Graduate Open at Sutton-in-Ashfield Sailing Club

Graduates at Sutton-in-Ashfield

The first open of the year on the Northern Graduate circuit saw a sunny but gusty day at Kingsmill Reservoir, home of Sutton-in-Ashfield Sailing Club on Sunday May 22nd. Wind shifts were the order of the day and several boats suffered from kicker problems – no doubt the residue from a long winter layoff.

The first race saw Moore and Henstock overcoming a tough challenge from Eaton and Pritchard of West Oxford S.C. The Wilsons, with penalty turns to do were never in the hunt but managed to see off a strong effort from Shaw and Plant from Swarkestone S.C..

Race 2 and with Bailey and Barker from Rotherham S.C. retiring with a broken kicker, the wind was gusting 5 initially and Moore and Henstock built up a good lead followed by the Wilsons from Broadwater S.C.

Massive wind-shifts in Race 3 saw Moore and Henstock almost capsize, but they survived despite very close attentions from yet again the Wilsons and the powerful Eaton and Pritchard combination.

This year sees 50 years of Graduate sailing with the competition still strong.

Overall Results:

1st G2846 J Moore and A Henstock (Sutton-in-Ashfield)
2nd G2974 D and S Wilson (Broadwater)
3rd G2955 S Eaton and C Pritchard (West Oxford)