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May 2004

The Newsletter of Spinnaker Club, Ringwood

www.spinnakerclub.co.uk

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Under Cover Sailing

In January four hardy sailors faced the ultimate challenge: could they sail up the M3 and brave the full wrath of Neptune in the London Boat Show Indoor Team Racing Pool, and still retain their cool for the TV cameras and ‘post-match’ interviews?

 With their coach unwilling to get up early enough to make the 10 am practice session, the ‘fab four’ had to jump into the RS Feva's (single-handed) untested and try their hand at racing in conditions which would (and did) tax the most experienced. With wind speeds varying from force 0 to force 10, and 180 degree shifts in the space of a boat length, it was hard enough just staying upright (which they managed) let alone think about winning (which they didn’t).

And the blare of the live commentary, the glare of the TV lights, a broken arm and the gasps of the crowd didn’t add to their composure. But we had terrific fun – thanks to Rob ‘Captain’ Foxell, Sarah ‘My mainsheet got stuck’ Hornby, Charlie ‘Where are we?’ Nicholson and Matt ‘The Glove’ Turnbull for coping with such difficult circumstances with good humour.

If only we’d been able to buy some of the yachts we saw afterwards …

Stephen Wilkinson

This year the UK Team Racing Association National Championships were held over 3 and 4 April at Spinnaker Club in the New Forest, one of the country's premier team racing venues. With three flights of matched Fireflies and the top 16 teams (reduced from the original 42 entries by numerous countrywide qualifiers) competition for the coveted title was hot. The event is the perfect opportunity for the top university teams to pitch their wits against the experienced old boys, the established clubs and the wild card entrants of 'old school' gatherings.

Day one and fresh winds provided superb competition for all. F Club 6, a team of experienced team racers and Firefly sailors, started well by dominating one side of the draw, whilst the other league showed some close racing for all. This first tier of competition sorts the competitors into Gold and Silver Leagues, from which the semi final places are decided.

The UKTRA Finals are the National championships of team racing and the culmination of the domestic year allowing teams to vie for the top spot. The Finals are also the springboard to the international circuit, kicked off and never bettered by the Wilson Trophy held at West Kirby in May.

Sunday arrived with all to play for. The top three from the Gold League would go straight through to the semi finals, whilst the top spot in the Silver League would have the chance to progress to the semis in a sail-off with 4th from the Gold League. The fresh conditions provided for some excellent racing and boat handling. The New Forest Pirates from Spinnaker Club consolidated their strong season and won the Gold League closely followed by The Wessex Exiles and F Club 6, with Spinnaker Club seeing off The Royal Thames in the playoff for the last semi-final place. By this time the wind was gusting to 25 knots allowing the top teams to show off their honed skills with some extremely proficient team racing.

Semi final one between Spinnaker and The New Forest Pirates precipitated some tense and close racing between these local rivals. Race one was taken by the NFP who made poor starts but finished strongly. Race two and the tables were turned, with Spinnaker coming out on top after a very close final beat. Race three, and both teams came out of the starting blocks well. Stuart Hudson and Linda Eadie of the NFP managed to control the race, finally getting team mates Owen Modral and Jane Stamp through up the final beat, to secure victory and a place in the finals.

Semi final two between F Club 6 and the Wessex Exiles provided an excellent spectacle for the gathering crowds on the bank. With an eclectic mix of experience (numerous world championship medals in the form of Roger Morris and Match Racing guru Ian Williams) and youth (rising star Paul Campbell-James and whippersnapper Ricky Tagg) the teams locked horns in the pre start, and went to business. Wessex Exiles came out on top and moved on to face the NFP in the final.

As the wind built and tension rose, it was the NFP out of the blocks well in the first race of the final. Dom Johnson and Debs Kershaw, who once again put in strong performance all weekend, secured victory for the NFP. Race two saw a slight reduction in breeze allowing the match racing skills of Simon Shaw and Paul Campbell-James to come to the fore in the pre-start manoeuvres. However, the NFP slipped away and managed to hold off until the finish, winning the race and the title National Champions.

A great weekend was had by all and thanks must go to Spinnaker Club and its members, the umpires and race organisers, and especially Jim Bramley of UKTRA who made the event (both sailing and social) happen.

Stuart Hudson
With thanks to yachtsandyachting.com (text) and Jane Stamp (photos) - Ed

Visit UKTRA page for more info on the Finals.