Comet Trio Nationals at Exe Sailing Club

Symon Garratt and Graham Sykes at the Comet Trio nationals © Mike Rice / www.fotoboat.com

The fleet at the Comet Trio nationals © Mike Rice / www.fotoboat.com

Exe Sailing Club in East Devon hosted the three day 2004 Comet Trio National Championships that commenced on Friday 6th August with a total of 24 entries.

The conditions were perfect with warm surf and southeasterly winds ranging from force 1 to the top end of a force 4.A total of seven races were sailed with the best five results to count. Race officer Lesley Arscott assisted by Rick Newcombe,Jan Morrison and a hard working race committee set some challenging and varied courses.

The starts were interesting with a number of general recalls bringing the black flag out to play. The competition was of a high standard with last years National Champions Andrew & Caroline McAusland from Exe Sailing Club there to defend the title as well as a number of visiting boats including the highly respected team of Peter Scott & Phil King from Shustoke Sailing Club.

The first day proved to be a good day for the defending champions enjoying two first places ahead of Tony Brewster & Megan Burrough and Scott & King both with second places respectively.Three races were sailed on the second day and they were all won by different boats.Wins came for the teams of Guy Farrant & Marilyn Booker, Messrs McAuslands and Scott & King.

The forecast for the last day was strong Easterly winds and a big sea although this proved to be quite the opposite with a steadily decreasing breeze. The Championship was still wide open at this stage with five boats still in contention. Local sailors Symon Garratt & Graham Sykes had enjoyed the most consistant results so far having never been outside the top six on the previous two days racing. Garratt & Sykes then went on to win race six and come second in race seven.

Tony Brewster and new change of crew Robin Bower were the winners of the last race. The tension then mounted with Garratt & Sykes being protested by another competitor for an incident in race seven. However the decision went in there favour and they managed to hold on to there second place result. The eventual winners of the championships were Scott & King by one point ahead of Garratt & Sykes in second place.

Overall Results: