Kestrel National Championships at Stokes Bay Sailing Club

Action from the 2004 Kestrel Nationals at Stokes Bay © Julie Jarvey

Action from the 2004 Kestrel Nationals at Stokes Bay © Julie Jarvey

The 2004 Kestrel National Championship was sailed at Stokes Bay S.C. over 25th-29th July. The week was shared with the Shearwaters, which made for good sailing and socialising. The racing was done on a course of sausage, triangle and sausage.

R1. Sunday provided a 16 knot Westerly breeze. The fleet hugged the shore on the beat to stay out of the tide. On the first beat several overstood the windward mark. At the windward mark for the last time it was John/Olive Glasspool, followed by Paul Jarvey/Kate Hearsum and Dusty Miller/John Ellingham. Dusty/John rounded the leeward mark first and over the finish followed by Paul/Kate then John/Olive.

R2. In the same conditions Richard/Mark Hartley, chased by John/Olive got clean away to finish first and second. Dave/Gareth held third until the last windward mark. Paul/Kate moved into the lead and held out Dave/Gareth for third, who lost ground allowing James Jarvey/Ian Bray to nip in before the mark for fourth.

R3. In lighter than the forecast force 2-3 Paul/Kate led off the line, but John/Olive did their regular trick of the week by sailing round Paul/Kate to leeward and went on to win. The next beat Graham Richmond/Henry Richards did the same to Paul/Kate to take second.

R4. Paul/Kate made the windward mark first and pressured by Richard/Mark all the way to the leeward mark. Richard/Mark rounded right behind Paul/Kate, they tacked off a short distance as John/Olive started to attack. As Paul/Kate tacked for the windward mark the fleet followed, then the wind died to virtually nothing. Paul/Kate made the windward mark. Everyone else struggled to round against the tide. Paul/Kate claimed the win, Dave/Gareth gained a second. Andy/Caroline Wells jumped to third by getting round the windward mark.

R5. In force 2-3 Easterly Richard/Mark used their downwind speed to advantage to take their second win. Dusty/John again making best use of their spinnaker took second. Paul/Kate were third again to keep their scores consistently low. Graham/Henry had another good race to fourth, James/Ian fifth.

R6. With a breeze of 16+ knots Richard/Mark managed to hook themselves onto a lobster pot buoy, Dave/Gareth rounded just ahead of James/Ian with the rest of the fleet in hot pursuit. The run saw places changing and James/Ian led at the leeward mark from Dave/Gareth, these places stayed ‘til the top of the beat when Dave/Gareth and Dusty/John passed James/Ian. These three got away and were never challenged. With the race shortened Dave/Gareth took their first race win from Dusty/John and James/Ian.

R7. Dave/Gareth led again but decided to split from Richard/Mark on the second run leaving them alone to take a third win. Dave/Gareth held second. John/Olive were chased by Paul/Kate but managed to jump to third by claiming water on John Weedon at the last leeward mark.

Paul and Kate followed last years success by retaining the championship, John and Olive were runners up again. Dave and Gareth had their best result in third. Richard and Mark, despite three race wins came fourth. Dusty and John, the last pair to win a race were fifth.

Overall Results: