Finn Southern Championships at Mengeham Rythe Sailing Club

Mengeham Rythe Sailing Club, Hayling Island, was host to the Finn Southern Championship and the J M Finn & Co Gold Cup Qualification Series on Saturday and Sunday 2 & 3 July 2011.

On the Saturday, with a force 2/3 southerly sea breeze windward /leeward courses were set. Neil Robinson was clearly the fastest boat in the fleet. He had two comfortable wins ahead of George Cooper and Allen Burrell in race 1, and Simon Petit and John Heyes in race 2 and was close to another when a clash of masts with a beating boat while reaching to the spreader mark forced a penalty turn and gave Simon Percival the chance to increase his lead and take the race with Robinson behind Cooper and Burrell.

The weather on Sunday was suddenly different. The same courses were set but the flat water of Saturday was now a short chop with wind west of south. Burrell powered away from Martin Hughes and John Heyes in race 4, and similarly put Cooper and Hughes in their place in the next race, although Cooper was relishing the increase in breeze which allowed pumping. Robinson had lost his pace in the changed conditions. The last race was looking familiar until Burrell suffered gear failure; Heyes had been BFD and was out of the reckoning, Cooper was flying and Percival, ever present, again made his mark ahead of Mike de Courcy and Julian Smith. Overall positions were tight: Burrell (12) took the Championship from Cooper (14) Robinson (16) and Percival (19).

Over the weekend the racing was excellent and the race team was commended for its quick turn round between races. A special mention must be given to Jack Arnell who is not just a junior, not just young, but several years under the age of consent!

Overall Results: