Kestrel Open 2010 - Goldhanger Sailing Club

Reports & Results
12th/13th June

The club’s 11th Kestrel Open, over the weekend of June 12-13, proved to be one of the best ever, with multiple national champions Dusty Miller and John Ellingham once again showing that they are in a different class to the rest of the fleet.

The Lakeside pair have now won the Open on five occasions, three times in the last four years, and next year will be bidding to become the first pair to remain undefeated for three successive years. The Hartleys, the builders of Kestrels from Blithfield, have rivalled Miller and Ellingham over the last decade, but they do not race regularly and did not compete on this occasion.

The familiar sight of that solitary black and white spinnaker leading the pack was once more evident as the five-times national champions won all four races in true champion style, beating Paul Jarvey and Ian Bray, from Hickling Broad, by four points. Goldhanger’s best hope of a medal after three races was Commodore Graham Richmond, crewed by Duncan Wilson, but a poor fourth race pushed them back to fifth. Henry and Christopher Richards, maintained their consistency, however, to snatch eighth place overall.

Goldhanger consistently has the highest turnout of any event, apart from the National Championships, each year. This is due to the commitment and hospitality of the Club members and the wonderful village and sailing water.

Rod Brown-Lee

The Goldhanger event this weekend (the club’s 11th Kestrel open) once again proved to be the premier open on the east coast. With just about perfect sailing weather and terrific hospitality, what more could any Kestrel sailor ask for.

Race 1 saw local sailors Rod Brown-lee with Tristan Bourne and Henry Richards with brother Chris getting the better of the 18 strong fleet to reach the first mark in the lead. Dusty Miller (Alias Travers Perkins) with John Ellingham took their time getting to the front of the pack but once there, they dominated race. Paul Jarvey with Ian Bray fought their way through to second but could never relax with the rest of the pack breathing down their necks. Dave Hearsum with Gareth Fay managed to get past Liam Pike and Alistair Luxford at the last mark to take a rather distant third and fourth.

In race 2 the wind increased to a nice force 3 to 4 and with the majority of the legs being off wind made this a very fast and exciting course. This time Dusty/John got a better start and was never headed to the finish line but less than half way up the first leg, drama hit the rear end of the fleet when a large gust came from nowhere hit the mid to rear end of the fleet sending Rod/Tristan plus Alan/ Julie Barnstaple for an undeserved swim. With the front 6/7boats not even feeling the gust nor knowing about the dramas unfolding until after the race had finished. Paul/Ian had harder task in fending off Graham Richmond/Duncan Wilson, John/Susan Glasspool and Dave/Gareth. In the end Paul/Ian came over the line 2nd with Dave/Gareth a very close third. Graham/Duncan were a good 4th with John/Sue 5th.

This year the evening food was cooked by Henry and Chris Richards from 1563 whilst their father supervised. As has become the custom now, the ladies of the club supplied excellent support, not only with a beautiful array of salads to go with the barbecue food, but some fantastic gateau’s and crumbles as well. I would like to say a big thank you from all the competitors for all those who worked so hard in making it such an enjoyable feast.

Sunday was a bright and sunny morning with less wind and after a sumptuous breakfast, again supplied by the ladies in the galley, we started the 3rd race.

Dusty/John made another good start with John/ Olive Glasspool chasing. In fact John/Olive chased them hard all the way to the finish line but Dusty/John always seemed to keep the upper hand. Paul/Ian tussled with Graham/Duncan, Liam Pike/Alistair Luxford and Paul/Ian eventually gained the upper hand to take third. John Weedon/Gordon Fleming fought well (as they had done in both the Saturday races) from a good start but slowly dropped back to 6th throughout the race.

The wind improved slightly for the fourth and last race. Dusty/John was again untouchable with Dave/Gareth chasing them this time for second place. Paul/Ian were catching them all the way round but suffered from an unusual poor first leg. John/Olive had a lively race with the very close spinnaker reaches not suiting their light weights but held it all together and finished 4th.

Dave Hearsum