Musto Skiff  UK Inland Championship 2003

The Musto Skiff Inlands took place at Grafham SC on 25 / 26^th October with the fleet being greeted by ice and a perfect force 3 / 4 breeze. With Richard Stenhouse looking to make it a clean sweep of all of this years’ events, the pressure was on the pack to provide the goods…. They did not disappoint. 

The first two races saw normal service as Stenhouse won both convincingly reading the shifts perfectly on what was a very tough call on which side of the beat paid. The following pack of Matt Toone, Ian Trotter, Dave Poston and Graeme Oliver fighting amongst themselves and sharing the places over both races to leave things close overall.  

The Third race however provided a shock as with Stenhouse leading and heading for the finish line on a very shy kite leg hit the water within swimming distance of the finish line allowing Trotter and Oliver through to take 1^st & 2^nd, Stenhouse recovered to take 3^rd. The forth race again saw Stenhouse hit the front and dictate things from then on, with some huge gusts allowing a straight line blast between the Windward and leeward marks giving fantastic speeds. Stenhouse won from Trotter and Toone. 

The second day dawned with everything still to play for. Trotter made his move, with Stenhouse and Poston OCS (without knowing it) it allowed Trotter to take first with Martin Boatman pulling through to Second followed by Oliver in third. Trotter now gaining in confidence blasted his way around race 6 to show the fleet the way home with Oliver holding off Stenhouse on the reach to the finish to take second. 

With the pressure on, Trotter had to beat Stenhouse in the 7^th race to make it to the last race decider, with a fantastic battle between the two swapping places until the last leeward mark when Trotter squeezed ahead and held Stenhouse off on the final reach, with Oliver taking 3^rd, Toone 4^th and Poston 5^th, the race was on for third as well in the final race. 

The final race dawned with the wind dropping slightly and shifting more often giving a tough decider. Stenhouse led from the front closely persued by Trotter, but with Stenhouse needing Trotter to be third or worse he did an “Ainsle” on Trotter, but Trotter spotting this passed it on to the close Poston. With the following pack a good way behind after a shift the three eventually broke free of each other and sailed to the finish with Stenhouse 1^st, Trotter 2^nd and Poston 3^rd. This was enough to give Trotter the Overall win with Stenhouse 2^nd, and Oliver pulling through to take 3^rd. 

Thanks to all at Grafham SC for a fantastic event.