Kestrel Nationals Championships at Netley Sailing Club

Kestrel nationals at Netley © Eddie Mays

Kestrel nationals at Netley © Eddie Mays

Kestrel nationals at Netley © Eddie Mays

Race 1 - Sat 13th

Following the usual rigging, anticipation, briefings and pre race banter, David Henshall and his team got the first race underway for the Hornets with the Kestrels ready to follow. However, the wind was not playing ball. A major wind-shift, the Hornets race abandoned as they were arriving at the ‘windward’ mark, the course moved, a general recall for the Hornets all occurred before the Kestrels got underway and the nerves could settle. The Hartleys were out to prove they had lost none of their boat-speed (although arriving with just two out of the required three sails was a bit optimistic) by leading from start to finish. However, they were OCS, handing 1st to Dusty Miller & John Ellingham. Paul & James Jarvey started well to take 2nd and Liam Pike & Ali Luxford 3rd, setting up a battle between these two boats that would run ‘til the last race. Malcolm & Dannielle Worsley coming in 4th followed by the often good starting Richard Randall & Penny Shears making their nationals debut.

Race 2 - Sat 13th

Race 2 continued with the same steady breeze as the first, with all competitors starting cleanly. Richard and Mark Hartley were first to the windward mark, followed by Dusty and John. The rest of the lead boats fought a close battle, with Liam and Alistair, Paul and James, Henry and Chris then Malcolm and Dannielle reaching the mark. Dusty and John chased Richard and Mark all the way but were helpless to catch them. In the battle behind the leading two boats, Liam and Alistair managed to hold on to 3rd ahead of Paul and James. The Worsleys fought to catch Henry and Chris down the last reach but the latter managed to keep their place, finishing 5th.

Race 3 - Sun 14th

The days racing was run efficiently again with the course being set and shifted as necessary by the building and settling breeze. Wind-shifts were a part of the series, but most of the time predictable. Dusty & John set the pattern for the remainder of the event with the Hartleys now departed, leading from the windward mark to the finish. Malcolm & Dannielle had their best result of the week in 2nd followed by Paul & James then Steve & Lin, also with their highest placing in 4th.

Race 4 - Sun 14th

Whilst some days threatened to produce little wind, it was perhaps fortunate that the lack of sun and heat did not encourage a sea breeze as this was likely to fight with the prevailing wind. Again the usual suspects fought it out for the top spots, generally finding an upwind route that worked and sticking with it, loosely covering those behind as necessary. Ian Hunter & Trevor MacDonald scored their first of three 6th places, Rod & Jenny Brown-Lee scoring their best in 7th, likewise with Jeremy & Ian Drummond coming in 8th.

Race 5 - Monday 15th

Race 5 was sailed in a force four with another clean start from the line. Dusty and John led from the first mark all the way to the finish. Behind them was a flurry of place changing between Paul and James, Malcolm and Danielle and Liam and Alistair with them eventually finishing in that order. Henry and Christopher managed to maintain a slim lead over Ian Hunter and Trevor MacDonald, who finished in 6th followed by Lin and Steve Worf.

Race 6 - Monday 15th

With the wind blowing top end of 4/5 gusting 6, the fleet prepared to get underway once more. The pin end was favoured and there was a fair amount of jockeying for the best spot, Dusty & John and Liam & Alistair got it spot on and shot off up the first beat. Newcomers to the class Nick & Jo Whiteley also made a great start and found themselves in 3rd round the windward mark followed by Paul & James then Henry & Chris. Dusty & Liam charged off down the reach never to be troubled for the remainder of the race, while Nick & Jo struggled down the reaches and where picked off by firstly Paul then Henry and finally Malcolm & Dannielle. Paul and Henry had a ding dong battle for the remainder of the race with Henry managing to sneak through on the beat. At the finish it was Dusty, Liam, Henry, Paul with the Worsleys a distant 5th.

Race 7 - Tuesday 16th

The final race of the championship dawned with another force 5 gusting 6. Dusty &John already had the trophy secured which was just as well as they had their poorest start of the competition. Paul & James and Liam & Alistair started the day on the same points tied for 2nd so there was all to play for. Again the pin end was the place to be, Paul got the start timed to perfection and shot off up the first beat to round in the windward mark 1st, Henry & Chris used their weight well to round 2nd with Liam 3rd. It looked as if this might be it for the remainder of the race but Dusty “never say die” proceeded to pick off the front 3 one at a time to take his 6th win of the championship, followed home by Paul, Henry, Liam and Malcolm & Dannielle. So Paul & James managed to secure 2nd with Liam & Alistair 3rd. What a grand championship it had been, roll on next year.

The championships had passed without a hitch (although always lots of activity going on to achieve this), the weather had co-operated to provide some great sailing, particularly the spinnaker reaches. The Kestrel fleet thankful at times that we were not sailing the nine races of the Hornet series, as we watched them trapezing down the reaches in the strongest winds of the event. The daily prize-giving worked well again as most of the fleet were based at the club. Highlight of the social events was probably the ‘London underground stations’ themed fancy dress with some making a huge effort, both with costumes and supporting the club bar.

Whilst Dusty & John took the ‘Championship Trophy’, Mike Riley & Lou Hart won the ‘Charles Cox Endeavour trophy’ for completing all races in the series. Leonard Ayris won the ‘Masters Trophy’. Kevin Edwins & Kevin Jones were awarded the ‘Wet Welly trophy’ given for best’ capsize, which not only involved a swim, but also wrapping a borrowed spinnaker around a spreader and shroud requiring them to head for the bank to untangle. Kevin Jones also took the ‘Champagne Moment’ for his evening as dressed as ‘Cockfosters’.

Overall Results: