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RS Sailing 2021 - LEADERBOARD

Europe dinghy UK Inland Championships at Draycote Water Sailing Club

by Steve Whitby 14 Sep 2021 18:30 BST 11-12 September 2021
Europe dinghy UK Inland Championships at Draycote Water © Claire Giles

For those arriving on the Friday evening it was a drizzly but warm affair, but Saturday (race day 1) arrived with a very decent F2-4 and bright skies that cleared to streets of cumulus as the day wore on.

An outer trapezoid course was set for the Europes (with Finns on the inner loop), with the Race Office standing for no messing about and opting for the U flag from the off.

Race 1 saw a battle for the pin end of a long start line followed by a beat up to the first mark, set quite close under the West dam making it hard for even the class experts to predict the shifts. With a decent breeze at the committee boat the O flag had gone up from the off, allowing unlimited pumping; the outer loop downwind leg was actually rather light though and it took a time for the fleet to realise that pumping was allowed... once they had then the experienced pumpers started to really make some some gains and a pattern started to emerge with Steve Cockerill taking line honours, followed by Sarah Cockerill and Hector Cisneros.

Race 2 followed the pattern with Steve and Sarah establishing a lead early on, race three mixed it up a little though with Tim Laws taking line honours after some close racing to break Steve Cockerill's clean sweep.

Race 4 saw an improved start from some of the fleet stalwarts with Jon Tweedle and Steve Whitby (unknowingly ruled UFD) all pushing the front runners for a time before slipping back and letting the more consistent sailors through.

Race 5 was another great start from Jon, leading the fleet right up to the third mark but unable to hold on as the race progressed, leaving Steve C to bag another victory with Emma Pearson (always there or thereabouts) close behind and Jon a very creditable third.

There were notable moments of glory for most of the fleet through the day (not necessarily apparent in the results), George Cormack, Kat Walker, Richard Major, Luke Lazell and many others held their own for good periods against front runners.

As you'd expect from such an experienced and well-mannered class there were very few incidents all day; three boats UFD, three swims downwind (failed pumping), one fantastic save (Harry!) and one astonishing incident when Luke speared Richard Eagleton's masthead between mast and halyard tail (releasing the halyard lock and dropping Richard's sail!).

Five races back-to-back was a pretty gruelling day, despite the fine conditions. Many of the fleet were camped out on the car park and spent the evening cooking, chatting and chilling.... though it seemed that everyone had turned in by 9pm!

Sunday dawned with zero breeze and with that looking set for the day, racing was abandoned and the results declared.

Adam Catlow scored consistently well to retain his Youth title, and a notable mention for Gareth Tweedle, scoring a creditable seventh, as well as class newcomer Hector Cisneros who put a really strong and consistent performance to finish third overall (just one point ahead of Tim Laws).

Overall Results:

PosSail NoHelmClubR1R2R3R4R5Pts
1st414Stephen CockerillStokes Bay Sailing Club11‑2114
2nd399Sarah CockerillStokes Bay SC2232‑59
3rd415Hector CisnerosDatchet Water S.C3543‑715
4th407Tim LawsHelford River Sailing Club8314‑1016
5th332Emma PearsonStokes Bay Sailing Club745‑8218
6th412Harry KennedyLee on Solent4‑775420
7th406Gareth TweedleEmsworth SC5‑12661128
8th403George CrammondStaunton harold sailing club‑10887629
9th249Steve WhitbyGt Yarmouth & Gorleston9612(UFD)936
10th377Richard EagletonBexhill Sailing Club6(DNC)1114839
11th248Joe Penhaul SmithStaunton Harold SC‑1799121242
12th305Adam CatlowLeigh & Lowton SC‑15111091444
13th319Jonathan TweedleCastle Cove SC / RAFSA‑20171413347
14th351Richard MajorGWSC13101510(UFD)48
15th112George CormackDale YC141317‑181357
16th358Kathryn WalkerCotswold Sailing Club‑181613111858
17th122Giles Hortonhawley lake1114‑19191559
18th151Mark SwallowTudr Sailing Club1615‑20161764
19th416Luke Lazell 12(DNC)1615UFD67
20th95Clare GilesGunfleet(NSC)1818171669
21st222Ben TudorPapercourt SC1919‑21201977
22nd388Mandy HortonGrafham(DNC)DNCDNCDNCDNC96
22nd405Philip MuddemanLSSC(DNC)DNCDNCDNCDNC96

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