Splash and Flash event at Blackwater Sailing Club
by A Dennis 14 Sep 2006 00:24 BST
9 - 10 September 2006
The Splash fleet at Blackwater © Peter Gould
Following on from the success of previous Nationals held at the Blackwater Sailing Club, 9th & 10th September saw the return of the Splash and Flash class for the British leg of their International Crystal Trophy. The event attracted competitors from Holland and Belgium as well as the English contingent, some of whom were fresh back from the World Championships in Italy.
The Blackwater’s first class race management coupled with great hospitality has ensured that the competitors always look forward to visiting this venue and the 30 competitors were not disappointed. The first 3 races on Saturday in winds of force 3-4 occasionally 5, saw many capsize at the wing mark as the youngsters struggled to gybe in some testing conditions.
The Belgian Splash’s ruled the first day led by Van Eccelpoel Cederic with Anthony Pieters second and Robert Hoott third. Kavel Witteveen led the Flash’s with a very consistent second and two firsts.
Sunday saw more sedate winds, and a lot of sunshine enabled the host Race Officers, Spotters and Rib Crews to top up their tans – no such luxury for the competitors as the Splashes of Simon Barker and Jacob Brubert turned up the heat on their opponents. Pieters held firm with a win early in the day but Barker and Brubert did enough to topple Cederic. Witteveen maintained his high standard to take a first overall in the Flashes. Final results for the Splashes – Anthony Pieters first with Simon Barker in second and Jacob Brubert third.