April - May

31/5/05

Thirteen boats took to the water for the Tuesday Points race, they launched at high tide into a light Southerly breeze, with the tide running to Ramsgate, so on the first leg it paid to keep close inshore, out of the tide. Steve Restall and Chris Catt were first away in a Buzz, followed by the Laser 4000 of Chris Stubbs. Chris Dutton and Martin Wyman were next but were passed by Ed and Sarah Styles on the reach. As the race progressed, the wind began to die away and the majority of the fleet finished after two laps, with the back markers struggling to make headway over the tide. In the Slow Handicap, John Wilkinson and Will Hardy finished ahead of Roger Phillips and Judy Restall.

Results Fast Handicap 1st Steve and Katie Restall (Buzz) 2nd Frank catt (RS300) 3rd Ed and Sarah Styles (Buzz) 4th Chris Stubbs and Rick Clemence (Laser 4000) 5th Chris Dutton and Martin Wyman (Buzz) 6th Jeremy Blackman and Julia Brazil (Buzz) Slow Handicap 1st John Wilkinson and Will Hardy (Albacore) 2nd Roger Philips and Judy Restall (Laser 2000)

22/5/05

On Tuesday, the strong Northerly winds had subsided and the fleet launched at high tide into a lumpy sea. The first leg was a beat towards Ramsgate with the tide, and the Buzzes of Steve Restall and Ed Styles were first away from the start line. The Laser 4000 of Mitch Webb and Rick Clemence was going well, but lost out when they overstood the windward mark. Chris Dutton and Martin Wyman recovered from a poor start to catch up with the leaders, who included Frank Catt in his RS300 who was going well. At the finish Ed managed to overtake Steve Restall to win the race.

Results Fast Handicap 1st Ed and Sarah Styles (Buzz) 2nd Steve and Nikki Catt (Buzz) 3rd Frank Catt 4th Chris Dutton and Martin Wyman (Buzz) 5th John Cass and Julia Brazil (Buzz) 6th Nigel Cureton (Contender)

In the slow handicap race, John Turgoose in a Laser took the honours, but the Toppers of Nathan and James Blackman did very well to complete the course in the light wind against a strong tide.

Slow Handicap 1st John Turgoose (Laser) 2nd Roger Phillips and Judy Restall (Laser 2000) 3rd Nathan Blackman (Topper) 4th James Blackman
(Topper)

15/5/05

This Sunday saw a joint training exercise at Downs SC with the RNLI practising skills we hope not to need! This was the second such event and in part is in preparation for the big Topper open event the club is holding at the beginning of June when over 100 visiting boats are expected.
The following week, Friday 10th June, the club is starting its children's sailing and adult learn to sail courses. For information on these and all club activities visit the clubhouse or the club website www.downssailingclub.co.uk.

After the training, the second Summer Points Race took place, the strong winds of the previous week, which led to cancellation of Thursday's race, had subsided and the fleet of fourteen boats launched into a lumpy sea with a light to moderate Northerly breeze. The first leg was a beat against the tide and the Buzz of Steve Restall and the RS400 of Richard White were quickly away. These two remained in front throughout the race with Dick finishing ahead on the water but Steve taking the race on handicap. Ed Styles recovered from a poor start to finish third. In the Slow Handicap, Phil and Dave Spicer beat Chris Shelton to top spot.

Results Fast Handicap 1st Steve and Katie Restall (Buzz) 2nd Simon Cory and Penny Jordan (Buzz 3rd Ed and Sarah Styles (Buzz) 4th Richard White and Dave Webb (RS400) 5th Chris Dutton and Martin Wyman (Buzz) 6th John Cass and Julia Brazil (Buzz) Slow Handicap 1st Phil and Dave Spicer (Laser 2000) 2nd Chris Shelton (Phantom) 3rd Roger Phillips and Nathan Brazil (Laser 2000) 4th Tim Waite and John Sharvil (Laser 2000)

Downs Sailing Club cadets, representing Kent Schools Sailing Association, attended the National Schools Sailing Association Match Racing Championships at Farmoor Reservoir Oxford. The Team comprised Tim Ellis, Sam Rowe, Mitch Webb and Rob Waite.
Held in Beneteau First class 8's this was a new experience for the Downs sailors who had mostly only sailed the much smaller Laser dinghy competitively. It was therefore a steep learning curve for the Kent Team at the start on Saturday. By Sunday the Laser sailors from Kent were beginning to get things together and their match against the local Oxford champion team was a ding dong affair. Kent were caught port and starboard in the pre-start but managed to offset that penalty with a port and starboard of their own at the windward mark. This was followed up with a quick luff, whilst the Oxford team were preoccupied with their spinnaker, to put a penalty on Oxford. On the next run Oxford attempted to catch the Kent team with a quick gybe onto starboard, only to have the umpires rule that it was a little too quick, giving them a second penalty and effectively ending their race.
Oxford, however, had by this time gained an unassailable lead in the three round robin competition and the fight was really for second place between Northampton and Kent. This was sailed in the form of a best of three sail off. In the first race Kent led off the start line but failed to cover them up the beat, giving away a substantial lead. On the next beat however Northampton did the same thing and failed to react to the starboard tack Kent boat giving the first race to Kent. In the second race a riding turn on a Kent winch cost them the race forcing a deciding race, which Kent managed to win, but not easily.
In the end the Kent Team came a very creditable second to Oxford, Kent won six races and Oxford seven to be NSSA match racing champions for the second year running.

Back in Deal, racing continued on Tuesday night in a lively Force 4 from the North-East. Steve Restall, crewed by Nikki Catt and Ed and Sarah Styles were quickly away from the start line, with the Laser 4000s of Mitch Webb and Chris Stubbs close behind. Nigel Cureton in his Contender was going well and kept in touch with the asymmetric boats. The second leg was a tight reach out to sea, followed by a run back inshore, with the tide running towards Dover, it paid to stay out in the stronger tide and then gybe and reach back in on a faster course. Jeremy Blackman and Julia Brazil were going well and kept the leaders in their sights. In the slow handicap, the Laser 2000 of Roger Phillips beat the Albacore of John Wilkinson and James Blackman coped with the conditions well to complete the course in a Topper.

Results Fast Handicap 1st Steve Restall and Nikki Catt (Buzz) 2nd Ed and Sarah Styles
(Buzz) 3rd Nigel Cureton (Contender) 4th Chris Dutton and Martin Wyman (Buzz) 5th Mitch Webb and James Cooke (Laser 4000) 6th Jeremy Blackman and Julia Brazil (Buzz) Slow Handicap 1st Roger Phillips and Judy Restall (Laser 2000) 2nd John Wilkinson and Will Hardy (Albacore) 3rd James Blackman (Topper)

8/5/05

Seveteen boats braved a gusty North-Westerly wind on Sunday to compete for the Early Pursuit trophy and the Summer Points Series. Olympian Hugh Styles, crewed by his father Martyn, stopped off on his way to Nice to join in the racing. They gradually pulled through the fleet to take first place in the pursuit race. Further back there was drama on the second lap when a huge gust hit a group of Buzzes at the gybe mark. Ed and Sarah Styles capsized and Ed fell out of the boat just in front of Steve and Katie Restall, in taking avoiding action they capsized too. However both boats recovered and went on to complete the race. Phil and Dave Spicer kept ahead of the faster boats and finished in second place with Mitch Webb fourth in a Topper.

Results Pursuit Race 1st Hugh and Martyn Styles (RS400) 2nd Phil and Dave Spicer (Laser 2000) 3rd Chris Shelton (Phantom) 4th Mitch Webb (Topper) 5th Simon Cory and Penny Jordan (Buzz) 6th Steve and Katie Restall (Buzz)

The Points Race was closely contested with all the Fast Handicap boats bunched together for the first lap. Hugh and Martyn eventually pulled ahead of Steve and Katie Restall, but not far enough to take the race on handicap. In the Slow handicap fleet, Chris Shelton went one better than his 2nd in the Pursuit race to win. Nathan Brazil did especially well in a reefed Topper to take fourth place behind Rosie Lord following his win on Thursday.

Results Points Race Fast Handicap 1st Steve and Katie Restall (Buzz) 2nd Ed and Sarah Styles (Buzz) 3rd Simon Cory and Penny Jordan (Buzz) 4th Hugh and Martyn Styles (RS400 5th Tim Waite and John Sharvil (Dart 16) 6th Steve Stagg (RS300)

Slow Handicap 1st Chris Shelton (Phantom) 2nd Phil and Dave Spicer (Laser 2000) 3rd Clare Stubbs and Judy Restall (RS200) 4th Rosie Lord (Topper) 5th Nathan Brazil (Topper) 6th Stuart Bradbeer (Laser)

The Spring Series came to a conclusion at the Downs Sailing Club last Sunday; Simon Cory and Penny Jordan came out on top with a third position in the final race being enough to give them the title. Ed and Sarah Styles were second followed by Steve and Katie Restall in third and John Cass in fourth making it a Buzz one, two, three and four. In the Slow handicap Phil and Dave Spicer were overall winners in a Laser 2000.

Spring Series Overall Results 1st Simon Cory and Penny Jordan (Buzz) 2nd Ed and Sarah Styles (Buzz) 3rd Steve and Katie Restall (Buzz) 4th John Cass and Julia Brazil (Buzz) 5th Frank Catt (RS300) 6th Chris Dutton and Martin Wyman (Buzz). On Monday, eighteen boats competed for the Fred Herbert Trophy. The format of the competition was three short races sailed back to back with all three results to count. The first race began in a light South-Easterly breeze and the Restalls were quickly away with a perfect start at the port end of the line. Sally and Martyn Styles were also well to the fore at the windward mark. The next leg was a close reach out to sea, but the most ground was made and lost on the third leg which was a run towards Ramsgate against the tide. In general it paid to gybe inshore early to avoid the tide, but occasionally more wind could be found out to sea. Eric and Richard Styles in their Hornet were also going well and finished in third place.The second race saw slightly less wind but no change at the front with Steve and Katie Restall again in command. Simon Cory and Penny Jordan were the next best Buzz ahaead of Ed and Sarah Styles. For the third race, the wind increased slightly and swung more to the South giving ideal conditions in the warm sunshine. Again the Restalls dominated proceedings but this time Mitch Webb and Rick Clemence in their new Laser 4000 sprinted into second place ahead of Simon and Penny. So the trophy went to Steve and Katie Restall who had gained three straight wins with Simon and Penny in second place ahead of Sally and Martyn Styles.

Fred Herbert Trophy Results 1st Steve and Katie Restall (Buzz) 2nd Simon Cory and Penny Jordan (Buzz) 3rd Sally and Martyn Styles (RS400) 4th Ed and Sarah Styles (Buzz) 5th Chris Dutton and Martin Wyman (Buzz) 6th Mitch Webb and Rick Clemence (Laser 4000)

1/5/05

The Spring Series came to a conclusion at the Downs Sailing Club on Sunday; Simon Cory and Penny Jordan came out on top with a third position in the final race being enough to give them the title. Ed and Sarah Styles were second followed by Steve and Katie Restall in third and John Cass in fourth making it a Buzz one, two, three and four. In the Slow handicap Phil and Dave Spicer were overall winners in a Laser 2000.

On Monday, eighteen boats competed for the Fred Herbert Trophy. The format of the competition was three short races sailed back to back with all three results to count. The first race began in a light South-Easterly breeze and the Restalls were quickly away with a perfect start at the port end of the line. Sally and Martyn Styles were also well to the fore at the windward mark. The next leg was a close reach out to sea, but the most ground was made and lost on the third leg which was a run towards Ramsgate against the tide. In general it paid to gybe inshore early to avoid the tide, but occasionally more wind could be found out to sea. Eric and Richard Styles in their Hornet were also going well and finished in third place.

The second race saw slightly less wind but no change at the front with Steve and Katie Restall again in command. Simon Cory and Penny Jordan were the next best Buzz ahaead of Ed and Sarah Styles.

For the third race, the wind increased slightly and swung more to the South giving ideal conditions in the warm sunshine. Again the Restalls dominated proceedings but this time Mitch Webb and Rick Clemence in their new Laser 4000 sprinted into second place ahead of Simon and Penny. So the trophy went to Steve and Katie Restall who had gained three straight wins with Simon and Penny in second place ahead of Sally and Martyn Styles.

With rain and gales forecast to arrive from the West during Sunday, the Downs SC sailors were pleased to have bright sunshine and a gentle North-Westerly breeze for the fourth race of the Spring Series. Fourteen boats arrived on the start line, but it was John Cass and Rick Clemence who led the fleet to the gybe mark. Simon Cory and Annie Smith managed to pull ahead on the next reach as John stayed on the Port gybe slightly too long.
They then proceeded to pull further ahead and finish two minutes clear of the fleet. Behind them, the chasing pack of Buzzes and the RS300 of Frank Catt had a close contest, headed for a while by Ed and Sarah Styles until Ed fell out of the boat in a gust. Luckily he held on to the mainsheet and was able to clamber back onboard without capsizing, but the delay allowed Frank Catt and John Cass to pull ahead. The slower boats struggled at times to make headway over the tide, with John Turgoose in a Laser finishing in eighth position. Results 1st Simon Cory and Annie Smith (Buzz) 2nd Frank Catt (RS300) 3rd John Cass and Rick Clemence (Buzz) 4th Ed and Sarah Styles(Buzz) 5th Chris Dutton and Martin Wyman (Buzz) 6th Chris Shelton and Dave Webb (RS400)

Elsewhere, over 300 young sailors raced for five days off Largs Sailing Club in wet and windy conditions at the RYA Youth Championships and Trials to win their place in the Youth world's team. An event that last year saw Great Britain's youth sailors win five medals, one of the country's best results ever. Katie Restall from Downs SC competed in a Laser Radial and finished in 15th position in the Silver Fleet against both girls and boys. This was an excellent achievement in the testing strong wind conditions.

There was a good turnout of seventeen boats for the third race of the Spring Series at Downs SC. A blustery Force 3-4 and a relatively flat sea provided exhilarating conditions for the sailors but the occasional gusts of Force 5 caught out one or two boats. The start was hotly contested and the three boats that were over the line were consequently disqualified, this included the series leaders, Richard White and Martyn Styles. The first leg was a short beat towards Ramsgate, followed by a tight reach out to sea. As the wind strength increased, it became more difficult to hold the spinnaker for the whole of this leg, although the tide helped to push the boats up to the mark. Ed and Sarah Styles pulled out a lead over both John Cass and Simon Cory, who had a close contest throughout the race. The next leg was a long reach towards Dover, this provided excellent surfing conditions for the spinnaker boats and the fleet began to spread out. Chris Dutton and Martyn Wyman pulled ahead of the RS400s of Mark Styles and Mike Heeley. As the tide strengthened, the beat became shorter with a long starboard tack in towards the shore followed by a short port tack to cross the line. The Contender of Tony Cook made up ground on this leg, but then lost out on the long reach against the tide. At the finish, it was Ed and Sarah Styles who took the honours.

Results 1st Ed and Sarah Styles (Buzz) 2nd John Cass and Julia Brazil (Buzz) 3rd Simon Cory and Penny Jordan (Buzz) 4th Chris Dutton and Martyn Wyman (Buzz) 5th Tony Cook (Contender) 6th Mark and Clinton Styles (RS400)

April – May 2005