Allen 29er GP2 at the Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy - Day 1

Allen 29er GP2 at Weymouth © www.digitalsailing.co.uk

Sunshine and 18 knots of wind greeted the fleet on day one of the Allen Grand Prix 2. With 71 boats entered the fleet was split into blue and yellow flights for a day of qualifying races.

Aled Llewellyn-Jones/Ben Bradley (3066) got off to a good start accelerating off the yellow fleet start line but dropped back to sixth with Ethan Gerrell/Tom Barnes (834) taking the first race win of the regatta. Blue fleet race one started well for Ollie Evans/Ben Hutton-Penman (2811) pushing out from the middle of the line to take a commanding lead which they maintained taking the first blue race win. First placed girls in race one were Sophie Dennis/Emma Wells (2340) with a fifth in yellow flight. Given the strong winds gusting up to 20 at times, the safety fleet was kept pretty busy and there was a fairly constant stream of boats returning to shore.

Ollie/Ben (2811) enjoyed the wind powering to a second bullet in blue flight race two. Monique Vennis-Ozanne/Jess Jobson (2849) pushed ahead of Sophie/Emma (2340) to take fourth and first girls in race two.

By race three the wind had moved right and dropped to between 14-16 knots. The boats at the front in yellow flight were very close together with Aled Llewellyn-Jones/Ben Bradley (3066) leading at the first gate just ahead of Tom Storey/Ben Willett (2982). Tom/Ben managed to get past 3066 to take the bullet in yellow race three. In blue flight 222, Ben Mueller/Freddie Lonsdale (2900) in disguise, established a storming lead by the first gate which they held to win by the traditional 29er country mile. Monique/Jess (2849) held on as first girls taking a third in race three.

Race four yellow flight was won by the overnight first mixed boat Emily Mueller with shotgun crew Louis Johnson (2234). Ben Mueller/Freddie Lonsdale (222) won the blue flight race four and took the overnight lead. Overnight first girls are Monique Vennis-Ozanne/Jess Jobson (2849).

Five more races are carded for Sunday and with points still tight at the top of the leaderboard it could be an interesting day!

Results after Day 1: