Midland Championship 2009 - Stewartby Water Sailing Club

Report & Results
23rd/24th May

Race One started with very little wind but picked up later in the race. Dusty Miller and John Ellingham in 1558 managed to get clean air and got away from the rest of the field. Coming second in 1548 ‘Fatboy and Slim’ was helm Paul Jarvey giving a lesson to crew Kev Jones; at least the name of the boat seemed appropriate. Not far behind was the first of the family boats, 1574 Dave Hearsum and daughter Kate. Then came the start of a close battle which was to last all weekend, between 1091 Duncan Wilson and Tim Browning and 1511 Steve and Lin Worf. On this occasion the spoils went to 1091. Next were father and son combinations of 1553 Ian and Harry Rintoul, followed by Kevin and Haydn Edwins in 1544. 1551 boat of Mike Smith and Peter Billington was next.

The wind disappeared for Race Two and sailing to the windward mark it seemed as you were with 1558 just leading from 1548 and 1574, then the rest of the fleet found a bigger puff of wind from somewhere and all converged on the first mark together with 1551 rounding first from 1558 with 1548 being forced to round it in last place. 1548 then veered off from the rest of the fleet to try and find wind; everybody else tried to do likewise before the race settled down to a battle between 1558 and 1574, with 1548 in close attendance. Eventually 1558 Back in Black II got clear to win again with Dave and Kate Hearsum coming second and 1548 Fatboy and Slim coming third. The battle between 1511 Steve and Lin Worf and 1091 Duncan Wilson and Tim Browning was won on this occasion by 1511.

Race Three started with a little more wind and Back in Black II soon got into their rhythm and found clean air all the way to the finish to make it three wins out of three for Dusty Miller and John Ellingham, behind it was close for second and third between 1548 Fatboy and Slim and 1574 Breaking Wind with 1548 holding on to second place until the penultimate mark where a mistake by the crew of Fatboy and Slim jibing with the spinnaker allowed Breaking Wind to capitalise and overtake and hold on to take second place with 1548 taking third place. The close battle behind was still going on between 1091, 1511 and 1553, with Steve and Lin Worf gaining fourth from 1091 and 1553.

Later that evening, during the après sail, everyone showed their generosity by helping to raise £87.40 for the local air ambulance. Well done, and thank you.

On Sunday, everyone awoke – some more gingerly than others – to very little wind and it seemed unlikely any racing would go ahead. However, the race eventually started with Back in Black II battling with Breaking Wind and Fatboy and Slim before eventually finishing in that order. The race directly behind between Steven and Lin Worf and Duncan Wilson and Tim Browning was gate-crashed by Ernie Miller and daughter Gail who came in fourth. Duncan and Tim came fifth ahead of Steve and Lin, which was enough to give them (Steve & Lin) fourth overall. Golddigger and then Granny Apple completed the final race positions. With the wind not improving racing was abandoned for the day, with everyone retiring to the club house for the prize giving and deservedly receiving the Midland Championship Trophy was Dusty Miller and John Ellingham in 1558 Back in Black II.

Kevin Jones.