2010 British Nationals, Christchurch, Britain

27 – 30 August, Christchurch Sailing Club

Daily Report – Day one

Race 1

At the second attempt race one got underway in a very shifty northerly brisk breeze of between 12 to 20 knots. The first beat proved testing as the windward mark was laid very close to the shore. Andy ’Rover’ Rushworth making a welcome return to the OK’s led off the start chased by Terry ‘TopCat’ Curtis. The right-hand side paid and Rushworth led round the windward mark, closely followed by Anthony ‘Titch’ Rich, Curtis and Richard Burton. The first reach was a question of who picked up the gusts and Curtis passed Rich with Mike Edwards pulling through to fourth passing Burton. Rushworth maintained his lead at the gybe mark and maintained it until half way down the second reach. Edwards came through to leeward and caught Curtis by the bottom mark. The next beat proved to be the final leg with some really big shifts, along with varying strength of wind, which kept everyone on their toes. Curtis pulled out a small lead from Rushworth and Rich. Curtis took the bullet due a shortened course and Rich just pipped Rushworth for second. Ed Bradburn picked up a big shift on the right to pull through to fourth with Edwards finishing fifth. Event organiser and local hotshot veteran Chris ‘Dogsbody’ Arnell was nowhere to be seen in tenth. Ian Harris recovered well to finish sixth after capsizing twice at the start which also won him the Brixham Bonnet for the most ridiculous act during the day.

Report by Andy ‘Rover’ Rushworth

Race 2

The second race followed a similar theme with major shifts throughout the race. Gavin Waldron from South Staffs led round the windward mark, closely followed by local has-been, event organiser & general dogsbody Chris Arnell. Julian Burnham took a shift at the top of the beat to round third. Arnell was in front by the wing mark, but Burnham showing good off-wind speed was in front by the leeward mark. Once again the course was shortened after 2 rounds, a big shift from the left brought a raft of boats in from the left hand side, but a shift back shortly before the finish brought Waldron back out in front to take the gun from local hero, organiser & dogsbody Arnell. Curtis picked up some breeze to come in third from Burnham in 4th and Ian Harris in 5th.

Reported by 3rd place Terry ‘TopCat’ Curtis

Day 1 Results

1. Terry Curtis
2. Ian Harris
3. Chris Arnell
4. Ed Bradburn
5. Tony Woods
6. Mike Edwards

Day 2
Race 3

Race 3 started in a 3-4 with a N/W with the course set further from the shore than yesterday. No one can remember anything about the start as it’s been a long day, except that, apparently, the pin end allowed some brave hearts to cross the fleet on port! Mr Dave Evans, a true gent with a classic OK, complete with varnish and a metal mast showed the rest of the carbon and epoxy strewn fleet the way round the windward mark, followed by Tony Woods and the unflappable Curtis. Also showing great speed, Tony Rich and the John Fish (making an appearance after stopping at his new house to do some decorating rather than go sailing). Fish soon showed some class to get himself to 2nd, miles behind Curtis who yet again offered a masterclass in horizon jobs. A close battle between Ed Bradburn and Tony Woods was spoiled by the late starting Harris who nicked 3rd from the others, although being chased by Rushworth, who had looked good until nature called on the reach.

Race 4

After the tea-break, the race officer got the second race of the day away, at the 3rd attempt. The committee boat end was slightly favoured, in contrast to previous races. The race was largely uneventful – Curtis won again, but without the horizon job. The next 5 boats mixed it up, with Waldron and Tony Rich featuring strongly. However, by the finish, Rushworth, sailing a boat that he didn’t build had stayed upright to take 3rd, just in front of Julian Burnham. Resident editor, Ian Harris motored through to take his second second of the event, and stay second overall. So much for needing a new mast and boat….

Special mention needs go to Sir Dave, who after having had his fantastic first race, decided to jettison himself out of his boat at the windward mark, slightly damaging his second race result, and most of the boats around him.

Results at end Day 2 (with discard)

1. Terry Curtis 3pts
2. Ian Harris 10 pts
3. Andy Rushworth 12 pts
4. Ed Bradburn 14 pts
5. Gavin Waldron 17 pts
6. Tony Rich 17pts

Day 3

Day 3 dawned with the forecasted 30 knots gradually building, resulting in some of the more inexperienced making what would finally turn out to be a wise decision. After a postponement the 5th race got underway in about 18 knots with a short chop on top of the swell that had built up overnight. John Meadowcroft crossed the fleet making a guest appearance in Jon Fish’s boat as Fish was called away on business, but Curtis had recovered from being shut out at the start to have a short lead over Rushworth by the first mark. Ian Harris and Keith Byers were very close behind. Tony Woods, Burnham and Waldron passed Meadowcroft on the first reach and stayed in that order to the bottom of the triangle.

On the second beat Richard Burton picked all of the shifts and closed up on the leading pack and by the bottom of the run there was a close pack of 6 boats chasing Curtis, showing his superiority and pulling away. By the top of the second beat Curtis led, followed by Rushworth, Harris, Byers and Waldron, With Burton and Woods close behind. At this point the forecast wind kicked in to around 25 knots, with the fleet planing into the swell. Ian Harris had a wobbly moment into a big wave & took a swim which cost him dear, whilst Rushworth had a brief swim at the gybe mark, but had enough of a lead not to be caught by Byers. Curtis sailed away revelling in the conditions with Rushworth holding out to second. Waldron overhauled Byers with 2 tacks to the finish to snatch 3rd, with Richard Burton holding on to 5th & Tony Woods coming in 6th.

Results at end Day 3 (with discard)

1. Terry Curtis 4 pts
2. Andy Rushworth 14 pts
3. Ian Harris 16 pts
4. Gavin Waldron 20 pts
5. Ed Bradburn 23 pts
6. Tony Woods 24 pts

Race 6 was abandoned by the race officer due to the wind increasing to 32 knots

Report by Gavin ‘Two Tons’ Waldron

Following two previous great days sailing and night’s entertainment this was another great day at Christchurch Sailing Club! The final day beckons tomorrow with the places still up for grabs.

Day 4
Race 1

Lighter winds and sunshine were the order of the day. The fleet getting away on the first gun under black flag. Places changed constantly with shifty breeze finally filling in from the left side. Andy Holmes popped out which resulted in a healthy lead around the first mark followed by Martin Bower and Tony Woods. Setting off on the first reach Bower gybed first and headed towards the bottom mark taking Holmes to lead. With again lots of place changes on the second beat, sailing the shifts paid. Bower remained in front at the windward mark and headed down the run with Holmes still maintaining second place. Edwards had been picking up places and was up to third. On the run Edwards had more pace and rounded the bottom mark in the lead. The final still shifty beat was a test of nerves, with Edwards covering the fleet successfully to take the gun, with Holmes sailing very well to snatch second, Bower third, Curtis fourth and Tony Woods fifth.

Report by Martin Bower

Race 2

The fleet approached the line on a black flag start with the fleet spread right across the line. Those that chose the pin looked good off the line, but those that hitched across to play the middle right looked favoured as the race progressed.

In the last third of the beat the pressure came from the right and newcomer to the fleet but a sailor with an International pedigree Robert ‘Load & Lairy’ Campbell-Gray steamed in on starboard to round first. Tony Woods played the middle and rounded second with Ian Harris 3rd. Those that had chosen the left were looking very sorry for themselves with Curtis rounding second last. Woods managed to gain an overlap on the wing mark to lead, with Campbell-Grey still second and Harris and Ed Bradburn catching in more breeze. On the second reach many recovered with the breeze filling in from behind. Woods maintained his lead but the distance had been reduced massively.

On the second beat, Harris nailed every shift to pass Woods and Rushworth worked his way to second. On the run, the calculators were out with 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th positions all up for grabs. On the last beat the pressure was telling with positions changing with every shift. Harris kept his cool to take the gun and second overall, with Woods passing Rushworth on the final shift to second, with Bradburn 4th and 71 year old Alan Atkin an excellent 5th. A truly testing day that stretched the nerves of the entire fleet.

Report by Tony Woods

In the end it was a convincing third consecutive National Championship win for Terry Curtis. Ian Harris showing excellent form and deservedly coming second, with Andy Rushworth returning to the OK in third.

This was a truly memorable four days of sailing and social, made possible by efforts and energy of Chris Arnell. Chris a member of Christchurch SC and OK sailor made all the difference by planning a great event helped by his junior team of volunteers and others. The race team pulled of a miracle under very testing conditions and must be thanked for their efforts (in dealing with Rodney too!).

Thank you Christchurch Sailing Club on behalf of the OK fleet for looking after us and ensuring that we all had such a great time. Hopefully we’ll be back!