Map My Tracks UK Nationals 2008

With 65 entries the event was the biggest UK Nationals to date but no doubt this record will be broken next year. The event was title sponsoded by Map My Tracks and this provided on-line GPS coverage of the races. See some replays here >>>

BBC TV Event Coverage >>>

Day 1

Day 1 of the Map my Tracks sponsored Musto Performance Skiff UK Nationals was an over the handle bars day... Below are quotes from individual sailors. The maximum gust recorded was 47 mph at 10:42 on the Sheppey Web Cam. Loads of wind, waves & even more rain...

Russ Clark

Survived the squalls, hail, water spouts and mayhem only to throw away a potentially decent result by pitch poling at the windward mark and then having another boat sail through my mainsail, shredding it to pieces.
An emotional day after 4 hours sleep and the Sail for Gold ball in London the night before!

Simon Reynolds

Having survived the water spout, the 42 knot rain squall, I decided that playing it conservative might be a good option – only to be proved wrong when I had a big ‘over the handlebars’ moment downwind!.

Ian Trotter

Survived the tornado, heavy rain and Whitstable chop. To throw a potential second place in the second race by being a completely thick northern dimwit by trying to finish a lap early after being told it was a 3 lap race! Bring on tomorrow!

Graeme Oliver

After a good 5th in the first race with some awesome downwind legs, the second race started well, working through to first on the 2nd run, after laying the finish line with ease, I realised that it was 3 laps!. Trotter, close behind followed like a sheep. After a swim, I ended up 11th, D’oh!.
3rd in the last made up for it. Moral of the story ………………remove head from orifice before starting!.

Paul Manning

From the photography RIB, oh, there appears to be a waterspout coming towards us!. No problems, let’s run away …

Day 2

Competitors were greeted on day 2 to a warmer outlook and were rewarded with sunshine and a west backing to northerly breeze, which throughout the day rose from 8-15 knots with good visibility, overcast with sunny spells. The conditions allowed for all the 4 scheduled races to be run.

Race 4 started on time with the 65 boat fleet splitting quickly out to the left and right hand side of the course. The leaders of each pack converged at the windward mark evenly. A slight shift to the right favoured the gybe set and a continual shift to the right allowed the fleet to work that side downwind to the leeward gate. Ian Trotter (Trident) made the most of the conditions to pull clear ahead for an easy win, followed by a pack headed by Dan Dixon and Gareth Davies.

For Race 5 the wind continued to clock right and build over the duration. Richard Stenhouse (Helly Hansen) led the fleet to the windward mark and never put a foot wrong to take the win, although Dan Vincent (Rooster) sailed well to stay in contact for a well deserved second place.

With the tide still ebbing Races 6 and 7 started under black flag and a number of the front runners were caught out and sent home for an early shower. Martin Boatman fresh back from his second overall at the SB3 Nationals put in a great first beat to allow him to control the fleet and take the win, followed by again by a hard charging Dan Vincent, Ian Trotter and Rick Perkins.

Race 7 saw the wind now clock completely to the North and become patchy, making the choice of tactics up and downwind critical for all. Stenhouse didn't put a foot wrong, even though at times he had to cover both sides of the course on different occasions to score another bullet and maintain a lead overnight, from Ian Trotter (Trident) and Graeme Oliver (SELS).

With two days left to run, there are still 5 races to run and with a second discard coming into being after Race 9 there is still all to play for.

Day 3

Day 3 of the Championships dawned with a light north westerly breeze and bright sunshine. Competitors were noticeably slower around the dinghy park after an evening exchanging stories in the club bar. Racing was postponed on the water to allow the breeze to stabilise but three back to back races were held before the wind decided to shut off.

Race 8 started cleanly in trapezing conditions with the majority of the fleet charging out to the left where it appeared there might be more breeze under the rogue dark cloud which threatened to ruin the competitors tans. Those who went hardest left came out smelling sweet and leading the pack was Dan Vincent, Bruce Keen, both from Stokes Bay, and Tom Offer from Chew Valley - all fairly clear ahead and those positions were held to the finish.

Race 9 again saw the fleet charge left however the pressure turned out to be variable across the course with some big shifts and lulls. Those who choose to go right up the beat gained handsomely at the windward mark and were led by Matt Hollis (Zhik) by some margin over Simon Dodds and Bruce Keen. Matt defended well despite the testing conditions and increased his lead to the finish and take his first class bullet. Bruce Keen crossed second followed by Andy Peake, Ian Trotter (Trident) and Richard Stenhouse (Helly Hansen). Russ Clark finished a credible 8th having also had an excellent first beat.

For Race 10 the wind had eased to marginal trapezing conditions and saw the fleet pressing the line hard and after two recalls started under black flag. Again hard left paid dividends, although with a shifting breeze called for strong nerves. Dan Vincent proved toughest to come out top at the windward mark followed by a close string of boats which included Dan Dixon, Richard Lovering, Dan Henderson (AIG Engineering Group) and Nick Hollis (Zhik). After some close covering in a dying breeze Dan Vincent secured his second win of the day closely followed by Dan Henderson and Nick Hollis, not to be outdone by his brothers earlier result. The remaining places were decided on the final downwind which proved testing for many including the race officer as a large group of boats finished together.

With one day left to run the title is there to won by any of the boats currently in the top 10, which shall make for some interesting racing and tactics in what looks like another day of light breezes.

Day 4

Day 4 of the Championships again dawned with a light north westerly breeze and bright sunshine. Racing got under way on time in 6-8 knots, this breeze continued for both races 11 and 12.

Race 11 was re-called and the subsequent start black flagged. John Reekie of Largs Sailing Club lead the group from the left hand side of the beat and rounded the windward mark in the lead, closely followed by a group including Pablo Arandia, Ian Trotter, Daniel Henderson, Matt Hollis and Richard Stenhouse.

Reekie pulled away on the second beat to lead from the same group. However, on the final downwind leg, Reekie was overtaken by Arandia 200m from the finish line and had to settle for 2nd place. Henderson finished 3rd and Hollis 4th.

Race 12 started under black flag, and again it was the left hand side of the course that lead at the windward mark. A battle in the 6-8 knots breeze ensued with Daniel Henderson, Dan Vincent, Ian Trotter, Pablo Arandia and Richard Stenhouse all challenging for the lead with Iver Ahlmann and Peter Griffith not far behind. The lead continued to change around the course, but fittingly it was Richard Stenhouse who won the final race to claim the UK National Championship title, closely followed by Henderson, Vincent, Trotter and Arandia.

Photo by Tania Samus www.photoblink.co.uk

GPS Replays by Map My Tracks >>>

BBC TV Event Coverage >>>

Overall Results (full results here >>>)

Youth

Master

Grand Master

Silver Fleet

Bronze Fleet

Summary Event Report

The “Map my Tracks” sponsored Musto Performance Skiff UK National Championships’ has been won by Richard Stenhouse sailing Helly Hansen of Rutland Water Sailing Club.

Competing against an entry of 65 boats from 6 nations, Richard sailed consistently to take the title from close rival Ian Trotter (Trident) of Derwent Water Sailing Club. Richard Stenhouse did not have the event all his own way with other race winners including Ian Trotter, former 29er sailor Matt Hollis (Zhik) from Rutland Water Sailing Club, Pablo Arandia from Club Nautico Denia and Dan Dixon from Blackwater Sailing Club all taking race wins. However, Stenhouse showed real consistency in the big fleet for a well deserved victory.

All 12 scheduled races were completed under the management of PRO Howard Patterson…. and his team.

Conditions varied from a fresh Thursday when a large black cloud produced a small waterspout close to the racing area just before the start of the first race and accompanying gusts in excess of 46mph, to the remainder of the event which was more typical June weather with bright sunshine and cloud and a breeze that varied from 5 – 15knots.

The fleet raced off one start, but the results were also split into Gold, Silver and Bronze groups as well as Grand master, Master and Youth.

Jerry Wales from Queen Mary Sailing Club dominated the Grand master fleet to win from close rivals John Evans and Tim Chapman. Second placed overall Ian Trotter won the Masters and last years Youth winner Daniel Henderson held onto his title from ex. 29er sailors Tom Wright, Matt and Nick Hollis and Hugh Shone as well as Martin Boatman who recently finished 2nd at the SB3 National Championships’.

Silver fleet was won by Griff Tanner from Simon Dodds and Rob Chaplin, and the Bronze fleet winner was Matt Hollis closely followed by Nick Hollis and Alistair Conn.

Special thanks must go to last year’s UK National Champion, Rick Perkins, who put in a big effort to manage this event at his home club.

The class is now looking forward to their World Championships’ at Yacht Club St.Moritz on Lake Silvaplana, Switzerland in August.