Kestrel Open 2008 - Goldhanger Sailing Club

Report & Results
21st/22nd June

The 21st of June saw eighteen Kestrels assembled at Goldhanger Sailing Club for their first visit of the year to the River Blackwater, including entries from as far afield as the Solent and the Tay. Always likely to attract the largest open meeting turnout, this was also the last opportunity to check out the competition before the National Championships in a month's time.

Saturday brought grey skies and docile conditions, with force two over flat water once the estuary had flooded. Some were caught out by the first close reaching start. Dusty Miller / John Ellingham and Liam Pike / Ali Luxford carried spinnakers inshore in the hope of an advantage against the last of the incoming tide. Paul / James Jarvey found the going better in deeper water with more breeze, closely pursued by Dave Hearsum / Gareth Fay. With the advantage of clear air these two stretched away, leaving Dusty Miller unable to close up. The flat water conditions meant that for the first time no places were won or lost due to navigational error. Ian Rintoul / Richard Anthony led the next bunch, to finish fourth ahead of the chasing pack.

The start of the second race saw several boats embarrassed by the ebbing tide and drawn over the line while others were luffed out of contention, leaving several boats having to backtrack or make amends before proceeding. Paul Jarvey emerged ahead, this time accompanied by Dusty Miller. Dusty took the lead downwind and held it to the finish. These two took full advantage of the slightly increased breeze to build a lead that left them untouchable in first and second places overall. After touching the distance mark in the initial melee, Dave Hearsum was left with significant ground to recover. Fortunately with good speed upwind he was eventually able to gain on and overtake Rod and Jenny Brown-Lee. Ian Rintoul held Hearsum off to the finish, placing these two in fourth and third respectively. The Brown-Lee's sailing consistently placed sixth overall, and first home boat, just behind Liam Pike and Alistair Luxford sailing the highest placed mark one boat. The Bremners visiting from Royal Tay YC placed thirteenth overall, never quite recovering from the only capsize of the event.

After a traditional evening of Goldhanger hospitality, with over fifty people packed into the clubhouse, Sunday dawned to bright sunshine and blustery conditions, which promised to wreak havoc. The race officer elected to save the fleet from challenging wind against tide conditions in the shallows, with severe weather warnings issued for the whole region. Everyone left satisfied with a good day's work on Saturday and the promise of an even warmer welcome next year when the club celebrates its 50th anniversary.

Gareth Fay.