ASAP Vortex Grand Prix Final at Grafham Water Sailing Club

Dave Hotten at the Grafham Vortex Grand Prix © Malcolm Lewin / www.malcolmlewinphotography.zenfolio.com/sail

A good turnout of Asymmetric Vortexes arrived at Grafham to find a very good breeze blowing across the lake.

In Race 1 Phil Whitehead rounded first with Keith Escritt quickly passing him offwind - not least because Keith could see the next mark (you’ll have to start wearing specs Phil!). Escritt extended his lead while Whitehead held off the two Jonathans, Lister & Carter until the last run when both of them capsized letting Neil Spink through into 3rd.

Race 2 had stronger breeze and a lovely rain squall. Keith, Phil and Jonathan L each went different ways up the first beat but arrived at the top mark absolutely together, Jonathan's hoist and set was the fastest but he hadn’t taken into account the group of Shearwaters and was soon swimming after trying to pass upwind of them in a gust. Keith and Phil had a good battle with Chris Tillbrook, Terry Pressedee, Mike Gower and Ed Corteen all in contention until Phil swam after accidentally hooking onto his elastic (there’s always Laser Surgery). So Keith took the bullet with Phil second after a storming recovery, Chris Tillbrook 3rd and Neil S 4th.

The wind was dying down in race 3. Most of the fleet arrived at the windward mark in a large bunch. Phil, Jonathan Carter and Mike Gower got the cleanest wind on the next reach and pulled into a good lead and held these positions to the finish. Meanwhile Jonathan L. and Keith fared less well and were virtually last after one reach of brain fade (maybe Keiths specs were steamed up?). They spent the rest of the race playing catch up, eventually coming through to 4th and 5th after unlucky Ben Rayner and Chris Tillbrook had joined the brain fade club on the finishing leg.

In Race 4 Phil needed to put the pressure on Keith and duly did so by leading until capsizing when he didn’t see a backmarker from the fleet in front (anyone spot a trend here?). Ralph Drew and Ian Craven were among the early chasers but another recovery got Phil up to second from the two Jonathans and Chris Tillbrook.

In Race 5 Keith led from Scottish rep Angus Winchester at the windward mark. Keith & Jonathan L pulled out a large lead on first set of reaches but as Jonathan threatened to pass on the mark, his kite didn't drop (has Keith got some device that he triggers to make this happen to other people) - letting Jonathan C, Chris T, Ben R, Phil et al through to finish in that order.

Race 6 started after the wind shifted & dropped, with a long delay as the course was re-laid twice. Mike Gower popped out from the committee boat end into a good lead with Ben Rayner in second from the opposite end of the line. Phil needed to win with Keith in 5th or worse, and for the first lap Keith was 4th with Phil up to second. However on the second beat Keith stayed left and was the first to pick up extra pressure - just enough to climb into the lead. Phil then caused some confusion downwind by overstanding a mark (maybe they do Sat Nav for dinghies?) allowing Ben to slot into second, Phil 3rd and Mike Gower 4th

A successful end to the ASAP International sponsored Vortex Grand Prix and with another sponsorship deal looking likely, the class is looking forward to next year with continued enthusiasm.

Overall Results: