August - September  2005    1/8/05    7/8/05    10/8/05    2/9/05    26/9/05

 

26/9/05

Fourteen boats competed for the Norman Atkins trophy at Downs SC on Sunday.
They were greeted by a blustery Force 4/5 from the South-West which was expected to increase as the rain clouds passed over. The format of the competition was three races back to back. There was a running start which led to some near-misses when Chris Shelton and Dave Webb gybed onto starboard and crossed the fleet. The Buzz of Steve Restall, crewed by Sarah Styles gained an early lead followed by Eric and Richard Styles. As the fleet sped out to sea they were hit by some big gusts occasionally reaching Force 6. This led to some gear breakages including a trapeze wire and a boom, at the end of the race four boats retired leaving a depleted fleet to contest the remaining two races. The RS200 of Chris and Nikki Catt was keeping pace with some of the faster boats and won race two but Steve and Sarah mastered the conditions to take the third race. A squall including torrential rain hit the fleet during the latter, but the boats finished in bright sunshine as the wind dropped. So Steve Restall picked up yet another trophy with Chris and Nikki Catt second.

Results: Norman Atkins Trophy 1st Steve Restall and Sarah Styles (Buzz) 2nd Chris and Nikki Catt (RS200) 3rd John Cass and Julia Brazil (Buzz) 4th Eric and Richard Styles (Hornet) 5th Simon Cory and Penny Jordan (Buzz) 6th Chris Dutton and Martin Wyman (Buzz)
 

 

2/9/05

Deal sailors triumphed at the Buzz National Championships held at Restronguet SC on the beautiful setting of the Fal estuary in Cornwall.
Steve Restall and Chris Catt were crowned National Champions followed by Ed and Sarah Styles with Chris Dutton and Martin Wyman in 3rd place. Nine races were held over the August Bank Holiday weekend in light to moderate winds.
The race officer set a windward/leeward course and the pattern for the championship was set on the first day with Steve and Ed taking the first two places in all three races. Behind them, Chris and Martin were most consistent with a 3rd and two 4th places. Gary and Steven Aiken showed good offwind speed and were close behind along with Simon Cory and Penny Jordan and Stuart Bailey and Hannah Packman. Pete Lindley and Annie Smith were improving rapidly, having only purchased their boat days before the championship. The second day saw some new winners, in the fifth race Chris and Martin got a flying start and headed left whilst the rest of the fleet went right. At the windward mark they had a good lead which they held for two laps but were passed by Steve and Chris on the final beat and had to settle for 2nd place. Simon Cory was also showing good speed and came in 3rd. He improved on this by winning the final race of the day. By the final day Steve and Chris were in a strong position with five 1sts and a 2nd to their credit. The wind had strengthened slightly for the 7th race, allowing the boats to begin planing on the downwind leg. Chris and Martin pulled ahead on the first beat and then showed good offwind speed to keep ahead of the fleet. On the final beat the wind lifted on port tack and it looked like they would be passed, but then it backed and allowed them to cross the fleet and keep their noses ahead to win the race. Behind them any one of four boats could have taken 2nd place with a photo finish on the line, but Stuart Bailey and Hannah Packman prevailed ahead of Ed and Sarah Styles. The 8th race saw a new winner with Gary and Stephen Aiken capitalizing on their offwind speed to win the race with Steve and Chris in 2nd. With the championship in the bag, they could afford to relax for the last race and Chris Catt took over the helm. After a general recall, Chris and Martin again went left to lead at the windward mark, a position they held until the final leg. In a photo finish on the line, Steve and Chris took the honours ahead of Chris and Martin who finished a metre ahead of Stephen and Gary.
The organization throughout the event was excellent both on and off the water, with waiting time between the races kept to a minimum and a plentiful supply of Cornish pasties in the galley at the end of the day. Results Buzz National Championships 1st Steve Restall and Chris Catt 2nd Ed and Sarah Styles 3rd Chris Dutton and Martin Wyman 4th Gary and Stephen Aiken 5th Simon Cory and Penny Jordan 6th Stuart Bailey and Hannah Packman 7th Pete Lindley and Annie Smith 8th Paolo Monciardini and Debra Cuccato 9th John Cass and Julia Brazil 10th Chris and Valma Hardcastle

 

10/8/05

On Tuesday, there were gentle conditions for the Points Race with a flat sea and a Force 2-3 South-Easterly breeze. Steve Restall was first off the start line along with the Ed and Sarah Styles. Simon Cory was sailing his Buzz single-handed and was third round the windward mark followed by Chris Dutton. The race officer had set a square course with two close reaches and a run against the tide. The Laser 4000 of Chris Stubbs was also in the hunt and this bunch of five boats pulled out a good lead over the rest of the fleet. The wind swung more to the East at the end of the race allowing the boats to reach the windward mark in one tack. Simon Cory pulled through into second place and Ed Styles managed to pass Chris Dutton on the final run.
In the Slow Handicap, Nathan Brazil did very well to take third place behind John Turgoose and Roger Phillips.

Results: Fast Handicap 1st Steve Restall and Chris Catt (Buzz) 2nd Simon Cory (Buzz) 3rd Ed and Sarah Styles (Buzz) 4th Chris Dutton and Martin Wyman (Buzz) 5th Frank Catt (RS300) 6th John Cass and Zara Brazil (Buzz) Slow Handicap 1st Roger Phillips and Judy Restall (Laser 2000) 2nd John Turgoose (Laser) 3rd Nathan Brazil (Topper) 4th John Sharvill and Sally Waite (Laser 2000) 5th Rosie Lord (Topper) 6th Lawrence (Topper)
 

 

7/8/05

On Tuesday, there were gentle conditions for the Points Race with a flat sea and a Force 2-3 Southerly breeze. Frank Catt and Steve Restall were quickly off the start line along with the Laser 4000 of Chris Stubbs. The race officer had set a square course with two close reaches and a run. With little tide running, neither side of the run was particularly favoured, although Chris Dutton and Martin Wyman picked up some ground on the second lap by heading inshore. At the finish, Frank Catt had pulled far enough ahead to beat the Buzzes. In the Slow Handicap, Nathan Brazil did very well to take second place behind John Turgoose.

Results: Fast Handicap 1st Frank Catt (RS300) 2nd Steve and Katie Restall (Buzz) 3rd Chris Dutton and Martin Wyman (Buzz) 4th Chris Stubbs and Chris Catt (Laser 4000) 5th Mitch and Dan Webb (Laser 4000 ) 6th Nigel Cureton (Contender) Slow Handicap 1st John Turgoose (Laser) 2nd Nathan Brazil (Topper) 3rd Rosie Lord (Topper) 4th James Blackman (Topper) 5th John Sharvill and Tim Waite (Laser 2000) On Sunday, bright sunshine and a fresh Force 3-4 Northerly breeze gave ideal conditions for the racing at Downs SC.

In the Pursuit race, Chris and Nikki Catt in their RS200 pulled ahead with father Frank Catt not far behind. Mark and Clinton Styles kept ahead of the faster Laser 4000 of Mitch Webb and Chris Dutton and Martin Wyman held off the challenge of the other Buzzes.
Results: Pursuit 1st Chris and Nikki Catt (RS200) 2nd Frank Catt (RS300) 3rd Mark Styles and Thomas Salvio (RS400) 4th Mitch Webb and Rick Clemence (Laser 4000) 5th Chris Dutton and Martin Wyman (Buzz) 6th Steve and Katie Restall (Buzz).

The wind strength increased slightly for the Points Race. Mitch Webb and Chris Dutton got good starts but Steve and Katie Restall were first round the windward mark. The next leg was an exciting 3-sail reach out to sea with the crews at full stretch on the trapeze. After a run against the tide there was another fast reach inshore. Ed and Sarah Styles pulled through into third place. In the Slow Handicap. Chris Catt again dominated ahead of John Turgoose in a Laser.

 

Results: Fast Handicap 1st Steve and Katie Restall (Buzz) 2nd Ed and Sarah Styles (Buzz) 3rd John Cass and Julia Brazil (Buzz) 4th Nigel Cureton (Contender) 5th Chris Dutton and Martin Wyman (Buzz) 6th Mark Styles and Thomas Salvio (RS400) Slow Handicap 1st Chris and Nikki Catt (RS200) 2nd John Turgoose (Laser) 3rd Rosie Lord
(Topper)