National Redwing Championships at Looe Sailing Club

The National Redwing Championships for 2005 opened on Sunday 21st August, in a 10 to 15 mph wind.

With unusually a General Recall the 19 strong fleet was soon away, up the beat the seaward boats gaining best advantage from the South West wind. R241 Shamrock Des Hocking & Colin Crabb took the first gun of the week followed by R243 Celtic Warrior Roger Hocking & Dominic Lozynski, then R245 Shy talk Ben & John Crabb.

With race two back to back the fleet headed for the Leeward mark and the next race, which got underway in 12 knots of North Westerly wind. After some lively start line manoeuvres, the local boats were first onto port taking advantage of the tide running through Looe Bay. R243 was first to the windward mark with R241 in second. Rounding the windward mark in sixth was 16 year old lightweight helm Lisa Marshall, R226, taking part in her first day’s racing in a Redwing. Good downwind speed propelled her to third, until the penultimate beat when she used two small shifts to overtake R241 moving right on the rudder of R243. Who luffed viciously to protect his wind allowing R226 to dive low to lead by the final gybe mark. Upon taking the winning gun Lisa Marshall became the first ever lady winner of a Championship race in the history of the Redwing fleet and the third generation of the family to win a championship race. R243 finished in second place with R241 in third.

With a moderate force 4 the third race began with R149 having a port end flyer crossing the fleet by 4 -5 boat lengths. The wind stayed largely steady, as R245 rounded the windward mark first with R149 and R241 close behind. Several boats had the odd dip or two in the awkward chop. R245 won the race but the following boats battled closely with R241 second and R205 third.

For Tuesday's 4th race the wind moderated settling around a force 3 Westerly. R241 taking a largely central course up the windward leg arrived first to the mark closely followed by R195 Mike Stace & Dianna Morton. Positions were maintained through the reaches but up the second beat the wind began to vary in strength and direction to the detriment of R195 and the benefit of R244 Rolly Squibs & Tommy Dortez who, taking the extreme southern side of the beat moved up from mid fleet to 2nd by the windward mark. 1st & 2nd were maintained to the finish but 3rd to 5th places went right to the wire with only seconds separating R205, R245, and R243.

After Thursday was abandoned due to extreme conditions Friday had two races scheduled. Wind conditions were force 2-3 from the WSW with Thursdays swell still running. After a hectic start the fleet scattered up the beat. R245 got to the windward mark first but it was a close race between R245, R241 and R244 right to the finish line.

The wind freshened for the start of the last race but soon disappeared after the first beat bunching the fleet. R245 led with R244 close behind, there was a bit of a gap to R243 who was fighting hard with R241. Positions remained the same until the final beat when R243 was forced to retire due to gear failure.

Overall Results: