Nationals at Sunderland Yacht Club - 27th - 30th August 2004

Day 1

Bright sunshine with a gusty 18 - 31 knot Westerly breeze greeted day 1 of the Diamond Drilling and Cutting sponsored Musto Performance Skiff Class UK National Championships held at Sunderland Yacht Club.

Due to conditions racing was at first postponed and then finally cancelled for the day, as there was no sign of the wind decreasing. Sailors were kept ashore where they entertained themselves watching the video of the recently held Rutland class training event, and being interviewed by Tyne Tees TV.

The International fleet of 30 boats representing UK, Switzerland and Greece are looking forward to sailing tomorrow in the forcast moderating breeze.

Day 2

Racing commenced at 11.00 am with a shifting 15-18 knots and brilliant sunshine, which dropped to 10-12 knots as a front moved over the course, resulting in large shifts and wind pressure changes.

Race 1 was dominated by the raining champion Richard Stenhouse who settled into the race immediately getting on the right side of the shifts to lead from start to finish with Ian Trotter second and Ian Renilson 3rd.

The second race of the day was very similar to the first with Richard taking a second race win and looking to dominate the event once again, Simon Reynolds took 2nd place and another 3rd for Ian Renilson was setting him up nicely. It was clear at this point that consistency was going to be an important factor in deciding the 2004 national champion.

Race 3 saw a massive left hand shift up the first beat and Rick Perkins took full advantage to lead around the first mark, followed by Martin Boatman and Simon Reynolds. This remained the case until the final run where a capsize allowed Martin to take the lead until a charging Kevin Anderson finally took the bullet with Martin and Rick in 2nd and 3rd.

Race 4 started after the wind had swung around to the West and looked like it would be a little more stable. However, that was not the case and on the final run one of 10 boats could have taken the win with patchy wind making it difficult to stay in front. Simon Reynolds got it right and landed his best result of the regatta with Kev in 2nd and Richard 3rd.

There was a port end bias on the start line for race 5 which saw Martin Boatman round 1st ahead of Ian Turnbull who was sailing with a badly injured foot (brave man). In the patchy conditions it was once again Kev who pulled through to take his second race win from Martin who just held off Ian Renilson in 3rd.

Day 3

Race 6 started on time in an 18 knot Westerly breeze that increased to 22 knots. This saw four boats pull away from the rest who were racing hard top keep up and in doing so met the back end of some steep waves (Congrats to Graham Oliver on the pitch pole that gave him that black eye) In the end Kev showed us the way home with Ian Turnbull 2nd and Richard 3rd.

Just after the finish of race 6 the fleet made a dash for home as a large squall attempted to blow us off the north sea, when everyone was safe and accounted for we waited for the breeze to moderate but at a average of 30 knots it was the end of another days racing. (With two man overboards and one lost rig on the cruiser course I reckon that was a good call.)

Day 4

Gusts up to 40 knots on the race course meant no racing and a new national champion. The well-deserved winner was Kevin Anderson (Trident UK) from Sunderland Yacht Club, Richard Stenhouse (Helly Hansen) was 2nd and Martin Boatman (Graham Sykes Insurance) 3rd.

The fleet racing has become even closer in the last season, as the sailors from all round the country and abroad get more experienced. However, the well deserved winner was Kevin Anderson from Sunderland Yacht Club who has been very close to winning on previous occasions.

The fleet are looking forward to their International Championships in Lake Garda at the end of September, where Kev has promised to take his lucky camper, otherwise known as Hotel Anderson.

The class would like to thank Sunderland Yacht Club for their hosiptality, and to Ken Ward of Diamond Drilling and Cutting for his generous sponsorship.

Read Ian Renilsons report >>>