| Stenhouse
wins 2003 Gold Cup
A vintage Year
!
Day 1
Perfect Lake
Garda weather met the strong fleet of Musto Performance Skiffs
from 7 different countries for their first Gold Cup.
Races 1 - 4
started with the Southerly breeze, which increased throughout
the afternoon from 8 knots peaking at 15 knots.
Richard
Stenhouse current UK and European Champion showed excellent form
and consistency to lead overnight. Closely pressed by Kevin
Anderson, Ian Trotter and Roger Oswald.
Races were
nearly always decided on the final downwind approach to the
finish.
Tomorrow, two
races are scheduled for a 9 oclock start in what is hoped to be
the classic Lake Garda 20 - 25 knot conditions, which will give
the spectator fleet something spectacular to watch.
 Day
2
Four races were
sailed today. Three morning races in the twelve to fifteen knot
northerly and one in the afternoon 8 knot southerly saw Richard
Stenhouse from Rutland and Kevin Anderson from Derwent dominate
the days racing.
The
Championship is now to be decided from these two sailors and
tomorrows two races scheduled for the morning will be a tactical
race with both sailors now studying the results and making plans
for tomorrows tactics.
The starts have
been increasingly hard fought and race four saw three general
recalls.
The forecast is
for strong winds tomorrow so competitors and spectators alike
are in for an exciting days racing with the sailors hoping for a
blast to finish off the championship.
Day 3
The final day
of racing started in a moderate Northerly wind with some
competitors nursing hangovers from the previous night's cruise
down Lake Garda followed by classic Italian hospitality courtesy of Ovington Boats.
The main
challengers were again at the front of the fleet in both races,
with excellent speed also being shown by Dave Poston, who won
the best improved sailor prize.
The Lake Garda
left hand bend to the cliffs was in full force, and this made
starting and boat speed of an even greater importance.
 Richard
Stenhouse went into the last days racing with a three point lead
and showed excellent starting and first beat tactics to lead
around the course in both races, therefore securing the Musto
Performance Skiff Gold Cup. As ever pushed hard all the way by Kev Anderson and Ian Trotter.
Prizes were
kindly supplied by Musto Clothing, Harken and Ovington Boats.
Again the
regatta fleet has increased for this dramatic class. With fleets
expanding throughout Europe and a continued high level of class
interest the future is exciting for the Musto Performance Skiff.
Fleet training
in up to 30 knots not only showed the classes excellent
pedigree, but also demonstrated the simplicity and ease with
which people sail in the class.
Overall
Results:
|
Pos |
Sail No |
Helm |
Club |
R1 |
R2 |
R3 |
R4 |
R5 |
R6 |
R7 |
R8 |
R9 |
R10 |
Pts |
|
1 |
GBR-131 |
STENHOUSE
RICHARD |
Rutland
SC |
2 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
10 |
|
2 |
GBR-1 |
ANDERSON
KEV |
Derwent
Reservoir |
3 |
7 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
DNC |
15 |
|
3 |
GBR-129 |
TROTTER IAN |
Derwent
Res. SC |
1 |
6 |
3 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
4 |
4 |
5 |
3 |
27 |
|
4 |
GBR-139 |
TURNBULL
IAN |
Sunderland
YC |
4 |
2 |
13 |
DNF |
1 |
3 |
3 |
DNC |
3 |
4 |
33 |
|
5 |
SUI-105 |
OSWALD
ROGER |
SC Enge |
8 |
3 |
4 |
6 |
6 |
4 |
5 |
9 |
10 |
6 |
42 |
|
6 |
GBR-98 |
TOONE MATT |
Alton
Water SC |
5 |
9 |
6 |
7 |
12 |
7 |
7 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
44 |
|
7 |
GBR-80 |
POSTON
DAVID |
Datchet
SC |
18 |
5 |
8 |
12 |
5 |
6 |
6 |
11 |
7 |
2 |
50 |
|
8 |
GBR-128 |
RENILSON
IAN |
Dalgety Bay
SC |
17 |
4 |
18 |
4 |
11 |
9 |
8 |
8 |
12 |
8 |
64 |
|
9 |
GBR-111 |
GRAEME
OVILER |
Whitstable
YC |
6 |
11 |
9 |
11 |
10 |
8 |
12 |
7 |
6 |
7 |
64 |
|
10 |
GBR-113 |
REYNOLDS
SIMON |
Whitstable
YC |
10 |
15 |
14 |
10 |
7 |
11 |
10 |
10 |
8 |
10 |
76 |
|
