British Sonata Championship at Strangford Lough YC

Ian Smyth from SLYC finishes third at the British Sonata Championships © SLYC

Steve Goacher wins the British Sonata Championships © SLYC

That is what it feels like anyway. Royal Windermere's Steve Goacher outskilled all the local boats to easily win the British Sonata Championship held at the Club recently.

Strangford Lough Yacht Club played host to the 2004 British National Sonata Championship that ended on 27th August. Twenty-six boats from all over Great Britain and Ireland took part, although the largest part of the fleet was from our Club, which now boasts one of the largest Sonata fleets around. Five days of exciting racing were scheduled. Race Officer Roderick Monson and his team managed to complete all the eight races scheduled, although one day of racing was lost on Tuesday 24 August as there was no wind. For the rest of the week brisk winds provided fast and challenging conditions, although the wet weather affecting the whole of the British Isles did not spare County Down.

Returning to the championship after his absence last year, Steve Goacher, champion Sonata sailor for several previous years, dominated results. Goacher and his crew in Eric the Boat won seven of the eight races, sailing a flawless series that sets them in a class of their own. The real competition was for second, third and fourth places. Here boats from SLYC managed to secure second and third places, with Robbie Richardson in Bad Company narrowly beating Ian Smyth in Mouse into third place, despite Smyth and his team being the only one to beat Goacher, which they did in the penultimate race.

After the first 3 races it had seemed that second place would be secured by Royal Southern’s Tom White in Pizzicato, last year’s champion and fresh from his victory at Cowes week. However, this was not to be as White, sailing with five crew on board, struggled to maintain his form in the face of stiffening competition from the local fleet. He finished the series in fourth place overall.

Challenging strongly, with two seconds and a third, was So, from Dalgetty Bay Sailing Club and helmed by Neil McClure. However, they were let down by disqualification from two races after being identified as OCS at the start. They finished in sixth overall, while fifth place went to Martin Hartley from South Caernarvonshire Y C in A Sharp Exit. Hartley’s more consistent performance had him placed fourth in four of the eight races. Other noteworthy performances were made by SLYC's Roger Pannell in Virtuoso and Alistair Fletcher in Pastiche. The latter is a young sailor to watch in the future. Parkstone YC's John Putt in Piccolo finished second in the final race

SPONSORS
An event of this sort depends on sponsors to 'oil-the-wheels'. The wine and cheese supper on the Wednesday benefited from wines courtesy of Old Comber Wineyard and a fine selection of Irish cheeses courtesy of McCanns Killinchy. Other main sponsors were Northern Ireland Sports Lottery (Awards for All), Ards Tourism, Balloo House, Cuan Fisheries, Tom Morrow, Geoff & Heather Booth, JLH Picture Frames, Albert Clarke Marine, Down Marine and Irish Spars & Rigging.

SONATA CLASS FACTS
The Sonata Class is now 25 years old. Seven metres long with sleeping accommodation for 4. It is a stalwart one design class at clubs around the country in the small family cruiser-racer category. The boats are economically priced and very evenly matched. Results are determined by sailing ability, not chequebook

FULL FINAL RESULTS
1- Eric The Boat, Steve Goacher, Royal Windermere YC.
2- Bad Company, Robbie Richardson, SLYC.
3- Mouse, Ian Smyth, SLYC.
4- Pizzicato, Tom White, Royal Southern YC.
5- A Sharp Exit, Martin Hartley, South Caernarvonshire YC.
6- So, Neil McClure, Dalgetty Bay SC.
7- Saraband, Mark Taylor, Port Dinorwic SC.
8- Close Action, Ken Dumpleton, National YC.
9- Virtuoso, Roger Pannell, SLYC.
10- Pastiche, Alastair Fletcher, SLYC.
11- Piccolo, John Putt, Parkstone YC Poole.
12- Intruder, Tom Patton, SLYC.
13- Thingummyjig, Peter Martin, SLYC.
14- Exposition, Tim Townsend, Medway YC.
15- Adegietto, Peter Burrowes, SLYC.
16- Simply Six, Paul Burnell, Bassenthwaite.
17- Miss Moneypenny, Geoff Murdoch, SLYC.
18- Riva, Paul Jackson, SLYC.
19- Brahms & Liszt, Keith Lord, Douglas Bay YC.
20- Triad, Robert Darnley, SLYC.
21- Cock-A-Hoop, Paddy Pollock, SLYC.
22- Sonateigna Too, Andrew Ackroyd, Windermere.
23- Apache, Peter Morgan, SLYC.
24- High Note, Clyde Markwell, SLYC.
25- Eroica, David King, Antrim BC.
26- Napper, Martin Hyde, SLYC.