Kestrel Inland Championship at Alton Water Sports Club

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: