Benromach Albacore Internationals at Largs - Day 3
by Alan Henderson 20 Jul 2009 18:57 BST
18-24 July 2009
Gulliver travels to the top
On the third day of the Benromach Albacore Internationals, the UK National title was at stake.
Series leaders Barney Harris and David Byron, from the USA, were eligible for the title, and lay just a single point ahead of the best Brits, Will Gulliver and Steve Graham, as we went into the final day’s Nationals racing.
Three races would decide who went home with the title. Forecast for
the day was brisk. The two protagonists fought out their battle at the
front, the pair drawing clear of the rest of the fleet in all three
races. First blood went to Barney Harris and David Byron, who drew a
little further ahead in the race for the series by winning the first
race, from Gulliver, with Robert Lyne/ Peter Grey taking an excellent
third in the oldest boat in the fleet.
But in the second race, Gulliver’s reply was swift. He relished the
fresher breeze to take a comfortable win from Harris, with Chris
Turner/ Simon Maguire in third. The two leading boats remained locked
together, with all to hang on the result of the last race.
Winds were fresh at the start, and Gulliver was travelling fast in
these conditions. He established a good lead early on, and stretched to
take the race, with Barney Harris in second, and Turner third. The win
took Gulliver onto equal points with Harris, and Gulliver’s four wins
gave him the title on the tie break. Behind him, Barney’s hopes of a
Nationals title had turned to Rubble.
For Gulliver, it was his first time at the Albacore Nationals. He
thanked Pinnell & Bax sailmaker Steve Graham for stepping in as his
crew at the last minute after his usual crew was unavailable. Steve
was delighted to take his first Nationals title, while Will added this
title to a previous win in Phantoms.
Ovington’s Chris Turner and Simon Maguire took third with consistent
results, while Judy and Paul Armstrong in fourth overall took the
Swansea Bay Trophy for best husband and wife. They were one of many
family pairings among this friendly class.
All points in these Nationals races now carry forward into the
International Championship series, which is set to be equally hard
fought. The Internationals concludes on Friday.
Benromach Albacore Nationals Overall:
1. Will Gulliver & Steve Graham (Northampton SC) 9pts
2. Barney Harris & David Byron (Potomac River Sailing Assn, USA) 9pts
3. Chris Turner & Simon Maguire (Tynemouth SC) 24pts
4. Judy & Paul Armstrong (Scaling Dam SC) 31pts
5. Nigel Potter & Mark Fowler (Notts County SC) 32pts
Full results on www.scottishsailinginstitute.com .
More pictures on www.fotoboat.com