Inland Championship at Carsington Sailing Club
by Brian Earl 28-30 May 2016
The forecast for the 3 day, 9 race, event was for light breezes, with possible gale force gusts for Monday.
On Saturday the wind was so light and variable, with calms, that nearly every boat was first or last at some stage. In the first race Chris Davies & Lindsey Bennet took the correct route through the shifts to lead from Brian & David Earl, which they held to the end, with Richard Smith & Stuart Reid recovering to third. In the second race the pin end was favoured, but within seconds a large shift changed everything. Tim Greenaway & Mick Steer came through to lead with many place changes behind especially at the windward mark where the wind was particularly fluky. Earl overtook near the end and Alistair Reynard was third. In race three there were more calms, but Nick Arran & Andy Cross established a lead and were difficult to catch. Eventually Smith and Earl overtook to finish a nervous race.
Sunday was still light and variable, but without the calms. One or two stronger downward gusts were enough to cause a capsize. Smith, now crewed by his wife, Kathryn, eventually won a close battle in the fourth race from Earl, Arran and Davies. In the fifth race Smith and Brian Dixon & Jon Clements established a big lead after a large shift near the windward mark. However the lead was halved on the run and Earl overtook on the next beat due to another shift. Earl mistook the finish allowing Smith to win with Dixon third from Arran. Smith was now in the groove for the sixth race and was not headed, with Earl eventually wining a close battle with Reynard.
Fortunately there no gales on Monday, but the wind was still a lively force 5 by the end. Dixon did a flyer and was first round in race seven. Gradually he was overhauled by Smith and Earl and then Reynard and Davies. The Smith win meant Earl had to win the last two. Both held the lead in race 8 with many shifts and tacks, but Smith was just ahead at the end and won the event. Dixon & Reynard were third and fourth in the race. In an increasing wind, race nine was won by Davies from Dixon, Reynard and Greenaway.
Overall Results:
1. Richard & Kathryn Smith, 10 pts
2. Brian & David Earl, 12 pts
3. Alistair Reynard & Lindsey Bennet, 26 pts
4. Chris Davies & Lorraine Ball, 27 pts
5. Brian Dixon & Jon Clements, 28 pts
On Saturday the wind was so light and variable, with calms, that nearly every boat was first or last at some stage. In the first race Chris Davies & Lindsey Bennet took the correct route through the shifts to lead from Brian & David Earl, which they held to the end, with Richard Smith & Stuart Reid recovering to third. In the second race the pin end was favoured, but within seconds a large shift changed everything. Tim Greenaway & Mick Steer came through to lead with many place changes behind especially at the windward mark where the wind was particularly fluky. Earl overtook near the end and Alistair Reynard was third. In race three there were more calms, but Nick Arran & Andy Cross established a lead and were difficult to catch. Eventually Smith and Earl overtook to finish a nervous race.
Sunday was still light and variable, but without the calms. One or two stronger downward gusts were enough to cause a capsize. Smith, now crewed by his wife, Kathryn, eventually won a close battle in the fourth race from Earl, Arran and Davies. In the fifth race Smith and Brian Dixon & Jon Clements established a big lead after a large shift near the windward mark. However the lead was halved on the run and Earl overtook on the next beat due to another shift. Earl mistook the finish allowing Smith to win with Dixon third from Arran. Smith was now in the groove for the sixth race and was not headed, with Earl eventually wining a close battle with Reynard.
Fortunately there no gales on Monday, but the wind was still a lively force 5 by the end. Dixon did a flyer and was first round in race seven. Gradually he was overhauled by Smith and Earl and then Reynard and Davies. The Smith win meant Earl had to win the last two. Both held the lead in race 8 with many shifts and tacks, but Smith was just ahead at the end and won the event. Dixon & Reynard were third and fourth in the race. In an increasing wind, race nine was won by Davies from Dixon, Reynard and Greenaway.
Overall Results:
1. Richard & Kathryn Smith, 10 pts
2. Brian & David Earl, 12 pts
3. Alistair Reynard & Lindsey Bennet, 26 pts
4. Chris Davies & Lorraine Ball, 27 pts
5. Brian Dixon & Jon Clements, 28 pts
