ILCA Open at Chew Valley Lake Sailing Club

Chew Valley Lake ILCA Open © Primrose Salt

Twenty-four Lasers and ILCAs sailed around a magnificently shifty course set by race office Andy Jones at CVLSC on Saturday 3rd June. The challenge was increased by 28 Solos making a mobile chicane as they raced in close formation for their Western Championship.

This was inland sailing at its finest with the nor'-nor'-east breeze jumping between 6 and 12 knots and untidily twisting around Knowle Hill before landing on the smooth, sunlit water. Ben Flowers from Paignton SC showed what it takes to be a national level sailor with his ability to power along the course linking the gusts and staying on the right side of the shifts. In race 1 he arrived at the first mark in his ILCA 7 way ahead of the fleet and extended his lead from there, leaving the rest to pick up the pieces. Jon Lewis (BCYC) got it right by heading hard right, catching a lift and avoiding getting blocked by the massed Solos on the third beat. He held on to take second place despite some furiously-hard racing behind him.

Chew Valley Lake ILCA Open - photo © Primrose Salt

In the ILCA 6's Mary Gladwin (CVLSC) gave a brilliant demonstration of sailing nous by coming through to take first place with hard-sailing Julian Shawer (CVLSC) second. This battle continued for the remainder of the meeting as the two ended with equal points and positions (1, 2, 5). In the end the trophy was taken home by Mary only because she beat Julian in the third and final race of the day. Further down the ILCA 6's Lizzie Cooke (CVLSC), recently returned from Canada, took a first and a third, and Helen Martin (CVLSC and CCSC) took a second and a fifth. With Christi Brasher also in the prizes this was a terrific day for the women of Chew Valley Lake SC.

In race 2 Peter Sherwin (CVLSC) in the 7's showed his experience in the challenging conditions to take second place. He was followed by Andrew Southall (CVLSC) crossing the line next with a big smile on his face having held off Gus Cameron (CVLSC) for most of the race. But none of them were going to catch Ben Flowers who ended up with three bullets despite being in fourth position at one point in race 3. Gus Cameron came good in the final race to take second place, having overtaken Peter Sherwin when he stopped to take penalty turns and Andy Southall by a boat length at the final upwind mark.

Chew Valley Lake ILCA Open - photo © Primrose Salt

Overall, it was just a fantastic day's racing on one of the best inland venues in the country, so long as you like it hot, sunny and shifty.

Overall Results: