420 GP3 at Shoreham Sailing Club

420s at Shoreham © Warwick Baker / www.warwickpics.com

On June 18/19 Shoreham SC hosted the 420 GP3 where we were joined by the Merlins. In the midst of exam season it was great to see fifteen 420s turn up for the 6 race series. The sun was shining on Saturday morning but not much breeze.

We launched in hope and suddenly the wind shifted hard left and picked up to 17 gusting 22 knots from the north. The first race got going and immediately Ollie Meadowcroft & Oscar Cawthorne made use of the shifty conditions gaining the upper hand on the right-hand side of the beat, therefore taking the lead and creeping around the windward mark as there was lots of adverse tide. They were followed by Alice Davis & Oliver Rayner and Joe Warwicker & Hugo Valentine making use of their local knowledge. On the second and third beat the gap between the top 5 was closed and it was all to play for. First place was taken by Ollie & Oscar second Imogen Wade & Teddy Dunn, while Joe and Hugo picked up third.

420s at Shoreham - photo © Warwick Baker / www.warwickpics.com

For the second race we saw the wind build more to 22 knots gusting 25, the first beat was close but again Ollie & Oscar the kings of heavy wind built up a gap and rounded first followed closely by Alice & Oliver, Imogen & Teddy and Joe & Hugo. It was great to have a triangle, sausage course as the fleet went screaming out on the reach. The increase in wind caused a few teams to go swimming but again tackling the tricky conditions Ollie & Oscar took first followed by Alice & Oliver and Imogen & Teddy took third by just creeping past William Bailey & Matthew Rayner on the short final leg. With the Merlin fleet in chaos (they need to do more practice!) we had to go ashore.

Going into day 2 with a similar forecast predicted Ollie & Oscar were leading on 2 points, Imogen & Teddy second, closely followed by Alice & Oliver. It was all to play for! For the third race the wind dropped off and with the tide pushing over the line the fleet was recalled, the second start was clean and the fleet was very close up the first beat. Ollie & Oscar were first round the mark closely followed by Megan Farrer & Ellie Rush and Haydn Sewell & Gabs Burlton. For the last part of the race the wind started to build and Ollie & Oscar still led, but Haydn & Gabs went up the right side of the third beat and overtook Megan & Ellie. Ollie & Oscar lead through the line followed by Megan & Ellie and Haydn & Gabs.

420s at Shoreham - photo © Warwick Baker / www.warwickpics.com

For race 4 the right-hand side of the beat paid substantially and Haydn & Gabs rounded the mark first followed by Megan & Ellie and Alice & Oliver. By the end of the first lap Alice & Oliver had closed the gap to Megan & Ellie and at the second windward mark Alice & Oliver took second and were on a march. By the end of the close reach they took the win followed by Haydn & Gabs and Joe & Hugo who gave us a masterclass on the reach to reach gybe and took third as they overtook Megan & Ellie and Ollie & Oscar on the final lap.

For the last race the wind was up and down making it hard to choose what rake settings to run and with tight points in the midfield getting a good race was crucial for everyone. Rake 3 paid off for Imogen & Teddy who led the first two laps and closely followed by Haydn & Gabs and Ollie & Oscar. On the last beat Ollie & Oscar crept past Imogen & Teddy making use of the shifty conditions and taking the win, with Imogen & Teddy in second and Haydn & Gabs in third.

420s at Shoreham - photo © Warwick Baker / www.warwickpics.com

Overall Ollie & Oscar took the win counting only firsts, followed by the very consistent Alice & Oliver and Imogen & Teddy taking third. Well done to Megan & Ellie who were first Girls and William & Matthew who took first U17. Also shout out to George Lance & Rhys Griffiths who stuck out there and got the endeavour award. Well done to Ollie & Oscar winning the egg throwing contest, showing the way to the Merlin fleet, and lastly thank you to Shoreham Sailing Club for hosting such a great event. We had a great weekend.

Overall Results: