Hayling Island
Musto Skiff Open Meeting - 7/8 Jul 07
The Hayling Musto Open, held in conjunction
with the RS700s and Int 14s, disappointingly attracted
only 8 competitors. The low numbers were due to some
competitors catching up on family time only 2 weeks
after the epic 86 boat World Championships at Lake Garda
and the clash with the Lord Birkett Trophy which is
a favorite with the Musto Skiffs who this year took
2nd, 3rd and 6th, anyway to those that weren’t there
you missed a good one.
Saturday’s racing was held in a variable
F2-3, but it was the chop that made life difficult,
with the waves being particularly nasty on Stbd tack.
Gareth Davies showed good form with 2 wins from 3 races,
however he could only score a 4th in the middle race,
which meant Neil Upton-Brown was the overnight leader
with a 2-1-2 scoreline.
Sunday dawned with hardly a ripple, however,
fluffy white clouds were soon seen to be building over
the South Downs and the fleets were hopeful for a seabreeze.
Race 4 started before the breeze arrived, and it was
Paddy Gamble in his first race in his first Musto Open
who led round the first mark. Paddy’s moment of glory
lasted until halfway down the run where he attempted
his first gybe in a Musto Open. Dan Vincent, Tim and
Ant Chapman all had a go in the lead until Upton-Brown
finally took over at the last windward mark which he
held to the finish.
As Race 5 started the seabreeze kicked
in and the accompanying shift to the left put Vincent
into a commanding lead which he held to the finish,
followed by the consistent Upton-Brown and Mike Palfreman.
Race 6 began in 15 knots and really awkward
waves, building up in the shallow water. Upton- Brown
got it right to win the meeting in style, Davies was
second and second overall.
Overall a great weekend of racing. Results
below.
1st 251 Neil Upton-Brown 2-1-2-1-2-1
2 290 Gareth Davies 1-4-1-8-4-2
3 193 Dan Vincent 6-2-4-4-1-R
4 295 Mike Palfreman 5-3-3-6-3-R
5 169 Tim Chapman 3-7-6-5-6-3
6 146 Ant Chapman 4-5-5-2-R-R
7 311 Paul Clements 7-6-R-3-5-R
8 222 Paddy Gamble R-R-R-7-R-R
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