June - July 2003 (8/6/03) (28/6/03) (6/7/03) (13/7/03) (20/7/03) (27/7/03) (NSSA)
Local
Sailors help Kent win Team Prize
Kent Schools Sailing
Association entered a strong team of young sailors aged 8 to 18 in the recent
National Schools Sailing Association Annual Regatta, this year held at the
Weymouth and Portland Sailing Academy in Dorset. Of the 34 participants in the
Kent team, ten were selected from Downs Sailing Club. A total of 350
youngsters, sailing 300 boats representing 22 counties took part in this
week-long event, making it the biggest youth sailing regatta of the year.
The week began sunny and
bright, with perfect sailing winds, and produced close exciting racing in all
the different fleets during the five scheduled races over Monday and Tuesday.
However, the weather began to break on Wednesday, and the final race on
Thursday, and both races scheduled for Friday were cancelled due the
strengthening winds. However, the participants were kept busy on Friday trying
to prevent their tents from being blown across Portland Harbour in the gale
force storm.
Downs Cadets represented
Kent in three of the six fleets. The largest fleet was the Topper single-handed
class, with 123 entries. The three Downs sailors in this fleet, Robert Waite,
Sam Rowe and Katie Restal sailed consistently well throughout the week. Robert
started his campaign with a second place in the first race, and never finished
lower than 9th, to finish 5th overall. Sam and Katie also had consistent
results at the front of the fleet, finishing 7th and 10th overall respectively,
the top three results from the nine Kent entries in this class and an excellent
performance in such a large fleet. Three Downs sailors also figured prominently
at the front of the Olympic Laser class as well. This time it was Robert's
elder brother Jonathan Waite who was the leading Kent competitor in the fleet,
also finishing 5th overall, closely followed by James Coooke in 7th and Rory
Sharvill in 9th. These three had to work especially hard to maintain their positions
towards the end of the week when the winds became heavier.
The Fast Handicap fleet was
dominated by the Kent Team "29'ers" of Downs cadet Chris Catt
crewed by Medway sailor Mark Heather, and Jonathan White, crewed by Alex
Cruttenden. Chris, sailing in his last NSSA event before going to University,
came second in the opening race, then showed his liking for the building winds
through the week by winning the remaining six races, with his Kent team mates
in second place, pushing him all the way. Behind them in this fleet, sisters
Clare and Helen Stubbs had some close racing with fellow Downs sailor Mitch
Webb, crewed by Laura Alldis from Tonbridge in their RS 200's, finishing 13th
and 16th respectively. All local sailors showed great skills and tenacity by
completing the final race run on Thursday in the strengthening wind, when over
half of the competitors retired and returned ashore.
On Wednesday, a number of
special trophy races were held in challenging wind conditions. In the
"All-comers" 3 hour pursuit race, Team manager Steve Restall, sailing
with Mitch Webb in the RS 200 were narrowly beaten on the finish line into
second place by Steve's rival Team Manager from Derbyshire. Each County were
also allowed to enter one or two teams in the prestigious Mount Haes Trophy,
which was sailed in heats using six identical Dart 16 catamarans. Chris Catt
and Mark Heather, having won their heat easily, were unlucky to be knocked out
in the semi-finals. The second Kent Team of Rory Sharvill and James Cooke went one
better however, winning through to the final, where they were narrowly beaten
into a very creditable second place by the Yorkshire Team they had beaten
in their Semi-final race.
When all the results were
added together, the consistency of the Kent Team was rewarded
with the overall Team Trophy being awarded to them, which the County last
won in 1994.
The blustery South-Westerly that had been blowing all day had begun to subside by the start of Tuesday's race. 11 boats took to the water to contest the Tuesday Points Series, at the start the Buzz of Simon Cory and Annie Smith was first off and by the end of the first lap had established a good lead which they held until the finish. Behind them the Contender of Nigel Cureton, the Hornet of Eric Styles and the Buzz of Chris Dutton had a close contest which was eventually won on handicap by Dutton. Towards the end of the race the wind began to die away and the slow handicap fleet began to struggle against the tide. Roger Phillips won the battle of the Laser 2000s after pulling away from the Albacore of John Wilkinson.
Results: Fast handicap 1st Simon Cory and Annie Smith (Buzz) 2nd Chris Dutton and Martin Wyman (Buzz) 3rd Eric and Sarah Styles (Hornet) 4th Nigel Cureton (Contender) 5th Jeremy Blackman and Rick Clemence (Buzz) 6th Noel Padley and Andy Russell (RS400) Slow Handicap 1st Roger Phillips and Nathan Brazil (Laser 2000) 2nd John Wilkinson and Will Hardy (Albacore) 3rd Pat Clarke and John Sharvill (Laser 2000) 4th G. Marshall and P. Marriot (Miracle)
On Sunday, a light and variable Westerly greeted the starters for the Pursuit race. As the race began the wind swung through 180 degrees and this set the pattern for the day with large and unpredictable shifts and gusts. The Hornet of Eric Styles was going well and gradually over hauled the slower boats to take first position. Behind them the four Buzzes of Restall, Dutton, Cory and Cass began to bunch up but as the wind varied large gains and losses were made and eventually Restall and Dutton pulled away and finished in that order.
Results: 1st Eric Styles and Nick O'Dell (Hornet) 2nd Steve Restall and Sarah Styles (Buzz) 3rd Chris Dutton and Chris Martin (Buzz) 4th Simon Cory and Annie Smith (Buzz) 5th Mark and Clinton styles (Hornet) 6th Chris Shelton (Miracle).
The wind continued to vary and the start of the Points race was a run against the tide in very little wind. The fast handicap fleet were struggling to make headway and those who stayed inshore pulled ahead. This included the Buzzes of John Cass and Simon Cory. At the start of the second lap the wind died away altogether and several boats retired. However they missed the best of the wind which began to fill in on the second lap and eventually reached a Force 6 at the end of the race. Simon Cory managed to pass John Cass who held off the challenge of Steve Restall followed by Chris Dutton making it a Buzz 1,2,3,4.
Results: Fast handicap 1st Simon Cory and Annie Smith (Buzz) 2nd John Cass and Julia Brazil 3rd Steve Restall and Sarah Styles 4th Chris Dutton and Chris Martin (Buzz) 5th Mark and Clinton Styles (Hornet) 6th Eric Styles and Nick O'Dell (Hornet) Slow Handicap 1st John Turgoose (Laser) 2nd Nadim Aziz (Miracle) 3rd John and Alison Sharvil (Laser 2000)
The cooling sea breeze from the East that had blown for the past few days turned round to the North on Tuesday and became more variable. A total of twenty boats took part in the evening race on a short course set close inshore in the anticipation of the wind dying away. In the event it did not and the crews enjoyed a pleasant race in the evening sunshine. In the fast handicap, Frank Catt, sailing an RS300 and Eric Styles in his recently refurbished Hornet, were first out of the blocks and led for the whole race. Behind them a tight battle took place between Chris Dutton, crewed by Martin Wyman and John Cass with Andrew Robinson in their Buzzes. The lead was exchanged several times, but on the last lap Chris Dutton managed to gybe inside John at the wing mark and take the lead which he held to the finish. In the slow handicap, the RS200s of Mitch Webb and Clare Stubbs fought for the lead with Mitch taking victory. The Laser 2000 of Roger Phillips beat the Laser Radial of Chris Catt followed by John Wilkinson in an Albacore.
Results: Fast handicap 1st Frank Catt (RS300) 2nd Eric Styles and Tim Ellis (Hornet) 3rd Chris Dutton and Martin Wyman (Buzz) 4th John Cass and Andrew Robinson (Buzz) 5th Noel Padley and Andy Russell (RS400) 6th Stuart and Simon Bishop (RS800) Slow Handicap 1st Mitch Webb and Tim Ellis (RS200) 2nd Claire Stubbs and Zara Brazil (RS200) 3rd Roger Phillips and Nathan Brazil (Laser 2000) 4th Chris Catt (Laser Radial) 5th John Wilkinson and Will Hardy (Albacore) 6th John Waterfall (RS Vareo).
On Sunday the Pursuit race began with a variable wind coming from the South-West. Over the first couple of laps the wind swung violently before settling in from the South and beginning to build in strength. The faster boats began to overhaul the early-starting slow boats as the latter struggled over the tide. At the finish, the Laser 2000 of Alan Dewar took first position, followed by Chris Dutton and Chris Martin in a Buzz.
Results: Pursuit 1st Alan Dewar and Jacintha Love (Laser 2000) 2nd Chris Dutton and Chris Martin (Buzz) 3rd Steve Stagg (Laser) 4th Tony Cook (Contender) 5th Roger Phillips and Jame Stiles (Laser 2000) 6th Jeremy Blackman and Julia Brazil (Buzz)
By the start of the second race the wind had built to a Force 5 from the South as the race progressed, the wind continued to increase with occasional gusts of Force 6/7. There were numerous capsizes especially at the gybe mark in front of the club. Gradually the fleet was whittled down and from 16 starters only 5 managed to finish.
Results: Fast handicap 1st Tony Cook (Contender) 2nd Chris Dutton and Chris Martin (Buzz) 3rd Mike and Adam Heeley (RS400) Slow Handicap 1st Alan Dewar and Jacintha Love (Laser 2000) 2nd Roger Phillips and Jame Stiles (Laser 2000)
A very successful Open Day was held at Downs Sailing Club on Saturday 12th July. More than 150 participants took part in the event which was open to members of the public to have a try at sailing. For many it was their first experience of being in a small dinghy on the open sea and they thoroughly enjoyed it. The weather was kind with brilliant sunshine and a gentle Easterly breeze all afternoon. There was soon a crowd of aspiring new sailors on the beach and with more than a dozen different craft available, ranging from a single-handed Topper dinghy to the Dory with two masts and an outboard which could carry half a dozen crew, it was not long before they were on the water. With experienced instructors, in a short time, most people were steering their vessel and enjoying the view of deal seafront from the sea. Although there were rescue boats on the water, they were not called upon until a passing fishing vessel broke down and had to be towed in. An excellent time was had by all and the day was capped by a barbecue on the beach.
On Tuesday sixteen boats took to the water to race for the Tuesday Points Series. In the Fast Handicap, Chris Catt borrowed his father's RS300 and in a light Southerly breeze drifted away from the rest of the fleet to win by a considerable distance. Behind him there was a close battle between the three Buzzes of Steve Restall, Simon Cory and Chris Dutton. All three held the lead at some stage, but at the finish it was Restall/Cory/Dutton in that order. In the Slow Handicap, the Stubbs family dominated with sisters Clare and Helen beating their father into 2nd place. John Wilkinson brought out his Albacore to take third place.
Results:
Fast handicap 1st Chris Catt (RS300) 2nd Steve Restall and Sarah Styles (Buzz) 3rd Simon Cory and Annie Smith (Buzz) 4th Chris Dutton and Martin Wyman 5th Tony Cook (Contender) 6th Stuart and Simon Bishop (RS800)
Slow Handicap 1st Claire and Helen Stubbs (RS400) 2nd Chris Stubbs and Zara Brazil (Laser 2000) 3rd John Wilkinson and Will Hardy (Albacore) 4th Roger Phillips (Laser 2000) 5th Robert Waite (Topper) 6th Ron Bramwell (Laser)
On Sunday, twenty boats competed for the Queen Mother's Cup, this annual event is held in honour of the late Queen Mother and always includes a mark set off Walmer Castle. There were two races, held back-to-back, with the first including a long reach down to Walmer Castle. Chris Catt continued his winning ways, this time in a 29er, which he is preparing for the National Championships in August. He won both races to take the Queen Mother's Cup. There was a close battle between Simon Cory and Annie Smith in a Buzz and Richard White and Sarah Styles in an RS400 with Cory the victor. In 4th place was Chris Dutton and Martin Wyman.
Results: Queen Mother's Cup 1st Chris Catt and James Cooke (29er) 2nd Simon Cory and Annie Smith (Buzz) 3rd Richard White and Sarah Styles (RS400) 4th Chris Dutton and Martin Wyman (Buzz)
A Southerly Force 4 and plenty of sunshine made for an excellent day's sailing on Sunday. In the Pursuit race, the Buzz of Jeremy Blackman and Rick Clemence started well and managed to hold off the rest of the fleet until the penultimate lap, when they were passed by John Cass and Chris Catt. Behind them the Laser 2000 of Roger Phillips and the Vareo of John Waterfall were also going well and managed to hold off the faster boats. Results: Pursuit 1st John Cass and Julia Brazil (Buzz) 2nd Chris Catt and James Cooke (Dart 16) 3rd Jeremy Blackman and Rick Clemence (Buzz) 4th Roger Phillips (Laser 2000) 5th John Waterfall (Vareo).
In the Handicap race, The Dart 16 of Chris Catt was again going well, closely followed by Simon Cory and Annie Smith who had swapped their usual Buzz for a Dart 16 catamaran. Behind then the RS400 of Martin Styles and Richard White had pulled ahead of Frank Catt in an RS300 and the Buzz of John Cass. In the Slow Handicap race, the Stubbs family dominated the proceedings, with Claire Stubbs winning out over her father, Chris. John Waterfall took third place.
Results: Fast handicap 1st Chris Catt and James Cooke (Dart 16) 2nd Martin Styles and Richard White (RS400) 3rd John Cass and Julia Brazil (Buzz) 4th Frank Catt (RS300) 5th Simon Cory and Annie Smith (Dart 16) 6th Mark Styles and John Wilkinson (RS400).
Slow Handicap 1st Claire and Helen Stubbs (RS400) 2nd Chris Stubbs and Zara Brazil (Laser 2000) 3rd John Waterfall (Vareo) 4th Roger Phillips (Laser 2000) 5th Mitch Webb (RS200) 6th Ron Bramwell (Laser).
On Tuesday evening a pleasant South-Westerly encouraged a good turn-out of 17 boats, Chris Dutton and Martin Wyman led for the first lap, but were passed by Simon Cory on the 2nd run. Frank Catt in his RS300 was going well and pulled far enough ahead to win the race. In the Sow Handicap, Robert Waite in a Topper posted a good time to take 1st place ahead of the 2 Stubbs family boats.
Results: Fast handicap 1st Frank Catt (RS300) 2nd Simon Cory and Annie Smith (Buzz) 3rd John Cass and Julia Brazil (Buzz) 4th Chris Dutton and Martin Wyman 5th Tony Cook (Contender) 6th Nigel Cureton (Contender)
Slow Handicap 1st Robert Waite (Topper) 2nd Claire and Helen Stubbs (RS400) 3rd Chris Stubbs and Zara Brazil (Laser 2000) 4th Dave Webb (Phantom) 5th Ron Bramwell (Laser) 6th John Waterfall (Vareo
On the weekend of 28th/29th June, Downs SC held a Multi Gala for the Buzz and Iso classes. Saturday dawned with a Force 3 from the South East and a fairly flat sea, with only light cloud, sun-glasses and cream were the order of the day. The race officer set a trapezoidal course with separate windward-leeward legs at each end to keep the two fleets apart.
The Buzz class started first and Simon Cory and Annie Smith from Downs were quickly into the lead, close behind were Steve Restall, crewed by Sarah Styles and Chris Dutton, crewed by Martin Wyman. These three remained close together throughout the race and finished in that order. The second race followed a similar pattern, with the same crews finishing in the top three positions. In the Iso fleet, Ian and Katie Keam-George dominated proceedings on the first day, winning all three races, followed by clubmate Jony Wells from Essex YC. The third race was a long-distance one which took the two fleets past Deal pier in the direction of Ramsgate. In the Buzz fleet competition was fierce with a close encounter between Cory and Dutton at the windward mark leading to the latter having to take a penalty. John Cass and Julia Brazil were going well and kept pace with Cory and Smith through the race. At the finish, Steve Restall took first place followed by Cory then Cass.
On Sunday, the wind had increased to a Force 4/5 from a more Easterly direction. However the cloud had cleared and from the beach there was a clear view of France. The course was P-shaped, the longest leg being an exciting three-sail reach parallel to the beach against the tide with the crews at full stretch on the trapeze as they surfed across the waves. Steve Restall and Sarah Styles dominated proceedings in the Buzz fleet taking three first places, however they were closely pressed by Simon Cory and Chris Dutton, the latter showing good upwind speed. John Cass and Julia Brazil also found the conditions to their liking, taking two third positions. Jeremy Blackman and Rick Clemence found that their weight was an advantage in the stronger breeze and were chafing at the heels of the leading boats throughout the day. In the Iso fleet the battle remained between Ian Keam-George and Jony Wells, with the former winning out in two of the three races.
The organisation was superb throughout the weekend, which augurs well for the National Championships for Buzz, Iso, Boss, Spice and Blaze classes which will be held at the same venue next year. The Buzz fleet were rewarded with £25 vouchers for Wet and Windy Watersports which will come in very handy for the minor breakages that occurred.
Results:
Buzz 1st Steve Restall and Sarah Styles (Downs SC) 2nd Simon Cory and Annie Smith (Downs SC) 3rd Chris Dutton and Martin Wyman (Downs SC) 4th John Cass and Julia Brazil (Downs SC) 5th Jeremy Blackman and Rick Clemence (Downs SC) 6th Andrew Frewin and Barry Dock (Herne Bay SC) 7th Chris and Valma Hardcastle (Alton Water SC) 8th Andy Rankin and Dennis Liman (Downs SC)
Iso 1st Ian and Katie Keam-George (Essex YC) 2nd Jony Wells and Bugsy (Essex YC) 3rd Richard and Matt Lewis (Emsworth Slipper SC) 4th Bob Ladell and Mark Clay (King George SC) 5th Ben Twist and Sue Munday (Broadstairs SC
On Sunday the sailors at Downs competed for the Siemssen trophy. The format was three short races back to back, the early morning sunshine and gentle breeze attracted a good entry of 19 boats. In the first race the RS400 of Richard White crewed by Sarah Styles pulled out a good lead, followed by Simon Cory and Annie Smith who were close enough to beat them on handicap. There was a close battle between the Buzzes of Steve Restall and John Cass, with Steve pulling ahead just before the finish to take third place. Frank Catt in his new RS300 was going well, keeping in touch with the faster boats as was Chris Shelton in his Phantom. Chris Stubbs was leading the group of Laser 2000s. The wind increased slightly for the second race, allowing the Buzz crews to trapeze, again Richard White finished first on the water, but the slower boats were closer behind and just at the finish the wind strength began to increase substantially. Steve and Katie Restall took first place followed by Simon and Annie with Richard White in third. By the start of the third race the wind had increased to a Force 5 with an occasional gust of 6. About half the fleet decided to retire to the shore, but a hardy few remained to contest the final race. On the first broad reach the fast boats hoisted their spinnakers and flew downwind, but the reach became too tight leading to a capsize for Simon Cory and Annie Smith, with Richard White dropping his spinnaker to make the mark. The Laser 2000 of Chris Stubbs was going well and kept in touch with the faster boats. But at the finish it was Steve and Katie Restall who took the race and the Siemssen trophy. Simon recovered well from the capsize to take 4th place behind Tony Cook in a Contender.
Results: 1st Steve and Katie Restall (Buzz) 2nd Simon Cory and Annie Smith (Buzz) 3rd Richard White and Sarah Styles (RS400).
On Thursday, the fine conditions led to a good turnout of 18 boats. The Buzz fleet dominated the fast handicap, taking the first three places. In the slow handicap, Chris and Helen Stubbs in a Laser 2000 beat a trio of Lasers to first position.
Results: Fast Handicap 1st Steve Restall and Sarah Styles (Buzz) 2nd Simon Cory and Annie Smith (Buzz) 3rd John Cass and Julia Brazil (Buzz) 4th Nigel Cureton (Contender) 5th Mark and Clinton Styles (Hornet) 6th Chris Shelton and Dave Webb (RS400)
Slow Handicap 1st Chris and Helen Stubbs (Laser 2000) 2nd James Cooke (Laser) 3rd Robert Waite (Laser) 4th Frank Catt (Laser) 5th Mitch Webb and Doug Horner (RS200) 6th Ron Bramwell (Laser)