Inaugural K6 Club Championship at Oxford Sailing Club
by John Tabor 31 Oct 2021 17:27 GMT
23 October 2021
K6 Club Championship at Oxford Sailing Club © Ashley Strong & Chris Pinner
All 10 Oxford based K6s entered the inaugural K6 Club Championship on 23 October, four races, three to count, one morning race and three back to back in the afternoon.
Race officer, Chris Pinner, set a wind leeward course across the reservoir taking account of a light south, south-westerly wind, setting the committee boat at the normally pin end of the start line.
Was it competitive? You bet! Race 1, two boats over the line as the gun went, Machori Brown and George Barker taking full advantage of free air and an unimpeded track further down the line to lead the field to the top mark. The rest, having sorted themselves out, chased hard, closed the gap slightly but could not haul in Machori and George who took the win comfortably. Second was the tried and tested partnership of John Hall and Martin Gibson with Mike Trueman and James Bennett third closely followed by Tim Williams and Bob Clement and John Tabor and Grant Blake. Derek and Elaine Buchanan would perhaps have come higher up in the order if it wasn't for Derek missing his toe strap tacking to the top mark and briefly parting company with the boat!
Thankfully wind hadn't dropped as racing resumed after a short lunchbreak. Race 2, a more evenly spread start line saw a tight race with the lead changing several times as wind pressure varied across the course. The final downwind was just edged by John and Grant closely followed by John and Martin, Mike and James and Macholy and George.
Race 3, an even start once more and once more a tight race at the front. John and Grant lead at the top mark closely followed by a group of four K6s. The variable wind pressure again meant that the lead changed with Tim and Bob coming from fifth to take the win followed in by the consistent John and Martin, John and Grant and Macholchy and George. Mike and James retired the race with a jammed kite.
All down to the last race. Lap one, clean start, top mark, John and Grant lead with the usual suspects chasing hard. John and Grant held the lead to the final downwind when, choosing a gybe set found themselves over hauled by those who had kept to the right of the course. Who would take it? It was a close one... Tim and Bob took the win and, with two wins, the win overall. Mike and James came in second, Derek and Elaine third, John and Martin fourth and John and Grant fifth.
Helm of the day? Definitely 15 year old Macholy Brown with a win and two 4th counting. Credit goes to Richard Payne and crew recording four seventh places with 13 year old sails, we all know what Richard wants for Christmas! Good event, kept in order by Chris Pinner and team. We now look forward to the K6 open meeting at Oxford next year to be held over weekend of 2 and 3 April.
Overall Results:
| Pos | Helm | Crew | Sail No | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | Pts |
|---|
| 1 | Tim Williams | Bob Clements | 189 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
| 2 | John Hall | Martin Gibson | 159 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 6 |
| 3 | Mike Trueman | James Bennett | 214 | 3 | 3 | RTD | 2 | 8 |
| 4 | John Tabor | Grant Blake | 122 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 9 |
| 5 | Malachy Brown | George Barker | 105 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 9 |
| 6 | Derek Buchanan | Elaine Buchanan | 172 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 13 |
| 7 | Richard Payne | | 197 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 21 |
| 8 | Paul Owen | Amy Owen
Oliver Owen | 124 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 24 |
| 9 | Gareth Griffiths | Emma Griffiths | 166 | DNS | 9 | 8 | DNS | 28 |
| 10 | Chris Pugh | Troels Henrickson | 115 | 8 | DNS | DNS | DNS | 30 |