Kestrel Winter Nationals 2008 - Stewartby Water Sailing Club

Report & Results
26th October

Battling our way in the dark and torrential rain, we could be only heading for one event. Yep, you’ve guessed it; we were heading to Stewartby for the Winter Championships. Well, it wouldn’t be Stewartby if it wasn’t blowing old boots, freezing cold and raining. We weren’t disappointed when we arrived as it was still chucking it down and we, Ian and I, elected to don our dry suits and full sailing gear before we even took the covers off and started to rig the boat. We had our briefing and we set off to the start line across the lake. Then, what’s this; it wasn’t windy and then the sun started to come out and it just got better and better. Were we at the wrong place or just for a change the weather here was going to be good to us, and so it was.

Race 1

Dusty Miller with John Ellingham got a great start helped by the fact that Liam Pike with Alistair Luxford lost their rudder on the start line as the gun went, scattering those around them. John and Dusty were first at the windward mark with Paul and James Jarvey hot on their heels (having re-attached their tiller extension after it detaching on the start line). Dave and Ian Hearsum followed in third place but slowly dropped away from the leading pair and The Jarveys chased Dusty and John all the way to the finishing line but never really troubled them. Ian Rintoul with Richard Anthony battled with Steve and Lin Worf for fourth and fifth places but Ian and Richard held them at bay to the finish line to take fourth place.

Race 2

Dave and Ian Hearsum led at the first 3 marks but were forced back by Dusty and John then by Paul and James. Dusty went on to a comfortable win from the Jarveys, who tried to gain by going up one beat on the opposite side to Dusty and it not paying, with the Hearsums finishing third. This time Liam and Alistair finished fourth having overcome their difficulties from the previous race.

Race 3

This was the best race of the day, Ian Rintoul and Richard Anthony flew up the first beat to lead at the first mark, from Mike Smith and Duncan Wilson. Ian and Richard slowly moved away as the following pack squabbled down the first spinnaker leg for the next four or five positions. Paul and James got themselves up into second with Dusty and John chasing. Liam and Alistair followed getting past Dave and Ian to take up third place and it stayed this way for the next for lap. Ian and Richard must have thought they had it sown up but it was not to be and when they got caught in a lull and missed a wind shift, Paul and James slid past still being chased by Dusty and John. Then whilst Liam and Alistair chased up to Ian and Richard the Hearsums picked up a massive lift across the lake and took them both before the next mark. Liam and Dave fought over third place for the whole of the next lap but the Hearsums just managed to hang on for third place. Dusty and John chased Paul and James but it was the Jarveys who took the win.

Dave Hearsum.