Volvo Musto Optimist Inlands at Grafham Water Sailing Club

The Inlands, held at Grafham Water was the first of the three ranking events in the Optimist calendar and six races over three days were scheduled. This was to be a vital event as the national ranking positions at the end of the year determine the composition of the National Squads.

Saturday dawned bright and sunny and the 220 main fleet competitors, divided into four flights, and the 60 regatta fleet competitors set out with high hopes and a gentle north westerly breeze of 5 mph in the gusts. The race officer, Olympic Tornado sailor David Campbell-James set a Carantec course with inner and outer loops to keep the fleets separate as each race comprised two of the four flights.

In the first race, first to the windward mark were James Murdock, Jesse Kirkland and David de Boltz. Unfortunately, a number of boats were OCS at the start, changing the finishing positions somewhat. The first the places were taken by David de Boltz, Oliver Dix and Christina King. In the second fleet, Philip White, Andrew Hibberd and Maria Stanley rounded first, with Philip White slipping to third in the final positions.

In Race 2, after a wind shift to the north, the first fleet got away cleanly, but the wind shifted 90 degrees allowing the boats to fetch to the windward mark on port tack. The wind dropped steadily and the race was abandoned when the leaders of the second fleet caught up with the bulk of the first fleet at the windward mark. The decision was popular with those who were caught in the confusion at the windward mark but not with the leaders of the first fleet, James Murdock, Philip White and Ben Ainsworth who were a leg ahead. The wind failed to reappear and no further races were sailed that day.

On the second day despite one abortive attempt at a start, there was never enough wind to race. Even the warning signals were problematical and the race officer was seen holding the end of each flag out. The final results, with only one race and no discard, were very different from those that would have been predicted had a full series been sailed; several of the top ranked sailors went away with very respectable darts scores.

Day 1 Photographs: - click thumbnail for full image

Main Fleet Race 1 Results:

More Information:

• YachtsandYachting.com Optimist Page
• Grafham Water Sailing Club