Kestrel Inland Championship at Alton Water Sports Club
by Paul Jarvey 19 Sep 2011 09:00 BST
17-18 September 2011
Race 1 - The forecast was for the wind strength to peak early afternoon and it did build throughout the first race. Along with the expected gusts, the wind was shifting considerably. Dave & Gareth set off in the lead, followed by Henry & Chris and Matthew & Peter, the latter pair joining the Kestrels as guests in the ‘Glasspools’ boat, at times electing to keep the spinnaker in the boat as still planning on the reaches. Henry & Chris capsized after the wing mark, having to sail higher then they would have liked with Dave & Gareth to leeward. Dave & Gareth kept clear ahead to the finish, Matthew & Peter taking second and Paul & Lou starting conservatively, staying ahead of Henry & Chris. The Kevin’s had two capsizes in the first race, following which they discovered they were missing a buoyancy tank bung.
Race 2 - Following lunch, the wind had dropped a little, but still provided lively conditions. First and second places were as race one, although Matthew & Peter had managed to lead for a time, Henry & Chris stayed upright to take third followed by Paul & Lou.
Race 3 - Dave & Gareth again took the lead and claimed another first whilst second, third and fourth went to Henry & Chris, Paul & Lou and Matthew & Peter respectively. This time Matthew & Peter recovered from a capsize on the gybe. The Kevin’s avoided capsizing in races two and three.
Race 4 - Sunday morning brought much brighter weather and a lighter breeze. However the wind shifts were still present. This time Paul & Lou found their way to the front and led for all but the last lap, finally succumbing to Dave & Gareth at the gybe mark. Chris & Henry took third.
Race 5 - Again Paul & Lou found themselves at the front, this time Dave & Gareth took them on the reach. Matthew & Peter made gains on the beat and caught & Lou on starboard resulting in the latter doing turns and dropping back into the clutches of Henry & Chris and John & Gordon. John & Gordon picked up a lift and stronger breeze to round inside of Henry & Chris to grab a fourth.
Race 6 - Dave & Gareth having wrapped up the event, decided to leave the others to fight it out for the remaining podium places. Paul & Lou managed to reach the windward mark first having survived the shifts and lulls. Henry & Chris took the lead, then suffering a bad beat being headed several times as the wind filled and shifted. Paul and Lou managed to hold onto their lead as the beat became one sided. John & Gordon managed to hold their third place to the finish. This meant that Paul & Lou took second having been lying in fourth after Saturday. Matthew & Peter and Henry & Chris finished tied on points, with the former taking third on count-back.
My thanks go to Lou for driving up from Somerset to sail and Gavin & Gerry for running the event in the testing conditions.
Overall Results:
| Pos | Boat Name | Sail No | Helm | Crew | Club | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | Pts |
|---|
| 1st | Breakin’ Wind | 1574 | Dave Hearsum | Gareth Fay | Hickling Broad SC | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | (DNC) | 6 |
| 2nd | Fat Boy & Slim | 1548 | Paul Jarvey | Lou Hart | Hickling Broad SC | 3 | -4 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 12 |
| 3rd | Reflex | 1537 | Matthew House | Peter Richardson | Alton Water SC | 2 | 2 | -4 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 14 |
| 4th | Jiggerypokery | 1563 | Henry Richards | Chris Richards | Goldhanger SC | 4 | 3 | 2 | 3 | -5 | 2 | 14 |
| 5th | Mis Nomer | 1545 | John Weedon | Gordon Flemons | Marconi SC | 5 | (DNC) | DNC | 5 | 4 | 3 | 26 |
| 6th | Gold digger | 1544 | Kevin Edwins | Kevin Jones | Stewartby Water SC | DNF | 5 | 5 | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | 37 |