Sprint 15 National Championships at Pentewan Sands Sailing Club

by David Groom 30 Aug 2013 12:13 BST 25-27 August 2013

First Lady at the 2013 Sprint 15 nationals, Jenny Ball © Pauline Love

Two-up winners, Sean and Daisy Mckenna, at the 2013 Sprint 15 nationals © Pauline Love

The Sprint 15 Nationals took place at Pentewan Sands Sailing Club over the bank holiday weekend 25th to the 27th August. In total over 70 boats attended and many of the fleet are staying down for the remainder of the week for the fun events including the hotly contested go karting competition.

Pentewan Sands is a super venue and almost a second home for the Sprint 15's and has hosted many Sprint Nationals in the past. It is so popular amongst the fleet that it is intended to return again in the near future to take full advantage of the replacement clubhouse soon to be constructed.

The weather was kind giving mostly sunshine and, a must for all fair competitions, a mixture of conditions from 20 knot plus winds and waves on the Sunday making the most of the fleets submersive capabilities to very light shifty winds on a virtual millpond on the Tuesday when the ability to drift fast came into play. Naturaly the forcast stronger medium stregnth winds on the Tuesday came in precisely when the racing was over providing an enjoyable and fast sail back to the shore rather than the keenly anticpated champagne racing to complete the event.

In total seven races were held in addition to the practice race using courses expertly set and managed by Race Officer Michael Ward and his efficient on the water Team. The Team were kept busy on the first day dealing with breakages and the odd shunt but otherwise, having laid the customary sqauare courss, they took advantage of the conditions to sunbathe and hold a mackeral fishing competition. Their efficiiency was matched by those assisting on shore on the beach and in particular in the galley who provided full catering for the event 12 hours a day including a three course meal for 150 people on the Monday night.

The event was won for the second year running by Stuart Snell who, notwithstanding the fact that his lead was invincible at the end of day Two, went out on Day Three and increased it just because he loves his racing. Steve Sawford was second, Paul Gattage third, Mark Aldridge fourth and Paul Craft fifth. Fuller results and the prize winners including the many other categories will be available in the fuller Yachts and Yachting write up but the two up winners Sean and Daisy McKenna deserve a mention now.

Paul Grattage , Paul Craft, Keith Newnham & Robert Finch (right to left) at the 2013 Sprint 15 nationals - photo © Pauline Love

The Association and the Sailing Club together with the wider sailing fraternity are of course still mourning the untimely passing of Nick Dewhirst who was, amongst other things, former Sprint 15 Association Chairman. Tributes to him from the Class and Club came forward at the briefing and AGM, through the use of a special flag incorporting his boat number in the place of the class flag, the renaming of a trophy in his honour,his boat being sailed by Kevin Dutch at the Nationals at the special request of Sissy Dewhirst and a one minutes silence on the water before the last race during which many competitors adopted Nick's famous stand on the forward beam stance when sailing directly downwind. The fleet and Committee all pledged to keep the Association going as a lasting tibute.

All in all a fantastic event both on and off the water which in keeping with the inclusive traditions of the Sprint 15 fleet will continue all week with the fun events all designed to include the families that attend. Next year the event moves to Thorpe Bay on the 11th to the 13th July and the firm intent is that when the number of travellers are added to the number of the home fleet to have at least 100 boats taking part. Roll on Thorpe Bay and the fun to come. Anyone who wants to sail in a competitive but very friendly fleet in a particularly versatile and value for money boat had better buy one quick.

Finally, as ever, thanks to Brian Phipps of Windsport whose sponsorship of and attendance at these events with his advice, spares and repairs services is always welcome.

2013 Sprint 15 Champion Stuart Snell with the Nick Dewhirst Shield presented by Class Chairman Gordon Goldstone - photo © Pauline Love

Overall Results:

Pos	Helm	Sail No	Club	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	R6	R7	Pts
1	Stuart Snell	2016	Grafham Water Sailing Club	1	‑6	1	1	1	‑16	2	6
2	Steve Sawford	1733	Grafham Water Sailing Club	2	3	‑31	4	6	‑15	6	21
3	Paul Grattage	458	Shanklin Sailing Club	‑15	1	3	‑30	5	6	11	26
4	Mark Aldridge	1976	Grafham Water Sailing Club	5	4	8	‑38	3	7	‑71	27
5	Paul Craft	1267	Worthing Sailing Club	12	9	‑24	5	8	1	‑18	35
6	David Ball	1923	Marconi Sailing Club	8	‑13	7	6	9	‑21	8	38
7	Kevin Dutch	2006	Seasalter Sailing Club	7	8	17	3	4	‑38	‑37	39
8	Steve Hanby	1293	Beaver Sailing Club	‑21	14	12	‑17	2	2	16	46
9	Thomas Sandal	1982	Grafham Water Sailing Club	10	11	2	‑31	‑29	22	4	49
10	Sean McKenna & Daisy McKenna	1979	Shanklin Sailing Club	9	5	14	‑14	13	14	‑15	55
11	Simon Farthing	1898	Grafham Water Sailing Club	4	12	15	18	‑35	12	‑33	61
12	Jenny Ball	1917	Marconi Sailing Club	3	19	20	‑28	19	‑27	7	68
13 ¹	Kevin Kirby	1966	Marconi Sailing Club	24	2	‑34	7	‑34	13	25	71
14 ¹	Liam Thom	1957	Shanklin Sailing Club	20	15	5	‑34	‑49	8	23	71
15	Tom Gall	1226	Carsington Sailing Club	19	19	13	13	‑26	‑31	9	73
16	Neil Parkhurst	1761	Beaver Sailing Club	16	‑27	4	21	‑56	17	18	76
17	Peter Slater	1627	Draycote Water Sailing Club	25	‑25	19	‑27	11	10	12	77
18	Jacob Aldridge	19	Grafham Water Sailing Club	22	18	6	‑42	28	4	‑45	78
19	Charles Watson	1237	Halifax Sailing Club	6	7	11	24	32	‑39	‑40	80
20	Simon Giles & Henry Giles	1944	Shanklin Sailing Club	11	21	23	2	‑37	‑25	24	81
21	Fraser Manning	1929	Beaver Sailing Club	17	10	‑26	16	20	‑24	19	82
22	Erling Holmberg	2007	Shanklin Sailing Club	28	16	‑33	11	27	‑32	3	85
23	Matt Smith	1900	Beaver Sailing Club	‑59	29	22	‑43	15	23	1	90
24	Samuel Rowell	1984	Felixstowe Ferry Sailing Club	23	26	18	8	18	‑34	‑26	93
25	Chris Tillyer	1391	Thorpe Bay Yacht Club	26	23	‑32	‑29	7	28	14	98
26	Sam Whaley	632	Swanage Sailing Club	‑71	35	‑50	32	17	5	10	99
27	Steve Healy	1921	Thorpe Bay Yacht Club	27	‑71	9	53	‑53	3	20	112
28	Gordon Goldstone	2004	Queen Mary Sailing Club	39	33	‑41	‑55	12	9	21	114
29	Keith Newnham	1150	Shanklin Sailing Club	13	20	‑49	37	‑71	20	29	119
30	Rob Bailey	1755	Thorpe Bay Yacht Club	38	‑41	10	33	10	30	‑42	121
31	Robert Finch	1838	Stewartby Water Sports Club	14	22	29	‑35	‑65	29	28	122
32	David Groom	1714	Netley Sailing Club	18	24	42	25	14	‑44	‑43	123
33	Adrian Whaley & Whaley	1632	Swanage Sailing Club	30	43	‑66	‑45	24	18	13	128
34 ¹	George Love	1825	Carsington Sailing Club	37	‑39	25	12	38	‑51	22	134
35 ¹	Daren Fitchew	1642	Thorpe Bay Yacht Club	31	30	‑58	‑41	16	19	38	134
36	Stuart Pierce	1813	Shanklin Sailing Club	35	17	‑45	‑58	23	43	17	135
37	Jon Finch	1231	Stewartby Water Sports Club	29	28	39	9	‑64	‑48	32	137
38	Eamonn Browne	1861	RYA	41	38	37	26	‑54	‑49	5	147
39	Ian Mills	1634	Seasalter Sailing Club	40	‑71	40	10	30	35	‑47	155
40	Steve Petts	1934	Grafham Water Sailing Club	51	53	16	‑57	‑59	11	27	158
41	John Shenton	1956	Shanklin Sailing Club	‑71	‑71	55	15	25	26	39	160
42	Gary Sverdloff	1963	Thorpe Bay Yacht Club	33	32	30	20	‑62	‑47	46	161
43	Ian Parkhurst	1405	Beaver Sailing Club	36	31	28	‑50	39	‑58	31	165
44	Catherine Farthing	982	Grafham Water Sailing Club	‑55	‑71	35	36	36	41	36	184
45	Stewart Pegum	1918	Oxford Sailing Club	44	‑71	‑65	46	22	33	44	189
46	Keith Persin	1551	Thorpe Bay Yacht Club	32	40	44	‑47	31	45	‑50	192
47	Steve Roberts	1910	Dee Sailing Club	‑48	46	27	‑60	43	37	41	194
48	George Stephen	1594	Queen Mary Sailing Club	43	‑71	21	22	45	‑71	71	202
49	Richard Chidwick	1396	North Devon Yacht Club	42	57	57	19	‑61	‑66	35	210
50	Gerald Sverdloff	1933	Thorpe Bay Yacht Club	50	37	‑60	‑59	21	53	51	212
51	James Hurst	565	Grafham Water Sailing Club	49	47	‑56	23	40	54	‑71	213
52	John Manning	1955	Beaver Sailing Club	34	44	‑62	56	41	40	‑57	215
53	Philip Warner	1756	Draycote Water Sailing Club	46	51	‑54	39	51	36	‑58	223
54 ¹	George Wood	1908	Stewartby Water Sports Club	45	49	43	‑61	58	‑63	34	229
55 ¹	Ray Gall	1914	Carsington Sailing Club	54	36	36	51	‑60	‑57	52	229
56	Keith Bartlett	1962	Open Dinghy Club	‑56	45	46	40	‑67	50	49	230
57	John Bainbridge	1742	Seasalter Sailing Club	53	35	53	49	‑56	42	‑59	232
58	John Holmes	1978	Seasalter Sailing Club	52	‑71	38	48	46	‑60	53	237
59 ¹	Mark Bunyan	1343	Stewartby Water Sports Club	60	52	48	‑71	42	55	‑60	257
60 ¹	Keith Chidwick	1840	Queen Mary Sailing Club	‑61	48	51	‑66	44	59	55	257
61	Andy Bunyan	1289	Stewartby Water Sports Club	58	50	59	‑62	33	61	‑65	261
62	Simon Hare	1970	Stewartby Water Sports Club	47	42	63	‑64	‑63	62	48	262
63	Bob Marks	1960	Shanklin Sailing Club	57	57	52	‑71	47	‑67	54	267
64	Simon Rowell	1843	Felixstowe Ferry Sailing Club	‑62	55	‑71	55	56	46	56	268
65	Jane Bainbridge	1206	Seasalter Sailing Club	‑66	‑71	47	52	52	56	64	271
66	Andrew Berisford	1947	Brightlingsea Sailing Club	63	55	‑68	‑63	50	52	61	281
67	Martin Searle	1331	Seasalter Sailing Club	64	59	64	44	‑66	‑65	62	293
68	Ian Hope	1939	Draycote Water Sailing Club	65	71	61	65	48	‑71	‑71	310
69	Alan Leonard	1707	Thorpe Bay Yacht Club	‑67	58	67	67	‑71	64	63	319
70	Keith Ball	1937	Grafham Water Sailing Club	71	71	71	‑71	‑71	71	71	355