GP14 Southern Area Championship at Arun Yacht Club
by Hilary Davies 15 Jun 2004 16:16 BST
12-13 June 2004
Twenty-one boats travelled to the charming setting of Arun YC at Littlehampton, but it was the lure of a sea event that had attracted the competitors and we were not disappointed. Race one commenced in sunshine and a light breeze. Dave Young & Bev Timms were leading the fleet after the first triangle followed by Andy Hateley & Andy Thompson. On the run of the sausage lap, the breeze died while a sea-breeze tried to kick-in causing havoc in the established order. Young hung on to first place, but Graham Flynn & Frank Nickless closed up to finish second whilst Carl Jeffs & Jim Toothill shot up from eighth to third place.
Race officer Richard Dobson quickly reset the marks and got race two underway. Hateley was determined to show his form and led the race from start to finish. Neil & Hannah Davies of Chase SC were following the leaders until Jeffs came through to take second place.
Yet more sunshine on Sunday, as race three commenced in a pleasant F3. A more compact course was set to keep the fleet closer together and provide more tactical racing. Competitors bunched together on the line and no-one responded to the individual recall signal. Flynn gets an early lead with Justin Jones & Paul Owen of South Staffs SC in hot pursuit. Hateley and Young make their bids to catch the leader, but it’s Flynn who gets the finish gun with Jones in second and Young in third, whilst Hateley is penalised for starting early.
At the final race the championship is still wide open. The wind increases to F4 as the competitors approach the line for a text book start. It’s Jeffs who gets a clear lead but there’s a battle on for second place. Nick & Phil Eaves of Bartley SC are keeping Flynn and Hateley at bay. The wind picks up to F5 making for screaming reaches. It’s Jeffs who wins this final race but is powerless to prevent Flynn from snatching second place and gaining that crucial point difference to claim the overall championship title.
Overall Results:
1st 13810 Graham Flynn & Frank Nickless (Bartley SC)
2nd 13793 Carl Jeffs & Jim Toothill (Trimpley SC)
3rd 13835 Dave Young & Bev Timms (South Staffs SC)
4th 13686 Andy Hateley & Andy Thompson (South Staffs SC)
5th 13787 Neil Hardie & Nikoli Metherell (Frensham Pond SC)