Junior Championship Race Week
Published 07:07 on 13 Aug 2024
Race day 1 - a great start to the week, with a steady 10 knot southerly blowing down the course, enabling the race team to fit in 3 good races. Each of the fleets had at times, some close racing. Race 1 in the Terra fleet saw just 1 second between 1st and 2nd across the line in the Tera Pro's but both taken on handicap by Ben and Rollo, with Ben leading at the end of day 1.
In the 420's, Ruthie & Beanie lead over Harry & Tristan by taking 3 firsts, continuing the winning theme, in the optimist Jack comes away with 3 firsts also.
The Feva fleet, Valentina crewed by Emma, lead the sister duo of Marina and Rosanna, with each boat never far from the front of the fleet.
In the Regatta fleet at the end of the day Tobias leads, after Daisy's win in race 1 by pulling 2 wins from races 2 and 3.
Day 2 dawns with drizzle and 10-12 knots from the south, by race time were SW and 6 to 8 knots, with more drizzle. A day of clean race starts; in the Open fleet a solid performance by Ruthie & Beanie kept them ahead of Harry and Tristan, whilst sailing a Laser 4.7 Eve pulled off 3 firsts on handicap. In the Feva it was Kipp and Issac's day taking all three races, making them the day 2 leader. In the Tera battles continued; in race 3 with 3 boats finishing a second apart, the top 3 positions well spread among the fleet, with Ben our overall leader.
The Oppi's wins continued to go the way of Jack, except where he gifted a win to Dexter after missing the gate on the upwind leg.
The Regatta fleet continued with close racing with Tobias and Daisy with Tobias getting the upper hand and leading at the end of day 2.
Day 3, a stiff breeze to challenge the sailors; with briefing complete, race team aboard Escort to find no rudder! Back ashore, change the plan, re brief the sailors and rib crews, back afloat, towed to station, AP up, course set, ready to start, just 5 minutes behind schedule! The hectic start for the race team was followed by a hectic sail by all competitors; with many capsizes, equipment failures and retirements, the wind was testing the limits of our young sailors and kept rib crews busy.
In the Open fleet Ruthie and Beanie continue the winning streak with three more wins, Harry switching to Laser 4.7 taking the 2nd spot dropping the light weight Eve to 3rd who struggled with the breeze. Kipp and Issac managed two wins from 3 on the day, maintaining their lead, but slim, Valentina and Emma are just 2 points behind waiting for a slip up.
In the Tera, Ben continues to stamp his mark, but with a break day tomorrow Rollo, just 4 points behind has an opportunity to take the lead. Jack continues, unchallenged in the Oppi with 3 more wins. In the Regatta fleet it went the way of Eve, with 3 wins, moving her to 2nd overall, just 3 points behind Tobias. All still to sail for.
Day 4's racing was cancelled, winds averaging 18 knots and rising, with gusts mid 20's; a day of rest, tomorrows forecast was looking more promising.
Day 5 came with sun and wind, time to shine for the final day's racing, with two races scheduled, the last race finishing on the club line.
The first race of the day was taken by Harry by a good minute ahead of Ruthie and Beanie, in the Feva Valentina/Emma led Kipp & Issac over the finish line by just 7 seconds, leaving the final race to decide the Feva fleet Championship winner. Keeping things tight in the Tera, Ben and Rollo were fighting it out all around the course, when it came to the finish line, there was nothing between them, joint first place.
In the second race of the day Kipp & Issac made a poor start letting Valentina and Emma slip away right from the start, they chased hard to catch up until a capsize with the kite up, the girls now away and clear to establish a commanding lead by the time they reached the club line to finish. Rollo and Ben kept up the fight to finish just 13 seconds apart, Rollo with the win. Jack continued his dominance to take two 1st's in the Oppi, whilst brother Tobias had to settle for 2nd in the only regatta fleet race of the day which was won by Max.
Overall a great week of racing, well done to all competitors; the wind at times challenged your boundaries and built on your experience, your achievement over this weeks championship has been great to see.
A big thank you to all the support, planning by Rob and Hailey, all the ARO's on Escort, old hands and new, thank you Zara. The Rib crews who certainly had their work cut out this week, eyes everywhere attending the many capzises, also to Adam for coaching the Regatta fleet. Ashore our Tally's/Beachmasters, parent helpers and a special thank you to our club Bosun Nigel, who does great work in keeping the club boats together for us to all to use. THANK YOU ALL.
Until the next one . save the date 29th-31st October!
Rob, Hailey and Brian
