K1 open meeting at Datchet Water Sailing Club

The latest K1 Open Meeting was held at Datchet Water SC over the weekend of 12th/13th April. We had 22 entrants which is a new record for a class open meeting, which continues to build on the success of our last Open meeting held last month at Barnt Green SC.

This coupled with glorious sunshine and a variety of wind strengths there truly was something for everyone this weekend and "champagne" conditions for the entrants and spectators to enjoy.

Friday afternoon we held a well-attended training session which was brilliantly run by Simon Hawkes ably assisted by Ian Duke from the home club. The expectant ensemble bathed in the wonderful sunshine, but unfortunately there was very little wind and the reservoir looked more like a mirror than a brilliant expanse of water. No chance of getting out on the water today!

Now there is always more than one way to conduct a training session so we began with a "boat walk" where discussions on settings and adjustments were the order of the day. It is always a learning experience when you listen to how others set up their boats and more importantly what sailing techniques are used in different conditions. We then moved indoors to watch the videos Simon had prepared of various points of sailing and were all able to discuss and critique methods of implementing these when back in our boats.

I learn something every time I attend Simon's training sessions and the feedback from others was extremely positive wanting more training. It is clear that the training Simon has been running for the K1 class has improved the standard of the fleet and the closeness of the racing for us all.

K1 open meeting at Datchet Water - photo © DWSC

Saturday dawned and the sunshine duly delivered again in spades this time with a steady breeze which was due to alter direction and increase in strength. Our PRO Tristan Beckett gave the briefing and explained the proposed courses and three races to be sailed back to back. Datchet Water is a fabulous expanse of water which has Windsor Castle as a backdrop which when the sun reflects of the water cannot help but put a smile on your face.

Tristan set trapezoid / sausage courses for day one with the course all benefitting from the prevailing wind avoiding those parts of the reservoir which were windless.

The fleet were away cleanly for the first race and straight away in the light conditions it was clear that the best course was to hold starboard for a considerable distance and then take the lift on port to the far edge of the reservoir, before picking a track to the windward mark. Graham Butler our current National Champion, followed by the ever consistent Richard Sims and Simon Hawkes definitely all had super race management, choosing each wind shift and subsequent headers perfectly. Slightly further back a group of six boats including Stuart Jones, Andrew Wilson, Geoff King and Julian Leggett were making good choices and trying to keep clear channels to the windward mark. Place changing in the middle of the fleet were numerous. A bad tack or lack of a clear channel could easily cause you to lose at least five places.

Hilly King, Chris Swallow and Jeremy Hudson caught the chasing pack and looked to be in a position to challenge the front runners. The place changes remained minimal until the run to home on the second lap where the wind died causing commotion as to where to head to get the fresh breeze when it filled in, and from which direction. Those who had opted to head to the left of the race course gained significantly and those on the right literally lost ten places as the wind filled from behind as well as from the left hand side. Simon was the first to react and took the lead from Graham and with a shortened course headed for the line. At the finish Simon took the bullet, Graham second, Richard third and Stuart fourth.

The second race was delayed as Tristan set a new course to allow for the change in wind direction and it had now increased to a steady ten knots.

The second race got away with Jeremy, Jason King, and Geoff all reacting to a last minute port end shift. Meanwhile Simon, Richard, Ian Duke and Stuart had opted to take the substantial lift towards Windsor castle. The quality of the fleet is much improved with everyone getting decent starts and able to get their heads out of the boat to make positive choices towards the windward mark. It was no surprise that Jeremy and Simon closely followed by Richard, Ian, Geoff and Stuart were in the leading group when the fleet came together at the windward mark.

However within a very short distance a group of eight or nine boats were all converging on the mark together. Hilly, Jason, Mike Beckett and George Hoskins were at the head of the chasing pack but the reach saw those lighter sailors able to maximise the available wind. Andrew,Phil King, Cedric Jakobsen and Derek Lambert were all making progress and by the leeward mark at least ten boats formed a mid fleet and all could have joined the leading pack. I should mention that Nick Gulliford, Doug Mccuster (who are both new to the class) were having a battle royal with Mark Savage, Simon Etter and Mike Commander, who was racing his first Open event in two years. Mike's beautiful new boat with excellent graphics won the "best turned out boat spot prize", and we hope he will once again join the K1 Open meeting circuit.

The final beat was to prove decisive with a substantial lift this time on the port side of the course catching many of the fleet out. The leaders were all trying to keep in clear air so a number of short tacks were in order to stay on the lift without sacrificing boat speed.

Simon was able to hold a lead with Jeremy in close attendance, however the next pack of six boats were all together and any of them could fill the final podium positions.

At the finish Simon took another bullet, Jeremy second, Richard third and Ian fourth.

K1 open meeting at Datchet Water - photo © DWSC

Race three was to test the race teams patience with a general recall called, followed by a wind gust from a new direction and what appeared to be increased plane traffic from Heathrow Airport. Once the wind direction had stabilised the fleet were away cleanly with Jeremy again showing great speed of the line and heading to the left of the race course closely followed by Geoff, Hilly and Graham. The right side was proving to favour Simon, Richard, Ian and Chris who were lifting significantly but appeared to be in less wind than Jeremy and his chasers. Stuart was unlucky to be first to test the water but he would not be the last over the weekend. He tells me it is still fresh but refreshing!

Once the fleet came together at the windward mark Jeremy had the lead, but ominously Simon and those who had opted right were not far behind. The closeness of the racing was evident for all to see with massive gains and losses throughout the fleet. Graham, Geoff, Jason and Hilly were locked together just behind the leaders when a group of six more boats got a decent puff down the reach to all end up at the leeward mark together. Jason was caught on the outside and dropped at least six places, with Andrew and Chris the beneficiaries. On the final beat to the windward mark Simon had closed the gap to Jeremy and it was clear these two would fight for the top spot, only for Jeremy to have an airliner take his wind away and he was the second sailor to test the water, capsizing to windward.

He was up and away in no time but the damage had been done and Simon had now a lead he was not going to relinquish. At the finish Simon took his third bullet, Jeremy second, Richard third and Ian fourth.

Saturday night the fleet try and get together for a meal and chat about the day's racing and catch up with friends old and new. The K1 fleet is like an extended family as we are all happy to share ideas and aspirations both sailing and off the water. The Ostrich Inn like last year hosted us and we all enjoyed the evening in the medieval environment which I believe Dick Turpin graced with his presence.

K1 open meeting at Datchet Water - photo © DWSC

Sunday forecast was for stronger winds, a change of direction so an enthusiastic fleet set sail keen to enjoy the remnants of the sunshine before the predicted storm arrived.

Tristan altered the courses to a triangle, sausage with increased laps and distance using most of the length of the reservoir.

The first race on Sunday again had to recalled as the fleet were certainly over eager to get clear air and the important lifts up to the windward mark. At the second attempt we all behaved and were able to enjoy the fabulous racing. Simon, Richard and Ian were first to react to the massive lift towards Windsor Castle. Jeremy, Phil and Stuart started well and headed more left which initially lost ground to those on the favoured side.

Mike, Jason and Geoff meanwhile had headed hard port before taking the lift which was very clear half way towards the windward mark. Interestingly Jakes, George, Hilly and Derek continued to the port side of the course opting to stay in clear air so who would be the big winners and losers when the fleet came together. Again the fleet was all in close proximity with Simon, Ian and Richard just able to round the mark in front of the chasing pack. Stuart, Geoff and Jason all took a low passage to the wing mark and they joined the three leaders by the leeward mark.

Meanwhile Jeremy and Phil were leading the chasing group which had another group of six boats all vying for position. By the leeward mark Ian had a reasonable lead and it looked like Simon's dominance would be broken when the fleet headed up for the sausage part of the course. Over the following beat Simon was to slowly reduce Ian's lead and indeed was able to pass him by the windward mark, with the always consistent Richard and Stuart in close attendance.

Most of the smart money would have been to head towards Windsor Castle before finding a track to take you to the windward mark, however Jeremy, Phil, Jason and Geoff tacked off early which actually did them no harm,as when they rounded the windward mark for the last time they had reduced the gap to the leaders and had clear air so a chance to improve positions.

At the finish Simon took the bullet and with it the Open meeting, Ian second, Richard third and Stuart fourth.

Simon Hawkes, overall winner - K1 open meeting at Datchet Water - photo © DWSC

The last race had everything to play for as despite Simon had already won the meeting all the rest of the runner up positions were still in the balance. This time the fleet got away first time and there was a definite consensus as to the best starting positions with most of the fleet opting to be close to the committee boat. The early leaders were Richard and Simon however slightly further to windward Phil and Mike were clearly on a significant lift, going quickly which could easily see them lead at the windward mark. Geoff, Jeremy, Ian, Stuart and Graham were locked together a short distance further back with what appeared like the rest of the fleet all making good progress, all looking for shifts along the racecourse which would give them an advantage.

Nothing really to choose between the groups of boats and it was noticeable how everyone had improved performance throughout the weekend. Richard and Simon were first to the windward mark, but Phil and Mike were less than a boat length in arrears so all to play for down the very fast reaches. Unfortunately for Mike a tangle with Geoff made him the third swimmer for the weekend!

The champagne conditions gave great fun and the opportunity for place changing especially down the offwind legs. Richard continued to lead at the leeward mark and again it was thought maybe he would hold this to the finish, however Simon is not beaten until the gun goes and again slowly up the beat both he and Phil reduced Richard's lead.

By the last windward mark it was anyone's race and although Simon held a slender lead one puff from behind could easily see a new winner.

At the finish Simon took the win, Richard second, Phil third and Jeremy fourth.

What an absolutely fabulous weekend of sailing and the K1 clearly is going from strength to strength.

Simon Hawkes was the deserved winner of the weekend. Best placed Datchet boat outside top five Graham Butler in sixth.

The K1 class have also introduced a "Beat Your Predicted Place" set of trophies to encourage you to outperform your previous positions at Open meetings:
1st Stuart Jones
2nd Julian Leggett
3rd Phil King

Congratulations to all prize winners and the next K1 Open event is in Castle Cove SC. Training will be provided and I would strongly suggest that if possible go along as you will surprise yourself with the benefit Simon can make.

Tristan Beckett, PRO - K1 open meeting at Datchet Water - photo © DWSC

Overall Results:

Stuart Jones - K1 open meeting at Datchet Water - photo © DWSC