Graduate National Championship at Chipstead Sailing Club - Day 2

Graduate nationals at Chipstead day 2 © Alan Ross

Graduate nationals at Chipstead day 2 © Alan Ross

Competitors arriving in the morning were greeted with sunshine and a westerly wind for the start of second day of the Graduate Nationals. Three races were sailed on day two.

Race two, the first of the day, was started at the eastern end with the first beat being the full length of the lake. From the congested start line, with a couple over, Liz Stockdale and Victoria Ingamells in the oldest boat on the water took the lead on the favoured right hand side. However, she was headed letting Tony and Sam Cooper go into the "narrows" first; closely followed by John and Jamie Clementson.

By the end of the small reach at the end of the lake the Clementsons had taken the lead and in second were Bob and Maggie Murrell. On the next beat Ben and Gabe Hill, and the Coopers managed at some stages to get ahead of the Murrells. For the Hills this was short lived as Murrells returned the complement. For the next couple of laps the top five positions remained the same. On the final lap the Murrells got clear of the Coopers and got second place behind the Clementsons in first.

After a good lunch, race three was sailed using the same course. The first beat up to the narrows was lead by the Murrells followed by the Clementsons. This continued round the windward mark. By the next beat, the Clementsons had overhauled the Murrells. While the positions remained more or less the same in the top five for the rest of the race this masks the close racing taking place. Eventually the Clementsons claimed another bullet.

Graduate nationals at Chipstead day 2 - photo © Alan Ross

Race four, the last race of the day was sailed in lighter winds. The fleet started on starboard and those with the best starts benefited from the clear air. The Murrells were first round the windward mark. In the following pack were youth sailors Bryn Abendenstern and Anabelle Coppinger, fellow youths the Hill brothers and not youths, the Clementsons. The shifting wind required close attention. This suited the Clementsons who achieved their fourth first place of the event. Following them were the Murrells and the Abendenstern Coppinger team.

Results after Day 2: (top five)