29er GP4 at Datchet Water Sailing Club

The 29er GP4 took place over the weekend of 1st & 2nd March 2025 at Datchet Water Sailing Club, but extremely light winds made for a frustrating event, with racing only possible on Saturday.

The day started with just enough breeze to get the fleet launched, but it was unstable and shifty, forcing the race committee to postpone on the water. After an hour's wait, the wind settled enough for the first race to get under way. Conditions were tricky, with big shifts and inconsistent pressure making every decision crucial. The course was split due to a tower in the middle meaning you had to pick a side making it even harder. Eliana and Ed were leading the first race until the last run when Louis and Finn caught up, then as they were fighting, Dirk and Will managed to spot a gust and took the win.

29er GP4 at Datchet Water - photo © 29er Class Association

After the first race, the wind died again, leading to another long delay. Eventually, a slight increase in wind and a drastic wind shift allowed the race committee to squeeze in a second race, which was even more shifty. After a couple of general recalls where lots of the front runners got black flagged including Dirk and Will, Lila and Amelie and a few others (which put them on the back foot as it seemed unlikely the race committee would get five races for a discard) the race was off. The race brought drastic shifts and very slow downwinds but in the end Dylan and Tristan got the win.

With time still left in the day, the race committee attempted to run a third race, but partway through, the wind disappeared completely, leaving boats drifting with no way to finish. After waiting to see if the breeze would return, the race was abandoned, and the fleet was sent back to shore at around 4:30.

29er GP4 at Datchet Water - photo © 29er Class Association

Sunday brought even lighter conditions, with a glassy lake and no sign of wind. The fleet remained onshore under postponement, after many games of cards - Spoons and Irish Snap - where competition was high, the wind never arrived, and racing was officially abandoned.

With only two races completed, the event was decided based on Saturday's results. In the end, Louis and Finn took the overall win, with Sam and Joe finishing second and Eliana and Ed in third. The top girl's were Imogen and Jo while the top junior prize went to Tom and Dan.

29er GP4 at Datchet Water - photo © 29er Class Association

Although the conditions were frustrating, the event was still a good test of light wind sailing and patience (for some). A huge thank you to the race committee, volunteers, and organisers at Datchet Water for their efforts in difficult conditions—hopefully, the next event in Warsash will bring stronger winds and more racing! See you there.

Overall Results: