Challenger Open at Burghfield Sailing Club
by Caroline Martin 12 Apr 2005 12:44 BST
8-9 April 2005
April sunshine and brisk winds welcomed the first ever Challenger trimaran Regatta at Burghfield © Jeremy Carey
April sunshine and brisk winds welcomed the first ever Challenger trimaran Regatta at Burghfield Sailing Club in Theale, Berkshire on Friday 8th & 9th April. The Challenger is designed for use by disabled sailors, the two out-riggers provide stability, the slender hulls make for speed, and the steering and mainsheet are placed in front of the helmsman or woman to give control of the boat without the need to shift your body from side to side.
9 boats took part with sailors aged between 12 and 60 competing in the 6 races. Winds were gusty and the trimarans sped rapidly around the lake sometimes in clouds of spray. Conditions were exhilarating, but very cold and challenging with varied strength and direction of the wind. Tony Lawton, now partially sighted, was assisted by radio directions from a rescue boat and another competitor had an assistant seated next to him on a seat bolted on between the main hull and the outrigger.
Burghfield Sailability group offers opportunity to sail to disabled people of all ages through the summer months. They meet on Thursday evenings starting on 21st April till September. If you would like to find out more, please do not hesitate to contact Charles Benham on 0118 9571407 or Pat Forbes at Burghfield Sailing Club on 011 930 3604.
Overall Results:
Gold Fleet
1st John Draper (Queen Mary SC)
2nd David Larr (Milton Keynes SC)
Silver Fleet
1st Luke Barbanneau (Oxford SC)
2nd Patrick Mills (Oxford CC)
Bronze Fleet
1st David Morse (Welsh Harp SA)
2nd David Vickery (Burghfield SC)