Please select your home edition
Edition
Allen Brothers

Sprint 15 TT at Draycote Water Sailing Club

by Ed Tuite Dalton 13 Jan 2020 15:38 GMT 11 January 2020

We had a lower than usual turnout for our first TT of 2020 at Draycote Water, with only 10 boats entered. This may have been down to the forecasted strong winds. In any event we had six home boats and four visitors.

The forecast had been predicting 20 knots, gusting up to 33 knots from the SW. There was some slight apprehension from the local sailors but also a general keenness to give it a go! Tim Case our Race Office gave a quick briefing, assuring us that he would keep the races short and we headed off to the start line. As we sailed away from the lee of the dinghy park and club house, it became apparent that this was going to be quite breezy sailing conditions and possibly more than the 20 knots forecast, with white horses on the start line.

The first race got under way, with Paul Grattage out in front, pursued by the rest of the fleet. Paul was first to the windward mark, followed by Ed Tuite Dalton, Pete Slater and Simon Hare. As the race progressed, conditions became more challenging for the fleet and after the second lap a number of boats decided to retire. At the end of the 5 laps, only 3 boats had managed to complete the race, Paul first, Ed second and Nigel James third.

In the strong winds, there were only the same three boats at the start of the second race, with the remainder having headed back to shore. With a port biased line and a competitive start, Paul managed to hit the pin end of the line and had to re-round, letting Ed take the lead for the first lap. On the second lap Paul started to close the gap on Ed and as they went up the beat on the third lap, they were pretty well neck and neck. However as they approached the windward mark Ed was able to call starboard on Paul, who tacked off but was unable to make the mark, allowing Ed a clear lead. Ed went on to win the race, with Paul second and Nigel third.

Both Paul and Ed now had a 1st and a 2nd so it was all to play for in the third and final race. Paul again managed to get pole position, but this time he didn't hit the pin and managed to pull away from Ed and Nigel and maintained his lead over the three laps, giving him a comfortable win to become the winner of the TT, with Ed second and Nigel third.

Although we only had 3 boats complete all three races, the general feeling was that everyone had had a go in the testing conditions and it had been worth running the event.

Overall Results:

PositionHelmModeSailClubR1R2R3Pts
1stPaul GrattageUna2018Shanklin1212
2ndEd Tuite DaltonUna2023Draycote2123
3rdNigel JamesUna2015Marconi3336
4thStephen PellUna1700DraycoteDNFDNCDNC22
4thDerek JamesUna1744DraycoteDNFDNCDNC22
4thPeter SlaterUna1700DraycoteDNFDNCDNC22
4thRichard KnightUna1827DraycoteDNFDNCDNC22
4thSimon HareUna2026DraycoteDNFDNCDNC22
4thJenny BallUna2025DraycoteDNFDNCDNC22
4thBill HurrSport1736DraycoteDNFDNCDNC22

Related Articles

Dart 15s at the Rutland Cat Open
A stark reminder that lake racing is all about calling the shifts and gusts correctly Thirteen Dart 15 travellers joined the one local sailor at Rutland for our May TT as part of the wider Rutland Cat Open comprising six fleets and nearly 70 boats. Posted on 26 May
New date for Gill Cat Open at Grafham
Event has reputation for being extremely sociable, and now it's in July The Gill Catamaran Open at Grafham Water SC has moved from its traditional autumn slot to 15/16th July this year. This event has a reputation for being extremely sociable with highlights including an evening meal, open bar and on-site camping. Posted on 24 May
Dart 15 Summer TT at Marconi
The wettest spring for decades fails to deter an exemplary entry of 33 competitors The Dart 15s are celebrating their forty-fifth anniversary as well as a welcome return to the name Dart 15 this year. Their first Summer TT under both banners was held at Marconi Sailing Club on the beautiful River Blackwater on the Essex East Coast. Posted on 26 Apr
Gill Dart 15 Winter TT at Grafham Water
Near perfect sailing conditions for the 13 hardy competitors The Gill Dart 15 Winter TT at Grafham Water got underway in near perfect sailing conditions for the 13 hardy competitors braving a cool, fresh mainly South-Westerly breeze with a steady 22 knots on the start line. Posted on 16 Mar
Dart 15 Winter TT at Datchet Water
Enough wind forecast to entice nine visitors The Dart 15 Winter Series continued with its fourth Winter TT at Datchet Water Sailing Club. The February TT does not have a great track record - with the last few years lost to either Covid or storm force winds. Posted on 14 Feb
Dart 15 Winter TT at Draycote
The New Year has got off to a great start for the fleet The New Year has got off to a great start for the Dart 15 catamaran fleet. A change of name from Sprint 15 back to Dart 15 confirms this most exciting and versatile of catamarans as the most popular single handed catamaran, bar none, in the UK. Posted on 16 Jan
Sprint 15 Inland and Summer TT at Rutland
Always a popular event in the Sprint 15 calendar The Inland Championships and final Summer TT of the year is always a popular event in the Sprint 15's year-round events calendar. Posted on 27 Oct 2022
Sprint 15 Sport Nationals at Instow
If ever a race mark became Piccadilly Circus, this was it! Forty-Four Sprint 15 sailors registered to race and gathered at the home of the North Devon Yacht Club at Instow on Friday the 30th September for the Sport Nationals - the three day regatta with the highest turnout in over 14 years. Posted on 15 Oct 2022
Sprint 15 TT & Northern Championship at Carsington
Sailors ranging in age from 10 years old to 70+ Fourteen travelling competitors from far and wide and ranging in age from 10 years old to 70 plus joined the one home boat of George Love to compete a six race card over two days at the idyllic setting of Carsington Water in Derbyshire. Posted on 7 Sep 2022
2022 Sprint 15 Nationals at Restronguet
Held at the home of where the class began 44 years ago This year, the Sprint 15 fleet headed to a very special destination for their 2022 National Championship. We were delighted to be hosted by Windsport International and Restronguet Sailing Club - the home of where the class began 44 years ago. Posted on 15 Jul 2022