Tempest Nationals at Ullswater Yacht Club
by John Robinson 2 Jun 2006 16:48 BST
27-29 May 2006
Action from the Tempest nationals at Ullswater © Lois Robson
The late May bank holiday weekend saw fourteen Tempests at Ullswater for their National Championships, which was run in conjunction with the Mirror Northern Area Championships. Fortunately, the lake is large enough to accommodate two courses for such different classes. In addition, this year is the first championships when the bigger spinnaker (almost one metre longer) was permitted.
Two races were held on Saturday in gusty conditions from the South West, using a trapezoidal course set outside the Mirror’s triangular course, with both fleets converging on a downwind finish. The first reach was too shy for most teams to set their spinnakers, but those who did enjoyed a spectacular planning reach, or suffered some equally spectacular broaches. However, once the fleet turned onto the run, the new kites proved their value. The combination of the fierce gusts and larger kites produced some fast close quarters racing, particularly as the run was set fairly close to the lake shore, limiting the ability of the fleet to spread out.
Race 1 was won by Jim Hart and Jon Gill (Carsington SC and Antigua YC) in GBR 1121, with locals John Robson and Phil Evans in second place, using the old size of spinnaker. Third place was taken by Jonathan Modral and Colin Meadows (Datchet SC) in GBR 1161.
The second race was sailed immediately after the completion of Race 1, and the conditions were much the same – strong gusts. This time, Jonathan Modral took line honours with Ullswater team John Robinson and Lindsay Whitehead (GBR 1111) fighting up to second place. Mike and Paul Adams, Ullswater, in GBR 1070 were in third place. The fleet sailed back to the Clubhouse after a thoroughly enjoyable day’s racing to be followed by a barbeque at the house of a local Tempest sailor
On Sunday, the race officer changed the course to the usual triangle – sausage – triangle configuration for both classes. This involved the Tempests starting before the Mirrors on the same line, and rounding the windward mark before reaching off onto a second triangle, completing their course and reaching back to the downwind finish from the leeward mark. This worked well, and the fleets rarely came too close for comfort.
Race three was sailed on Sunday morning in strong and gusty conditions and saw the closest finish of the event. Jonathan Modral (GBR 1161) and his Father, Ian, crewed by Robin Higgens in GBR 1114 (Ullswater YC) were judged by the race officer to have tied for first place. Mike and Paul Adams finished third.
After a break for lunch, races four and five were sailed back to back, using the same courses. Race four was lead by Modral and Meadows, who were now well established at the top of the leader board. However, the other Modral team were never far off the pace, and recorded a second place. Robson and Evans pushed hard to return third place. The starting sequence of Race 5 was started immediately after the last mirror cleared the leeward mark, which allowed sufficient time for the majority of the Mirror fleet to round the windward mark ahead of the Tempests. The race was dominated by Robson and Evans, who eventually took line honours, despite their not using a large kite. Jim Hart and Jon Gill took second place, with Modral and Meadows in third place.
On Monday morning the race officer wisely postponed racing for fifty minutes until the wind completed several changes in direction, and eventually picked up and stabilised in the North. The wind on the beat up to Sharrow Point was not particularly stable, which produced a lot of place-changing amongst the fleet, making for some very interesting racing. However, the first three places remained consistent, with Robson and Evans recording two firsts, Modral and Meadows two seconds, and Modral / Higgens finishing the set with two thirds.
Ullswater YC put on an excellent event, with good courses and well organised races, shoreline management, and catering. The combination of two widely different classes sharing an event also worked well. The young sailors competing in the Mirror event produced some very impressive sailing, which kept many of the Tempest teams busy watching them between races, and clashes between the two fleets were minimal.
Overall Results:
1st Jonathan Modral & Colin Meadows (Datchet) 7pts
2nd John Robson & Phil Evans (Ullswater) 8pts
3rd Ian Modral & Robin Higgens (Ullswater) 13pts
4th Jim Hart & John Gill (Carsington / Antigua) 17pts
5th Mike Adams & Paul adams (Ullswater) 19pts
6th John Robinson & Lindsay Whitehead (Ullswater) 22pts
Old Boat Trophy (best placed boat over 25 years old) Nick Stewardson & Simon DeRoeper. 7th overall, 32 points