Comet Class Association Championships at Staunton Harold Sailing Club

Racing on day 1 of the Comet Class Association Championships at Staunton Harold © Peter Newton / www.peternewton.zenfolio.com

Racing on day 2 of the Comet Class Association Championships at Staunton Harold © Phil Hardcastle

Thirty-two Comet sailors entered the 2014 Association Championships held at Staunton Harold Sailing Club over the Whitsun Bank Holiday weekend.

Just before the start of the first race, the Force 3 north-easterly wind backed to give a port tack bias to the start line. Stephen Lemmon rounded the windward mark in first place, followed by Ian Coppenhall, and Ian Stone. By the end of the second lap, Ian Coppenhall had taken the lead, and Alan Bennett had moved up to third place. The fleet remained close together and more than half of the competitors were on the last leg when Ian Coppenhall finished in first place, Stephen Lemmon was second, and Ian Stone just beat Alan Bennett into third place at the line.

For the second race, the beat was set down the middle of the reservoir, and Ian Coppenhall was first round the windward mark, followed by Alan Bennett, Brian Welham, and Ian Stone. Alan Bennett started the beat at the beginning of the second lap in first place, followed by Ian Coppenhall. However, the wind had dropped to about Force 1 and veered, allowing the next few competitors to reach the windward mark without tacking, and Michael Ettershank rounded in first place. However, Ian Coppenhall regained the lead to cross the finishing line in first place followed by Peter Mountford in second place, and Guy Wilkins in third.

At the start of the third race, the wind was Force 1 - 2 and had changed to a southerly direction. Ian Coppenhall rounded the windward mark in first place followed by Eddie Pope and Peter Mountford. Alan Bennett passed Ian Coppenhall to take the lead at the leeward mark at the end of the first lap. During the third lap, the wind died away to a flat calm, Alan Bennett stretched his lead to finish well in front, and Ian Coppenhall and Eddie Pope had a tacking duel just before the line to finish in that order.

The second day brought slightly warmer temperatures, and a stronger southerly wind of at least Force 4 allowing the race officer to set a long first beat to the most southerly buoy for the fourth and fifth race sailed back-to-back. Ian Stone rounded the windward mark in first place after finding a strong lift on the left hand side of the beat, followed by Ian Coppenhall and Guy Wilkins. On a downwind leg of the last lap, the wind filled in from behind, and Ian Coppenhall and Guy Wilkins caught up with Ian Stone. Ian Coppenhall overtook Ian Stone at the leeward mark, and then Ian Stone regained the lead on the last beat to finish in first place, Ian Coppenhall took second place, and Guy Wilkins was third.

After the start of the fifth and final race, Paul Hinde sailed very fast upwind into the lead, but Ian Coppenhall rounded the windward mark in front and developed a one-leg lead which he held on to the finish. Bob Dodds stayed in second place until the last lap when he was overtaken by Ian Stone and they finished in that order.

Racing on day 2 of the Comet Class Association Championships at Staunton Harold - photo © Phil Hardcastle

Consistent sailing at the very front of the fleet saw Ian Coppenhall winning the 2014 Association Championships. The Lady’s prize was won by Helen Leivers, the First Junior was Izaac Dodds, the Ancient Mariners Prize was won by John Coppenhall, the Veterans Prize was won by Bob Dodds, and the Committee Prize was awarded to Julie Hudson.

Overall Results: