Vortex Inland Championships at Yorkshire Dales Sailing Club

Jonathan Lister during the Vortex Inlands at Yorkshire Dales © Jane Lister

Ian Craven during the Vortex Inlands at Yorkshire Dales © Jane Lister

Phil Whitehead during the Vortex Inlands at Yorkshire Dales © Jane Lister

Champagne conditions greeted entrants to the 2009 Inland Championships at Yorkshire Dales. An unusual Easterly breeze was gusting between F3 and F4 with wall to wall sunshine and sparkling blue water.

After a generall recall, Jonathan Lister was first out of the blocks in Race 1 and led up the first beat only to capsize and snap his tiller extension on the last tack for the mark letting Keith Escritt and Phil Whitehead through. This was to be only the first of a series of mishaps for all the front runners in what proved to be an eventful weekend. Phil ran over his kite sheets at the bottom of the run and dropped to the back of the pack, leaving Keith and Terry Pressdee with a comfortable lead. The wind increased for the last 2 laps and with plenty of shifts it was snakes and ladders time; Jonathan Carter found all the ladders and climbed through to 2nd, then on the last downwind leg Keith Escritt capsized not once but twice, letting Jonathan through for a well deserved win followed by Terry, Phil Whitehead and Neil Spink.

Phil made amends by winning Race 2 by a large margin from Keith, Jonathan Lister and Ian Escritt - who had been in second for much of the race but had a swim on the last gybe.

Race 3 was led from start to finish by Keith, with Neil Spink hot on his heels. Much place changing behind eventually resolved to Phil in third and Mike Gower in fourth.

Most sailors retired for a well earned rest and meal at the local pub, refresments courtesy of the association, and a pleasant amble back to the campsite.

Sunday brought even better conditions with a much less shifty F4-F5. . Terry bought it on the next downwind leg letting Ben Rayner pulled out a substantial lead in Race 4 by playing safe and not hoisting his kite downwind, leaving Ian / Keith Jonathan to scrap it out playing macho man with the kites. On the last beat Jonathan started to close the gap on Ben, who decided to use the kite downwind, but Jonathan found more pressure and took the lead to win from Ben, Phil and Keith.

In Race 5 Jonathan Lister and Phil Whitehead pulled out a large lead on the first lap, but were so busy racing each other that they missed the gate on the next beat, letting Ben Rayner, Angus Winchester and Keith through, but Phil and Jonathan found more downhill speed to take 1,2 followed by Ben, Keith and James Whitehead who was starting to enjoy the fresher conditions.

Race 6 - whilst the series leaders jockeyed for position at the committee boat end, Neil Ashurst and Angus shot off from the pin end and established a commanding lead which they held for several laps in some serious breeze. A large gust caused Neil some problems on the penultimate downwind leg, letting several boats through. At the finish it was Ben from Phil, Angus and Neil.

At the end of two perfect sailing days Phil Whitehead became this years Inland Champ , after a previous year's total dominance of Ian Escritt, followed by Keith Escritt and Jonathan Lister with Ben Rayner our new fast rising star. Great to see five race winners from six races. The circuit moves onto Wilsonian SC on July 11/12th.

Overall Results: