505 UK National Championship at Whitstable Yacht Club - Day 2

505 Nationals at Whitstable © Nick Champion / www.championmarinephotography.co.uk

505 Nationals at Whitstable © Nick Champion / www.championmarinephotography.co.uk

505 Nationals at Whitstable © Nick Champion / www.championmarinephotography.co.uk

Another great day of sailing out of the Whitstable Yacht Club. We completed three races, although the race committee tried very hard to run a fourth but conditions would not allow it.

Racers saw everything today from persistent shifts to the left, to persistent shifts to the right, to the right to oscillating shifts. The race committee had their hands full trying to keep the course square. The weather cooperated nicely and crews were on their trapeze up wind and down wind all day long.

At the start of the day Tom Gillard and Harry Briddon were in first place wearing the bright yellow first place rash guards with a giant 1 provided by the race committee. Mike Holt and Rob Woelfel were in second place wearing the blue rash guard with the giant number two. Ian Pinnell and Alex Davies were wearing the bright red rash guards with the number three on it.

The racing was very tricky and in three races we had three different first place finishers. There were big gains to be made to the boats that could limit their exposure and choose the right side of the course. A big mistake could cost you dearly as the races were quite short, generally running around 40 minutes each.

In race number one Nathan Bachelor and Sam Pascoe from Tynemouth Sailing Club won in commanding fashion leading the race for the vast majority and getting the bullet as they crossed the finish line. Philippe Boite/Matheus Fountaine finished Second with Mike Holt and Rob Woelfel in third.

505 Nationals at Whitstable - photo © Nick Champion / www.championmarinephotography.co.uk

In the second race Philippe Boite and Matheus Fountaine from CVSQ finished first. They held off all challengers with great boat speed and by executing world class decision making on the course. Mike Holt and Rob Woelfel were in second with Charlie Walters and Dougal Cram in third.

In race three Mike Holt and Rob Woelfel from the Santa Cruz Yacht Club finished first. Philippe Boite and the Matheus Fountaine were right behind to capture second with Michael Quirk and Tim Needham in third.

505 Nationals at Whitstable - photo © Nick Champion / www.championmarinephotography.co.uk

Another highlight was Andy Smith coming down to visit as he recovers from a pretty gruesome broken arm. It looks like he might be sailing in as little as a week and I am proud to report that his broken arm can already bear the weight of a full-size beer. Get well soon Andy.

Results after Day 2: