Durham Dambuster at Derwent Reservoir Sailing Club
by Emma Redshaw 8 Mar 2007 07:17 GMT
3-4 March 2007
High winds for the inaugural Durham Dambuster team racing event © Emma Redshaw
The weekend of the 3rd and 4th March saw 13 teams from universities across the country, head to Derwent Reservoir for the inaugural Durham Dambuster.
On the Saturday the teams were split into two leagues and the initial round robin was completed. Increasing winds throughout the day led to fast paced racing and a number of spectacular capsizes. Edinburgh I and Cambridge II demonstrated some superb heavy-weather boat handling to win their respective leagues, thereby entering the Gold league along with Liverpool, Dambuster I, Glasgow and Manchester I.
Racing continued on the Sunday morning, with a number of exciting races, including strong Edinburgh and Glasgow teams battling it out in a Scottish Derby and an intense clash between the Durham and Cambridge ladies’ teams. Unfortunately racing was curtailed due to strong winds, but an overall event winner was determined by the outcome of the race between Saturday’s two league winners. This saw Edinburgh I take the victory, with Cambridge II in second place.
Overall the event was a great success and gave competitors the chance to race in testing wind conditions before the upcoming BUSA national championships. Thanks must go to Derwent Reservoir Sailing Club and Peter Johnson’s team of umpires, without whom the event could not have taken place.
The aftermath:
Unfortunately, the Edinburgh University Sailing Club trailer overturned in high winds on the A68. Click here to read the story (colourful language) or click here to see the photo galley.