April - May

April – May 2004

With the Buzz National Championships only 4 days away, the Buzz fleet made the most of Tuesday's moderate North-Easterly wind to get in some practice in the Fast Handicap race. They were joined by Frank Catt in his RS300, which is marginally faster than the Buzz on Handicap. Simon Cory and Chris Dutton were first away from the line along with Frank Catt and for two laps these remained the leading three boats. Then a wind shift allowed Ed and Sarah Styles to pass Chris Dutton, but Simon Cory held off a strong challenge from Frank Catt to win the race.

Results: Fast Handicap 1st Simon Cory and Penny Jordan (Buzz) 2nd Frank Catt (RS300) 3rd Ed and Sarah Styles

(Buzz) 4th Chris Dutton and Martin Wyman (Buzz) 5th John Cass and Mike Hall (Buzz) 6th Jeremy Blackman and Julia Brazil (Buzz). In the Slow Handicap, Chris Stubbs and Zara Brazil dominated the fleet on handicap, but John Wilkinson and Will Hardy in their newly-repaired Albacore were first on the water and claimed second place on handicap. Steve Restall, having swapped his Buzz for a Laser took third slot. Slow Handicap 1st Chris Stubbs and Zara Brazil (Laser 2000) 2nd John Wilkinson and Will Hardy (Albacore) 3rd Steve Restall (Laser) 4th Roger Phillips and Nathan Brazil (RS200) 5th Ron Bramwell (Laser) 6th Rosie Lord (Topper)

A gentle South-Easterly breeze and a flat sea at low tide provided relaxed sailing conditions on Tuesday night. However, the start of the Fast Handicap race was fiercely contested with three boats being over the line and having to return. Ed and Sarah Styles pulled out a good lead on the first beat which they held throughout the race despite the best efforts of Simon Cory to catch up. Behind them, Martyn Styles in an RS400 and Chris Dutton and Martin Wyman in a Buzz chased Frank Catt in an RS300.

In the Slow Handicap fleet, Steve Restall swapped his Topper for a Laser and led the fleet around. Roger Phillips and Nathan Brazil were also going well, although they occasionally got caught up with the Fast Handicap boats.

Results: Fast Handicap 1st Ed and Sarah Styles (Buzz) 2nd Simon Cory and Penny (Buzz) 3rd Chris Dutton and Martin Wyman (Buzz) 4th Frank Catt (RS300) 5th Jeremy Blackman and Julia Brazil (Buzz) 6th Martyn Styles and James Blackman (RS400) Slow Handicap 1st Steve Restall (Laser) 2nd Roger Phillips and Nathan Brazil (Laser 2000) 3rd Ron Bramwell (Laser) 4th John Wilkinson and Will Hardy (Albacore)

The conditions for Thursday's race were in stark contrast to Tuesday, a strong North-Easterly Force 4/5 provided testing conditions for the competitors and their boats, resulting in a couple of breakages including a mast and a centreboard case. The single-handed Contenders coped with the conditions well, taking the first two places in the Fast Handicap race. Steve Restall benefited form the extra leverage provided by Rick Clements and claimed third slot. Only one boat finished in the Slow Handicap; Philip Spicer sailing a Laser Radial.

Results: Fast Handicap 1st Tony Cook (Contender) 2nd Nigel Cureton (Contender) 3rd Steve Restall and Rick Clements (Buzz) 4th Richard White and Martyn Styles (RS400) 5th John Cass and Julia Brazil (Buzz) 6th Ed and Sarah Styles (Buzz) Slow Handicap 1st Philip Spicer (Laser Radial).

Sunday saw the best conditions of the week, bright sunshine and a Northerly, Force 3/4. This attracted twenty boats for the long distance races for the Allen Trophy and Ron Williams trophy. The race officer set a long triangular course, stretching from Deal castle to Kingsdown for the fast boats. In the fast handicap, the RS800 of Rory Sharvil and James Cooke led the fleet throughout, but were not sufficiently ahead to win the trophy on handicap. Behind them, Nigel Cureton in his Contender was going well, hotly pursued by Steve and Katie Restall in their Buzz. The chasing pack saw a number of place changes, but eventually it was Ed and Sarah Styles who took third place after holding off a strong upwind challenge from Chris Dutton and Martin Wyman. In the slow handicap race for the Ron Williams Trophy, Chris and Helen Stubbs pulled out a substantial lead to take the cup followed by Ron Bramwell in a Laser.

Results: Fast Handicap (Allen Trophy) 1st Steve and Katie Restall (Buzz) 2nd Nigel Cureton (Contender) 3rd Ed and Sarah Styles (Buzz) 4th Rory Sharvil and James Cooke (RS800) 5th Chris Dutton and Martin Wyman (Buzz) 6th Simon Cory and Penny Jorge (Buzz) Slow Handicap (Ron Williams Trophy) 1st Chris and Helen Stubbs (Laser 2000) 2nd Ron Bramwell (Laser) 3rd Michael Tobin and Elizabeth Wilkinson (Laser 2000) 4th Ben (Laser) 5th Mitch Webb and Phil Spicer (RS200).

Bank Holiday Weekend sees the Buzz National Championships being held at Deal. Sailors from around the country will converge on the town to battle for the trophy. Since this is the 10th anniversary of the design and launch of the Buzz it will be a special event. Six of the former National Champions will be attending including last year's winner, Ben McGrane, who is also ranked in the top 5 for the UK in the Olympic class, the 49er.

Tuesday's race began in a steady Force 4 blowing from the North. Thirteen boats launched through a moderate surf and extra layers were the order of the day to protect from the cold wind. The first leg was a short beat with the tide towards Ramsgate, first around was the RS400 of Mitch Webb, crewed by Martyn Styles. Chasing them were Ed and Sarah Styles in a Buzz. The first reach was quite tight for the asymmetric boats and some had to drop their spinnakers to make the mark, the next leg was a broad reach against the tide, nonetheless the boats were able to reach some impressive speeds as they surfed down the waves. The two single-handers of Frank Catt and Nigel Cureton were going well and as the wind swung more to the East, making the third leg a run, they benefited by being able to head directly for the mark. In the Slow Handicap, the Laser 2000 of Chris Stubbs and Zara Brazil led the fleet, although Tim Ellis in a Topper was also coping well with the conditions. Towards the end of the race the wind began to drop which favoured the earlier-finishing boats. Results: Fast Handicap 1st Ed and Sarah Styles (Buzz) 2nd Nigel Cureton (Contender) 3rd Frank Catt (RS300) 4th Mitch Webb and Martyn Styles (RS400) 5th Chris Dutton and Martyn Wyman

(Buzz) 6th John Cass and Mark Hall (Buzz) Slow Handicap 1st Chris Stubs and Zara Brazil (Laser 2000) 2nd Tim Ellis (Topper) 3rd Roger Phillips and Nathan Brazil (Laser 2000) 4th John Wilkinson and Will Hardy (Albacore) At the weekend, more than 40 Toppers attended a training day and Open Meeting at Deal. Training on Saturday took place in light winds under the expert tutelage of Martyn Styles and Dave Cockerill. The youngsters undertook on the water activities followed by video feedback on their performance. On Sunday, however, there was insufficient wind to complete the racing.

The light Northerly winds of the past few days continued over the weekend, but thankfully not accompanied by rain. The Pursuit Race at the Downs Sailing Club began with a run down tide towards Dover. The Topper of James Blackman started first and held a lead over the faster boats until the second lap when the wind began to drop and swing more to the East. This allowed the chasing group of Chris Shelton (RS400) and Chris Dutton (Buzz) to catch up with the earlier starting Frank Catt (RS300) and Mark Styles (Hornet). As the wind dropped still further, it became more difficult to round the windward mark and judging the tide in order to do this became crucial. At the finish, the fast handicap boats took the first four positions with Mark and Clinton Styles taking first place.

Results: Pursuit Race 1st Mark and Clinton Styles (Hornet) 2nd Chris Shelton and Dave Webb

(RS400) 3rd Frank Catt (RS300) 4th Chris Dutton and Martin Wyman (Buzz) 5th Chris and Helen Stubbs (Laser 2000) 6th Jeremy Blackman and Rick Clemence (Buzz). The Race Officer postponed the start of the Points Race to allow the wind to fill in slightly more. He also reversed the course, making the first leg a beat against the tide towards Ramsgate. The boats which started at the starboard end of the line fared better on the first beat and Frank Catt in his RS300 pulled ahead of the faster RS400s. Behind them, Ed and Sarah Styles in their Buzz were having a close contest with Mark and Clinton Styles in the Hornet. When the latter took Ed past the leeward mark on the run this allowed Chris Dutton and Martin Wyman to catch up. The following beat was very close, but eventually Mark and Clinton pulled away from the other two.

Results: Points Race 1st Frank Catt (RS300) 2nd Ed and Sarah Styles (Buzz) 3rd Chris Dutton and Martin Wyman (Buzz) 4th Steve and Phil Eversfield (RS400) 5th Mark and Clinton Styles (Hornet) 6th Chris Shelton and Dave Webb (RS400)

Sunday saw the beginning of the Early Pursuit Series at Downs Sailing Club. The sun was shining but there was little wind as the crews rigged their boats. However a gentle breeze began to fill in from the North-West, but at the start of the Pursuit race it had swung to the South-East. This made the first leg a beat against the tide, and the early starting Topper found it hard to make headway as the wind dropped. The faster boats began to catch up and at the windward mark, Chris Dutton and Martin Wyman were first around, closely followed by Simon Cory who was sailing his Buzz single-handed. Simon stayed higher on the next leg out to the South mark and pulled in to the lead. On the next run, Frank Catt in an RS300 made good speed and at the finish it was Cory, Catt and Dutton in that order. However it was all to be in vain, as the race was abandoned when the slow boats could not make the South mark against the tide.

For the Points race, the course was shortened with an inner South mark . John Cass and Julia Brazil were first away from the start and established a lead which they held until the last lap. Mitch Webb and Phil Spicer were also going well and kept in touch with the faster boats for the first lap. Chris Dutton and Martin Wyman in their Buzz led a dogged pursuit of John Cass, and Frank Catt in the RS300 was again going well folowed by Mark and Clinton Styles in an RS400. These four had a good lead over the rest of the fleet until the final beat, when the wind strengthened and swung more to the East. The fleet then began to bunch up and on the last leg, Frank Catt had overtaken John Cass and pulled out a good lead, but behind him the race was wide open. In the end it was Chris Dutton and Martin Wyman who won the battle of the Buzzes, but Mitch Webb had kept close enough in touch to win the race on handicap.

Results: 1st Mitch Webb and Phil Spicer (RS200) 2nd Frank Catt (RS300) 3rd Chris Dutton and Martin Wyman (Buzz) 4th John Cass and Julia Brazil (Buzz) 5th Ed and Sarah Styles (Buzz) 6th Simon Cory and Helen Stubbs (Buzz)

Steve and Katie Restall in their Buzz dominated proceedings over the Easter weekend, winning both races at Downs SC. On Sunday a moderate North-Easterly and sunshine provided almost ideal conditions. Steve and Katie started well and were pursued tenaciously by Ed and Sarah Styles, also in a Buzz, but to no avail. The Hornet of Eric Styles was also going well. In the slower boats, the Laser 2000 of Roger Phillips won out over the RS200 of Mitch Webb. Simon Cory, who won the first race of the Spring series was also in contention, until a capsize at the leeward mark put paid to his chances.

On Monday, sixteen boats competed for the Marquis Medallion. The start was delayed due to a lack of wind, but when it took place there was fierce competition for places and both Ed Styles and Chris Dutton were forced over and had to re-start. Mitch Webb and Steve Restall both made good starts along with Eric Styles and these three led at the windward mark. Judging the tide was important on the reach back in towards the shore and on the following run the decision on whether or not to gybe at the wing mark was critical. As the wind swung round more to the East, it paid to stay on the port gybe and both Mitch Webb in his RS200 and John Cass in a Buzz, made up ground on the boats ahead in this way. At the front, Steve and Katie Restall had pulled ahead, once again chased by Ed and Sarah Styles. However, the Phantom of Chris Shelton was keeping in touch with the faster boats and towards the end of the race had a fierce tussle with Frank Catt in an RS300. At the finish it was Steve and Katie who took the Marquis Medallion and the first three crews were rewarded with Easter eggs of both the chocolate and the real variety.

Marquis Medallion 1st Steve and Katie Restall (Buzz) 2nd Chris Shelton (Phantom) 3rd Ed and Sarah Styles

(Buzz) 4th Mitch Webb and Philip Spicer (RS200) 5th Eric Styles and Sally Waite (Hornet) 6th Simon Cory and Zara Brazil (Buzz)

The first day of the sailing season at Downs SC began in bright sunshine with a blustery WSW wind with occasional gusts of Force 5-6. The first leg of the course was a close reach towards Dover against the tide. The fleet of 11 boats were slightly shy of the line, but the Buzz of Simon Cory and Annie Smith was well-positioned along with the RS800 of Rory Sharvill and James Cooke. These two led round the Southern mark with Simon opting to use his spinnaker on the next leg whilst most of the fleet played it safe and kept to two sails. This tactic paid handsomely for him and allowed a gap to open up at the front which was maintained throughout the race. Ed and Sarah Styles in a Buzz kept up their pursuit but were unable to catch Simon. Clare and Helen Stubbs in a Laser 2000 were going well and kept in touch with some of the faster boats throughout the race, finishing ahead of the Contender of Nigel Cureton on corrected time. Further back, the two Buzzes of John Cass and Chris Dutton were having a close battle initially until John pulled away towards the end. The blustery conditions took their toll, with several capsizes and some acrobatics by the trapeze crews when the wind suddenly dropped in strength between the gusts. Jeremy Blackman and Rick Clemence in a Buzz were doing well until their boom began to break and they had to be towed in.

Results: 1st Simon Cory and Annie Smith (Buzz) 2nd Ed and Sarah Styles (Buzz) 3rd Clare and Helen Stubbs (Laser 2000) 4th Nigel Cureton (Contender) 5th John Cass and Julia Brazil (Buzz) 6th Chris Dutton and Martin Wyman (Buzz)