Whistable YC Open
- May 21st - 22nd
Ballistic
is the only word that can be used to describe the sailing
at Whitstable over the 21/22 May. With winds topping
out at 28kts on the Saturday it was to make for a spectacular
day’s racing. The first race started with Richard Stenhouse
taking an early lead on the first beat closely followed
by Graeme Oliver, Dave Poston and the rest of the fleet.
With a very steep chop it made for a tricky bear away
and kite hoist with many pitchpoles including Oliver
and Poston. With Stenhouse capsizing on the gybe it
allowed a now recovered Oliver through to lead but after
a mistake on the beat and a meaty pitchpole on the following
run allowed Stenhouse through for the win with Oliver
second and a charging Ian Trotter through to third.
Race two was sailed in an increasing breeze with boats
clearing the water on the upwind leg it was to be even
more spectacular on the run, some impressive pitchpoles
and some very impressive boat handling from Stenhouse
and the ever improving Simon Dodds. Stenhouse went on
to take the win with Dodds second and Oliver
recovering from lower in the fleet to take third.
Race three started in even more breeze and an ever steepening
chop, Stenhouse made the perfect start and led at the
first mark, the decision was made to shorten the course
after just one lap as a 28kt gust went through and prevented
even the most fearless MPS sailors from hoisting the
kite, Stenhouse at first missed the shortened course
flag but recovered to take the win from Trotter and
Oliver who finished within a boatlength of each other.
Sunday dawned with an increased amount of wind and the
decision was taken to abandon the day’s racing before
the fleet even hit the water.
Thanks must go to Whistable YC for organising a great
event and being able to cope with what were very extreme
conditions.
1st GBR 163 R.Stenhouse Rutland
SC 3
2nd GBR 161 G.Oliver Whitstable YC
3rd GBR 168 I.Trotter Derwent Res SC
4th GBR 114 S.Dodds Whitstable YC
5th GBR 179 K.Stenhouse Rutland SC
6th GBR 162 R Perkins Whitstable
YC

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