Contender European Championship at Highcliffe SC - Practice Race

Contender Europeans at Highcliffe practice day © Sarah Desjonqueres

Contender Europeans at Highcliffe practice day © Sarah Desjonqueres

Mussell marks his territory

Mudeford Quay was buzzing this Saturday as Contender sailors from all over Europe arrived and set up camp on the green at Highcliffe SC in preparation for their European Championships.

In all, 72 sailors signed up for battle and had their boats weighed and measured ready for a week's racing out in Christchurch Bay.

The usual psychological warfare was in full swing with competitors casting doubt on others' choice of rig tension and boat set up turning Camp Contender into a haven of tweaking, fiddling and fixing.

The weather, however, seems to be flexing its autumnal muscles at the moment and so it was that Sunday's practice race was held under overcast skies. For a while we thought that the Wind Gods would deliver but a westerly wind can be fickle in these here parts and the blow from the morning did little other than build some sizeable waves for surfing down leaving little behind for any serious trapeze work.

The race started after just the 2 general recalls, with only 5 boats a little over eager on the 3rd attempt. After the first beat it was our local Highcliffe SC sailor Simon Mussell who got to the windward mark first stamping his authority on the race and showing who is boss in his home playground, the rest of the fleet just had to follow on behind.

Contender Europeans at Highcliffe practice day - photo © Sarah Desjonqueres

As the race progressed, the wind seemed to dwindle and there was much chatter about invoking rule 42 amongst the race committee but in the end the wind held steady enough and 54 boats managed/chose to finish the race. The race leader peeled off from the pack after the last beat heading for home before the end of the race leaving our Dutch visitor Paul Verhallen to take the win with Stuart Jones and Graham Scott coming home 2nd and 3rd respectively.

Start time for race 1 proper tomorrow is 12.30. We can't wait to see what it brings.

Please see www.highcliffesailing.co.uk for further details.

Practice Race Results: