JM Finn, Finn Nationals at Christchurch Sailing Club Day 1
by Robert Deaves, IFA 6 May 2011 21:15 BST
6-8 May 2011
JM Finn, Finn UK Nationals day 1 © Mike Rice /
www.fotoboat.com
Despite forecast threats of the great British weather making an appearance, the first day of the JM Finn, Finn UK National Championships, at Christchurch Sailing Club, started with blue skies, high temperatures and a light patchy wind. Race wins went to David Potter (GBR) and Richard Hart (GBR), though French visitor Laurent Hay (FRA) leads overall after day one.
The race team with the husband and wife team of Peter and Carol-Ann Pocock were very keen to get the 41 boat fleet under way within the tidal window, and the first race started in very light winds that disappeared half way up the first beat leading to an abandonment.
After about an hour wait, a patchy wind filled in and race one got underway for real with a large left shift out of the start favouring those on the left side and then a switch to the right half way up which changed the landscape somewhat.
Local sailor Rory Barnes got it more right than anyone else and rounded ahead from the right just ahead of Martin Hughes, David Potter, Simon Pettit, Laurent Hay (FRA) and Ray New. Hughes took the lead on the downwind, but on the second beat Potter made his move to lead down to the finish in the gradually dying wind.
Potter said, “I started by the committee boat, tacked out to sea, but got through to the front on the second lap by again going further out to sea. We crossed tacks a few times and I came out ahead. I felt faster than the other two, so it was just a matter of time. I've polished the boat a lot over the last two days. It's my first UK nationals race win and it feels really good.”
A further wait ensued for race two to start and eventually a stronger wind replaced another flat calm and the race was started very promptly. The wind clocked left throughout the whole race, so those who favoured that side made huge gains. First to the left was the Masters World Champion Legend Richard Hart, who made such a gain that he led all the way round the course. He was followed round the top mark by Merrick Gill, Rob McMillan (AUS), Pascal Tetard (FRA), Marc Allain des Beauvais (FRA) and Allen Burrell. Tetard moved up to second on the downwind leg and was still in second at the second top mark, but rolled the boat into the bay on the final downwind as the wind started to increase. This allowed former National Champion, and now ex-pat, McMillan, into second. Laurent Hay also gained and crossed in third.
Hart said, “I went left to try and get out of the tide but the wind went left as well and it kept getting better.”
McMillan said, “It was very tricky today, but very enjoyable with lots of pressure changes keeping it interesting. A lot of us felt the breeze was going to back to the left and so it was all about consolidating the left, but Richard went all the way to the corner and it paid off.”
“It's great to be back sailing in the UK again. There are so many familiar faces, and this is somewhere I've never sailed before. But I am still a bit jet lagged. I only got off the plane from Australia yesterday and the boat arrived at 11 o'clock today.”
“But clearly there has been a lot of effort has gone into this championship, with a great sponsor on board.”
On the final downwind, the wind filled in and strengthened to 12-15 knots, making for a great sail back through the harbour to the club.
Though the British Skandia Team GBR are not sailing this weekend, Giles Scott was in attendance on Thursday to run an extensive training session for the sailors who arrived early. Everyone clearly benefited from this and were very grateful he could spare the time from his busy schedule. Scott stood in at the last minutes from the GBR coach, Matt Howard, who called in sick.
Tonight the sailors are enjoying a hog roast at the club courtesy of major sponsor JM Finn & Co. Three races are scheduled for Saturday, and with much stronger winds forecast, signalled tonight by a spectacular squall that ripped through the harbour - it is going to be a much tougher day for some.
Results after Day 1: (two races)
1 FRA 75, Laurent Hay, 6pts
2 AUS 2, Rob McMillan, 9pts
3 GBR 65, David Potter, 11pts
4 GBR 635, Simon Percival, 14pts
5 GBR 80, Ray New, 17pts
6 GBR 2, Allen Burrell, 19pts
7 GBR 7, George Cooper, 20pts
8 GBR 68, John Mackie, 22pts
9 GBR 24, Rory Barnes, 23pts
10 GBR 567, Martin Hughes, 24pts
More information on the event website.