P&B 505 UK Inland Championships at Northampton Sailing Club

P&B 505 UK Inland Championships at Northampton © Ian Mitchell

Nine teams gathered at Northampton SC for the Pinnell & Bax sponsored 505 Inlands on Saturday and Sunday, with class association training organised and ran by Ian Mitchell and Oliver Davenport on the Friday before, giving all those who attended invaluable feedback and additional time on the water, in what is a big year for the UK fleet, with the World Championships being held in July, hosted by Hayling Island SC.

Four races were sailed on the Saturday in sunny 12-15mph winds using gate starts. Whilst the fleet would traditionally use gate start only at larger events, this proved popular with the World Championships being only a few months away. Before a lunch break, two races were held. The first saw Craig Burlton and Richard Anderton round first and initially extend downwind on what was a traditional 505 windward leeward course. As the race progressed Mike Sims and Carl Gibbon took the lead, which they held until the finish. Craig and Richard finished in second, to Ian Pinnell and Ian Mitchell in third.

The wind had build slightly for race 2, but it was again Mike and Carl that took line honours, this time leading the fleet from start to finish and extending. Second was Ian Pinnell and Ian Mitchell, followed by the new paring of Andy Wilde and Harry Briddon.

After lunch the fleet returned and completed a further two races. The breeze remained consistent with teams flat wiring upwind, but downwind was where most gains could be made as gusts passed down the course. It was Ian Pinnell and Ian Mitchell who mastered the afternoon, winning both races. Second place in race 3 went to Mike Sims and Carl Gibbon after a close battle with also newcomers Harvey Hillary and Archie Massey, eventually finishing in third.

Race 4, saw the minor places go to Craig Burlton and Richard Anderton in second followed by Mike Sims and Carl Gibbon in third, this was after the Ian's had left the rest of the fleet in their shadows, winning by a sizable lead.

On Saturday evening Northampton SC organised a well-earned curry and extended their typical great hospitality for those that were not in a rush to leave!

The wind strength had definitely dropped on the Sunday morning, but it remained a lovely sunny day. In race 5, being pathfinder was definitely favoured and Mike Sims and Carl Gibbon certainly took advantage, rounded first and extending to the finish. Second was Craig Burlton and Richard Anderton, followed by the improving new team of Andy Wilde and Harry Briddon in third.

Harvey Hillary and Archie Massey at the P&B 505 UK Inland Championships at Northampton - photo © Ian Mitchell

In the final race the wind was certainly creating challenging conditions with big shifts and wind differential across the course. For the first two laps, it appeared that Mike Sims and Carl Gibbon were becoming very comfortable leading the fleet, however on the final beat those teams who had picked the favoured right-hand side made nice gains. This saw Harvey Hillary and Archie Massey take the lead and hold until the finish, second was Craig Burlton and Richard Anderton, followed by Andy Wilde and Harry Briddon in third.

Overall, this meant Mike Sims and Carl Gibbon were the winners, second was Ian Pinnell and Ian Mitchell, with Harvey Hillary and Archie Massey finishing their first 505 event in third and looking like an improving team.

Big thanks go to everybody that helped organise the event, both on and off the water and the fleet looks forward to returning to Northampton SC in the future.

The next UK fixture is class organised training between Friday 1st to Monday 4th May at Hayling Island.

Overall Results:

P&B 505 UK Inland Championships at Northampton - photo © Ian Mitchell