Swallow National Championships at Sea View Yacht Club

After an overcast passage race from Itchenor the previous day won by Darter (Tony Glover), the eastern Solent was at it's sparkling best for the first day of the four race Championship series over the weekend of June 30th & July 1st, superbly hosted by Sea View Y.C. The Force 3/4 breeze was shifting as much as 50º during the first race which taxed PRO Jeremy Cooper and the 21 competitors in equal measure. Blue Phantom (Chris Creak) got to the windward mark ahead of Darter and Goosander (Nigel Pattison) and went on to establish a comfortable lead which was then much reduced by a spinnaker problem at the final leeward mark. The vagaries of the breeze in the second half of the final beat cost them the lead elevating Jacana (Richard Keane - Aldeburgh S.C.) to the front with Goosander second and Blue Phantom third holding off a strong challenge from Migrant (Chris Fox), which at one late stage looked as if they might have seized victory.

The fleet got away cleanly in a building Force 4 for the second race held nearer to the main shipping channel. Jacana and Darter started side by side and arrived at the windward mark in that order. Jacana was never to be headed, giving a masterly display of tactical control and boat speed in the strong breeze. Migrant advanced steadily to come home second and Serenade (Hugh Kemlo) took third. At the end of the first day Jacana looked to be running away with the event, but what a difference a day (or an excellent Championship dinner) makes!

The forecast WSW F 3/4 never looked like happening but the direction appeared stable enabling the PRO to get the fleet away on time for the third race. Darter led up the first beat in the light airs but overstood allowing Buccaneer (Richard Fleck) to round first with Harrier (Ray Simmonds - Seaview YC) close behind. These three then inched their way inshore in the faltering breeze and out of the tide whilst another group led by Migrant took the direct route and were ultimately rewarded with northerly zephyrs and a tide change to sneak home first - 20 minutes ahead of the next boat! Several of the other contenders were outside the time limit. A suggestion of a south-easterly breeze enabled the PRO to get the final race underway. Darter took the start from the pin end and was not headed during the shorter race that was sensibly finished after just a triangle and beat. Boomerang (Jeremy Buckwell) and Solitude (Andrew Reid) followed.

Overall Results:

More Information:

• YachtsandYachting.com Swallow Page