Ovington Inlands at Grafham Water Sailing Club

by Ovington Boats 7 Nov 2010 07:14 GMT 30-31 October 2010

191 sailors descend on Grafham

Almost 200 sailors descended on Grafham Water SC on 30/31st October for the Ovington Inlands, which brings together 6 different classes for an end of season festival of skiff sailing.

Principle Race Officer for the weekend Peter Saxton, kicked off proceedings at the competitor briefing on Saturday morning with the sun shining and a fair breeze blowing across both race areas.

With 4 back to back races planned for all 6 fleets, the competitors prepared for a long day on the water as they headed off for an 11.30 start; everyone slightly wary of the killer shrimps now very much in residence at Grafham.

Things couldn’t have started better for Lilly Carlisle and Ben Gratton on the 44 strong 29er course with 2 wins in the bag, little did they know just how crucial those first day results would prove to be.

Saturday evening quite literally went with a bang (well several actually) competitors were first treated to dinner, then the fireworks were set off and finally the live band ‘The Dirty Purples’ played out the evening, all kindly sponsored by Ovington Boats.

Thankful for the extra hour in bed, the fleet arrived on Sunday morning for a 10.30 start to racing. Despite launching and getting the first race under way, none of the fleets managed to finish and racing was abandoned for the day as the wind died away to nothing.

With an impressive net 4 points from Saturdays racing, Rick Peacock and Ian Martin walked away with the 49er title, whilst on the same score the pairing of Tim Harrison and Jonny Ratcliffe took the B14 trophy.

The two bullets for Lilly Carlisle and Ben Gratton meant they took the 29er title on countback from Ollie Cooper and James Poyner, but perhaps most exciting news of all on the 29er course was that there were 12 boats for whom this was their very first event – let’s hope it’s the first of many!

In the single handed Musto Skiffs Tom Wright sailed to victory with Dan Henderson a close second. Current World and European Champion Richard Stenhouse could only manage fourth with the 2010 National Champion Bruce Keen scrapping a sixth.

Matt Larkin and Paul Jenkins won the International 14’s, with John and James Bennett taking the 59er title.

Chris Turner, Managing Director of Ovington Boats lead the prize giving and commented on how pleased he was to see the 6 classes come together for this annual festival for all the Ovington skiff classes.