2019 K6 National Championship at Weymouth Sailing Club - Overall

by Dave Hall 10 Sep 2019 16:30 BST 6-8 September 2019

The 2019 K6 championship was held from Weymouth Sailing Club with courses in the Bay.

A blustery day greeted the fleet for the first day. It was touch and go whether or not to go with a forecast of an increasing wind. However, the competitors went for it and had two very lively races before the big breeze really kicked in. There was plenty of action through the fleet as well as some early retirements.

The usual suspects fought it out at the front with a number of new teams all showing their faces until various incidents such as broaches caught them out. Three races were scheduled but after two it was decided that it would be better for the fleet get ashore and save their energy and pride for the following days. The brothers Birbeck won the first race convincingly but were pipped on the line for the second race by Dave Hall, Alice Masterman & Bella Fellows.

A much calmer second day. A light and very shifty North westerly blew across a very flat Weymouth bay.

With the differences in pressure and shifts across the race track it was hard to defend and any lead was easily be lost. Winners for the 3 races were Neil Fulcher & Richard Tucker, Mike Trueman with James Bennett & Richard Payne and the current leaders Steve & Ross Birbeck.

After the 2 days it was tight at the top with the Birbecks and team Hall- it was going to be right down to the wire for the last two races on the final day The forecast was spot on for the last day. A light Easterly slowly vanished as the fleet sat out in Weymouth Bay. After an hours postponement the race team got a the first race away in a light south westerly. Peter Kirkby & Richard Barker got away with the pack close behind. The wind was increasing and downwind it all got a bit frantic as the boats closed up at the bottom gate. With the wind increase came a shift and the races was shortened at the top mark. Peter & Richard stayed in front to take the win with Dave, Alice & Bella sneaking in at the finish to take second.

Going in to the last race the championship was going to be decided between the Birbeck Brothers and the team of Dave, Alice & Bella. Both boats got a good start and took out a healthy lead. It was cat and mouse all the way round with Steve & Ross just getting the edge until a fluffed spinnaker drop let Dave and the girls through to win the race and the championship. Mike Truemans team just held onto the third after a late surge from Nick Jones & Steve Dewbury.

A great and very mixed three days sailing well run by Weymouth SC alongside their yacht regatta, so a big thanks to the club and the race team.

Overall Results:

Pos	Sail No	Boat Name	Helm	Crew	Club	R1	R2	R4	R5	R6	R7	R8	Pts
1	142	Babooshka	David Hall	Alice Masterman Bella Fellows	Blackwater SC	2	1	2	‑3	3	2	1	11
2	165	Mildly Moist	Steve Birbeck	Ross Birbeck	Royal Torbay YC	1	2	‑4	4	1	4	3	15
3	172	Red Shank	Mike Trueman	James Bennett Richard Payne	Royal Torbay YC	5	6	3	1	7	‑9	7	29
4	213	Galloper	Nick Jones	Steve Dewberry	Aldeburgh YC	3	‑7	7	5	6	3	5	29
5	216	pippi	Peter Kirkby	Richard Barker	QMSC	(DNC)	DNC	5	2	9	1	4	37
6	222	Blank	Neil Fulcher	Richard Tucker	Stone SC	7	5	1	9	4	(DNC)	DNC	42
7	166	Tonic	Fraser Elms	Georgie Smith Tash Styles	HISC	4	(DNC)	9	11	2	8	9	43
8	159	Moffet	John Hall	Martin Gibson Daniel Hall	Oxford SC	10	8	‑11	6	8	5	11	48
9	122	Spot the Pest	John Tabor	Lesley Hotchin Dan Robins	Oxford SC	8	(DNC)	8	7	11	6	8	48
10	143	!	David Gorringe	Jon Gorringe	Lymington Town SC	(DNC)	3	DNC	DSQ	5	7	2	49
11	208	Eric	Martin Wedge	Scott Allen Jonathan Carkeet	Royal Torbay YC	6	4	12	12	‑14	11	6	51
12	189	Cougar	Timothy Williams	Robert Clements	Oxford SC	11	(DNC)	6	8	12	10	12	59
13	114	Bob	Tony Harper	Martin “the pullin’ monkey” Stilgoe	Back garden YC	9	9	10	14	13	(DNC)	DNC	71
14	161	Dark and Stormy	Jeff vander Borght	David Guthrie	Lyme Regis SC	(DNC)	DNC	14	10	10	13	10	73
15	124	Happy Feet	Paul Owen	Amy Owen and Ollie Owen	Oxford Sailing Club	(DNC)	DNC	13	13	15	12	13	82