29er Inland Championships at Grafham Water Sailing Club

29er Inlands at Grafham © Tania Samus / www.photoblink.co.uk

29er Inlands at Grafham © Tania Samus / www.photoblink.co.uk

Grafham Water hosted the 2010 29er Inland Championships which saw a turnout of 44 29ers from all over the country. Ovington Boats generously supported the event, providing a live band, dinner and fireworks on Saturday evening and the prizes.

Saturday’s breeze was a very shifty and gusty southerly so simply sailing the boat was challenging for many let alone trying to predict which way to go up the beat. Lilly Carlisle and Ben Gratton (Draycote Water SC) got a clean start and quickly got away from the fleet in race one, a lead they held to the finish. Jack Hawkins and Chris Thomas (Restronguet SC) finished second, closely followed by our 2010 ISAF Youth Worlds representatives Henry Lloyd-Williams and Sam Batten (Lymington Town SC) in third.

After a general recall race two got underway and the breeze had got up a little to 12-15kts. After 2 laps of constant place changes across the fleet a fierce gybing battle between Lilly and Ben and Phil Walker and John Mather (Draycote Water SC); Lilly and Ben clinched the bullet, Phil and John 2nd and Ollie Cooper and James Poyner (Hayling Island SC) 3rd.

The breeze held up for race three and the fleet remained relatively compact throughout the first two laps. The wind backed off to 8-10kts for the last two laps and with clean breeze and options being the key Phil and John managed to win the race with a comfortable lead. Ollie and James finished 2nd with Jack and Chris in 3rd place.

Race four started in similar breeze to the end of race three. After a good start and some close racing with Ian Payne and Chris Berry (Draycote Water SC), Ollie and James crossed the line first followed by Ian and Chris, Henry and Sam and the all girl pairing of Grace Fell and Becky Wallbank (Beadnell SC).

After an extra hour in bed (or two hours for one team due to the wonders of the iPhone!) due to the clocks going back the fleet were well fired up for another day of racing on Sunday. Unfortunately, after drifting around the lake for 45 minutes, race five was abandoned and the fleet returned to shore where they stayed for the rest of the day.

Lilly Carlisle and Ben Gratton became Inland Champions, Ollie Cooper and James Poyner were second, and Phil Walker and John Mather (perhaps more commonly known as Phyllis Walker and Josephine Chantelle-Mather) were third. Grace Fell and Becky Wallbank were first all girl team, and Rob and Emma Loveridge were first juniors.

Overall Results: