Inland Nationals at Grafham Water Sailing Club - 30-31st October 2004

Seven new faces in the fleet, from South Shields, Calshot, Stokes Bay and Northampton meant a fine turnout of 20 boats for the last event of the season. Grafham Water looked like a fogged up mirror, everyone had rushed to get rigged and changed only to be held on shore by the red flag. After a long chat, it looked like time to head for the bar when a light wind filled in.

Race 1, Richard Stenhouse established an early lead, and held it to the finish, followed by Richard Smith and new comer Carl Silver. Racing was all very close and there was lots of place changing with the light unstable winds.

Race 2, The race started with an individual recall flag, but who was it as several boats returned to the start? Ian Trotter took the lead on the first beat and pulled clear ahead and back on form defending his title. Richard Smith clocked in another second and Kit Stenhouse pulled through to 3rd after going back at the start unnecessarily. Everyone in the fleet except Richard Smith had been girlied could he last to the end of the event?

The evenings entertainment started with a game of giant jenga. Paul Clements looked like he had lost as the tower fell towards him, but he managed to hold it up with the piece he has removing, Richard Smith was unlucky to be next.

Sunday Race 3, Ian Trotter took the lead again having a close battle with Carl Silver. Richard Smith after picking the wrong side of the first beat caught up to third. With the wind dying to nothing and the fleet heading for the club, it looked like it was a three race series.

The wind filled in and out we went for the final race. With a heavy port bias the main contenders battled for the pin. Ken Ward started on port, putting him in phase with the shifts, which gave him a large lead at the windward mark. We heard him loudly appeal for a shortened course, but we had only sailed one leg!
Mark Lucas continued in the pressure on the left of the course, leaving Kenny in the hole he gybed in to. This was Marks first Skiff event and first race win, Well done!

For the over all standings Richard Stenhouse pulled through to second to give him 3rd overall, ahead of Carl Silver. Ian Trotter finished third giving him enough to take the Musto Skiff Inland Champion title off Richard Smith.
Thanks go to the race officer and his team for a well run event and good decisions with the wind.

Inlands top tips

For good speed :

With the light winds below trapezing conditions, use the cunningham and no gnav to stop the leach hooking
Keep your weight forward and keep the boat flat and move smoothly to maintain the glide of the boat.

Tactics :

In light shifty conditions you need to keep your head out of the boat to stay on the right side of the course. I regularly compare my angle to the mark, and other boats to check I am on the best tack, and for judging the lay line.
Look to see were the most pressure is, and the angle of the front of the gust to see if its a lift or header.
Pre-Start I try to get in phase with the wind, are the gusts mainly form the left or right or equal every X minutes.
Which way paid last time? if the wind pattern is the same it will pay again.
Get a good start!

Results