International Canoe Week at Plymouth - Day 4

International Canoe Nationals at Plymouth day 1 © Michael Brigg

International Canoe Nationals at Plymouth day 1 © Michael Brigg

Day 4 of canoe week saw the start of the four-day National Championship and as the fleet launched into the Cattewater from the Mt Batten Centre they soon found that conditions were going to be a little bit tougher than what the forecasts had suggested.

The waters of Plymouth Sound resembled a washing machine with the tide stirring up a difficult chop with the South-Westerly wind gusting up to 27 knots driving 50 shades of grey drizzle down on to the course.

With many boats putting in early swimming practice when the starting gun finally fired several boats had already returned to shore and it was a reduced fleet that was led away by Philip Robin in his Dragonfly design. At the Windward mark there was a trio of boats in the leading group and Robin Wood moved up into second place at the first gybe mark followed by Chris Hampe. In the second group of boats Alistair Warren, Steve Clarke and Dave Timpson all capsized at the mark to allowing Dan Skinner in his nethercott through into fouth.

The leeward mark was one of those fine lay lines, If you had a good rounding you could get just squeeze past the committee boat to pass through the upwind gate. Philip Robin led around the mark and continued to revel in the conditions pointing much higher than anyone else. This had serious consequences for Robin Wood who rounded into Philip Robins dirty air and got swept onto the committee boats anchor line breaking the T-foil off of his rudder and causing him to capsize onto the committee boat.

This left Phil Robin and Chris Hampe with a commanding lead over Alistair Warren who was on a charge through the fleet. On the run Phil Robin had an unexpected capsize leaving Hampe alone out front where he would stay for the third and final lap to take the win. Alistair Warren came through into second, Phil Robin third and Dan Skinner took a well earned fourth with his older nethercott. With visibilty now restricted the race officer sent the boats home and the fleet politely declined the offer of having a second race despite the conditions being forecast to improve.

Nationals Results after Day 1:

International Canoe Week Results: