Graduate Nationals at Chichester Yacht Club - Overall

Racing on day two of the Graduate nationals at Chichester © Richard Barnes

Racing on day two of the Graduate nationals at Chichester © Richard Barnes

A fresh and fairly constant West South Westerly was forecast on the last day of the Graduate National Championships.

Race 5 saw the chance for the fleet to take a starboard tack from the start line and sail out of the foul tide to the Easterly Lake area before crossing back to the main channel to round the weather mark. Steve and Jack Cockerill won the race to the left - but tacked too early. The other leader into the left was Roger Cherrill who in tacking later crossed directly behind Steve at the weather mark. The course was set for a maximum power first reach - where Steve and Jack pulled a small lead from Roger, but with a long dead run and with a long dead run, they were close once again. But with one good beat Steve and Jack had draw a large enough lead to bot be challenged again. David Ivins and Linda Johnson made a charge on the off wind legs and took second at the finish. Lesley Hotchin with Angela Shaw also worked the last beat well, taking the inshore route to pip Roger at the finish. However, John Moore, crewed by Andrew Henstock sailing the old style mainsail had finished close enough to the others to take 3rd on handicap.

Steve and Jack were now National Champions - but their focus was the Lowton Challenge Trophy, for first overall without discard.

Race 6 was a very lumpy sea as the current in the main channel was now against the wind. Would the teams opt for the lest favoured current, but with flatter water on the left side of the course - or would they take the faster more favoured current in the main channel that was much more bumpy. Steve and Jack once again hiked hard to take the lead at the first mark by opting to take the slightly fatter water on the left, but playing the shifts at the same time. Once again David Ivins lead the challenge and pressed Steve and Jack hard to the final finish. Their sixth race win was a relief for the Cockerill's who had set their sights on taking all the races.

David and Linda's efforts had secured their 2nd overall in the regatta steeling it in the end from a well sailed Alan Warren from Chipstead, where incidentally next year's National Championships are to be held.

Lesley Hotchin and Angela won the first Lady Helm pot and Alex Jardine won the young endeavour trophy. Chipstead Sailing Club also won the team trophy and were encouraging many to visit the alma marta of Graduate Sailing for the 2009 Graduate National Championships.

In 12 months the class has undergone some changes. A new sail design was proposed, designed, tested and accepted. The PY was adjusted for this new sail plan. The numbers at the nationals has gone up from 11 to 20, over 55 new mainsails have been made this year - and there is once again an interest in a new builder. Perhaps the Graduate Class is here to stay - there are certainly still lots of pots just waiting for some exciting conditions at next years National Championships.

Overall Results:

1st Steve and Jack Cockerill (Stokes Bay SC) 5 points
2nd David Ivins and Linda Johnson (Bolton SC) 15.5 points
3rd Alan Warren and Linda Dobson (Chistead SC) 22 points
4th G Hughes and son (Island Barn SC) 22 points
5th Steven and Alex Jardine (Shotwick Lake SC) 24 points
6th A and E Hubble (Chipstead SC) 29 points
7th Lesley Hotchin and Angela Shaw (Oxford SC & Stokes Bay SC) 31.5 points
8th Roger and L Cherrill (Chipstead SC) 33 points
9th John Moore and Andrew Henstock (Sutton in Ashfield SC) 35 points
10th David and Sue Wilson (Broad Water SC) 46 points
11th S Eaton and C Pritchard (West Oxford SC) 50 points
12th Ann and Emily Bottoms (Hunts SC) 54 points
13th J Webber and H Recardo (Chipstead SC) 60 points
14th Dug Homer and R Chard (Chipstead SC) 66 points
15th G Jenkins and R Jones (Chipstead SC) 69 points
16th James Bottoms and Anne Hulbert (Tudor SC) 82 points
17th Rchard Barnes and Hannah Barnes (Tudor SC) 83 points
18th J and V Hunt (Chipstead SC) 87 points
19th P and E Flory (Chipstead SC) 89 points
20th Dave and Karen Tolboys (Bala SC) 103 points