish. With a further swing right the SW breeze was in for the final race. Martin Whittingham Jones and Megan led the running in the race with last year's national champion Simon Hill getting into the top 5 with his music playing.
Also competing were 7 pathway boats supported by Sport England and the RYA high performance clubs who are all on a massive learning curve but are rapidly improving. Many of them are now buying their own 2.4s and the support of the RYA and Sport England in the grass roots development of disabled racing is invaluable.
2.4 racing in the UK is in a very strong place with the realisation that for many of us whether disabled or not is the most competitive single hander we can sail and winning a UK Championships is a high accolade.
Overall Results: (top four)
1st Megan Pascoe (Weymouth SC)
2nd John Brooker (Frensham Pond SC)
3rd Iain Stowe (Rutland SC)
4th Martin Whittingham-Jones (West Kirby SC)