Europe UK National Championship at Highcliffe Sailing Club

Europe UK National Championship at Highcliffe Sailing Club - Overall

by Lucy Boreham 11 Sep 2017 07:05 BST 8-10 September 2017

Europe Nationals at Highcliffe © Sarah Desjonqueres

Sunday dawned with sunshine and 10 knots of breeze, but with the forecast for 25+ knots by midday. A wise decision the evening before from the race committee to bring the start forward to 10am meant that the fleet launched in 18 knots with the news that Portland already had 26 knots and it was coming our way.

Race 6 started with a clear split of the fleet, with half going hard left and the other half hard right, which was going to pay? At the top of the beat those on the right came in with a clear lead with Terry Curtis rounding 1st followed by Andrew Rushford in 2nd, Lucy Boreham and Christine Slater in 3rd & 4th. Chris Gill was the first of those who went left rounding in 5th. Terry maintained his lead, with Chris working his way back up to 2nd and Andrew 3rd. A photo finish between Christine and Lucy, with Christine's bow just in front to take 4th.

A quick turnaround in the increasing wind meant race 7 got under way in 20+ knots, the whole fleet took off to the right and Chris lead from start to finish and Terry rounded off a great event with another 2nd. Kathy Sherratt had a great final race, despite being one of the lighter helms in the fleet, sailed a fantastic race to take 7th.

With the wind increasing further and already a number of boats having spent some time upside down in race 7 the Race committee abandoned the idea of a final race, the fleet got ashore in time to pack away before the rain came and the wind increased further.

Europe Nationals at Highcliffe - photo © Sarah Desjonqueres

Chris Gill comfortably regained the title, with an almost perfect score line and a great display of how to handle the Europe in a breeze, Terry took a well deserved 2nd quickly learning the nuances of the Europe with Richard Eagleton in 3rd.

A fantastic event and turnout for the Europes, it was great to see such diversity in the fleet, with the youngest competitor 15, the oldest 69, the lightest at just 50kg, a few heavyweights at 75+kg and a good mix of both ladies and men, it was great to see so many new faces to the fleet and really close racing for everyone in some challenging conditions.

Massive thanks to Highcliffe Sailing Club for putting on a great event both on the water and ashore and the Phantom Class for agreeing to share the event with us.

Overall Results:
If you finished in the top ten at the Europe nationals then enter your Gear Guide information here

Pos	Sail No	Helm	Club	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	R6	R7	Pts
1	352	Chris Gill	Portishead SC	‑1	1	1	1	1	‑2	1	5
2	317	Terry Curtis	Castle Cove	3	2	2	‑4	‑8	1	2	10
3	377	Richard Eagleton	Bexhill SC	2	‑10	3	3	2	6	‑10	16
4	402	Malcom Morley	Overy Staithe SC	4	5	‑6	2	6	‑9	4	21
5	355	Lucy Boreham	Chichester	‑10	‑6	4	5	3	5	5	22
6	351	Andrew Rushford	Christchurch	5	4	‑8	8	‑11	3	3	23
7	330	Pete Bell	Highcliffe SC	‑7	3	5	6	‑10	7	6	27
8	332	Christine Slater	Portishead SC	(DNF)	8	7	‑15	4	4	8	31
9	11	Kathy Sherratt	Weston	6	9	11	‑17	‑15	10	7	43
10	389	Natalie Adams	Whitstable YC	9	7	‑17	12	‑13	8	9	45
11	401	Hamish Morley	Overy Staithe SC	(DNS)	11	10	11	7	12	‑13	51
12	331	Clare Stubbs		8	16	9	9	9	(DNF)	(DNF)	51
13	3321	Ben Harris	Weston SC	(DNS)	13	12	7	‑14	13	11	56
14	394	George Crammond	Staunton Harold	(DNF)	‑14	13	10	12	11	12	58
15	274	Olly Harris	Weston SC	(DNS)	12	15	13	5	(DNF)	DNF	64
16	398	Neil Smith	Bexhill SC	(DNF)	‑17	16	16	16	14	14	76
17	3651	Caitlin Tweedle	Oxford SC	(DNF)	15	14	14	17	(DNF)	DNF	79
18	393	Geoff Newman	Chichester	(DNS)	(DNF)	DNF	DNF	DNF	DNF	DNF	95