505 Open at Shotley Sailing Club

Mike Holt and Ian Godfrey during the 505 open at Shotley © SSC

Ian Pinnell and Ian Mitchell win the 505 open at Shotley © SSC

The 'BIG ONE'

It was the return of the Shotley Open, otherwise known in the UK as the 'BIG ONE'. With this year's SAP 505 Worlds at La Rochelle next month from 15th to 27th July, many of the UK's top 505 sailors needed a bit of a tune up and this would be the perfect opportunity. It turned out that the reputation of the event had not only reached many of the UK's top guns but also lured hotshot Mike Holt all the way from the U.S., so this really was the 'BIG ONE'.

As it turned out the wind was rather too big too on Saturday and racing was cancelled after the committee boat struggled to reach Dovercourt Bay and found the conditions too bad to even anchor, Race Officer Doug Brown promptly cancelled the days racing.

However, Ian Pinnell (Nellie) with Ian Mitchell and Andy Smith (Smithy) with Tim Needham took their boats for a quick spin up the River Stour, before attempting to go downwind. Nellie said "we will do ten gybes"!! As it turns out Nellie did one and Smithy and Tim thought that was foolish and dropped the kite at the end of the run, once ashore both boats agreed that it would not have been possible to race in those conditions.

Sunday morning arrived with a Force 4-5, racing commencing in Dovercourt Bay shortly after 10am in what were near perfect conditions.

With a windward, leeward 3 lap course Smith and Needham soon flew into the lead with fantastic speed off the start line to lead at the windward mark. They held the lead into the last lap flying downwind only to pitch pole and injure Tim Needham's shoulder forcing them to retire from any further racing. This let in Pinnell/Mitchell to win the first race of the day. Brothers Hart were 2nd with Hodgson/Miles 3rd with close racing throughout the fleet and plenty of capsizes too. Terry Scutcher and Adam Kenney were also forced to retire as one of the rudder fittings broke beyond repair after appearing to be going well in the 'Pride of East Anglia'.

Race 2 got underway in what appeared to be slightly less wind with Scutcher and Kenney returning in one of the safety boats, Adam having travelled all the way from the Midlands to complete half a race and then help out with safety boat duty, thanks Adam. Holt got off to a port hand flyer but first to the windward mark was team Pinnell/Mitchell followed by Holt/Godfrey. Racing again was close throughout the fleet with the heavier crews appearing to have the upper hand upwind. Horey/Diebitsch showing good speed in this race were in 3rd place for the 1st lap, then appeared to have had a moment and slipped down the fleet pushing Martin and Adrian up to 3rd as they had an inspired moment up wind to overhaul the Harts up the beat. The Harts weren't put off by this and pushed hard downwind regaining the place as Martin and Adrian had a twisted kite after their gybe. Pinnell/Mitchell again crossed the line in first place, followed in 2nd by Holt/Godfrey with the Hart's in 3rd.

The tide turned during race 2 which calmed the sea conditions slightly, giving the appearance that the wind had dropped slightly by the time we started race 3. First to the windward and leeward marks were the Hart's followed by Pinnell and Mitchell who somehow managed to take the lead between the leeward mark and committee boat at the end of lap one and lead all the way to the finish. Upwind the Hart's were overtaken by Horey/Diebitsch and Holt/Godfrey only to make up those places by coming inshore on the downwind legs. Coming up to the finish line the Hart's and Holt/Godfrey had a port/starboard incident with Holt doing his turns, leaving the Hart's to finish 2nd, Horey/Diebitsch nipped in to beat Holt/Godfrey by 2ft to take 3rd.

Racing was close throughout the fleet with Deane/Ferguson, White/Isherwood and Selfe/Montague changing places throughout the 3 races.

Congratulations to Ian Pinnell and Ian Mitchell for winning the biggest event of the year, 2nd was Matt and Daniel Hart followed by Mike Holt and Ian Godfrey in 3rd.

The conditions were near perfect in such a great location with such close and exciting racing, let's hope for much of the same throughout the season.

Shotley Sailing Club would like to thank all the participants especially those who travelled a long way and Mike Holt who obviously travelled all the way from the U.S just for the 'BIG ONE', we hope you all enjoyed your visit enough to come back again next year. The participants would like to thank the race team at Shotley for some superb racing with excellent rescue cover.

The fleet now moves on to Stone for 30th June/1st July. Again there should a great spread of talent.

Overall Results:

For more info on the 505 please check out www.sail505.org

There are still plenty of helms needing crews and vice versa. This year's Nationals at at Abersoch September 6th – 9th and next year's Worlds are in Barbados. Great reasons to get into the fleet.