Tempest Northern Championships at Ullswater Yacht Club
by Nick Stewardson 4 May 2011 08:46 BST
30 April - 1 May 2011
An excellent turnout of 12 International Tempests took part in their annual Northerns at Ullswater Yacht Club. They were met on the Saturday with a very strong and gusty easterly wind which freshened on Sunday creating some challenging conditions for both the sailors and race committee.
Saturday's two races gave two different winners with Ian Modral and Robin Higgins taking pole in race one followed by Nick Stewardson and Ray Styles in race two. Both races contained some spectacular broaches by the race leaders particularly in race two when Ian Modral broached some twenty boat lengths from the line when leading. In race one Nick Stewardson and Ray Styles lost second place by a whisker after struggling with a wine glass spinnaker for much of the last leg.
Sunday, the wind freshened and became even more variable, this proving to much for some of the fleet. Race three was very close between Ian Modral and son Jonathan with Ian just taking the honours. Jonathan returned to take race four followed closely by father Ian. This set up race five as a decider but instead past national champion Mike Adams got his act together sailing with son Paul to take pole position.
When all the results were put together Ian Modral and Robin Higgins were once again Northern champions followed closely by Jonathan Modral and Colin Meadows. Nick Stewardson and Ray Styles took third.
The event was delighted to include Keith Proctor, son of the well known boat designer and Tempest designer Ian Proctor. He and his crew came Andy Horsley came all the way from Devon to take part and went away with the boat they had borrowed for the weekend.