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Sprint 15 Northern Championship at Carsington Sailing Club

by Robin Newbold
26-27 September 2009

The fourth Sprint 15 TT of 2009 took place on 26th and 27th September at Carsington Sailing Club in Derbyshire. The sun broke through on a clear morning, with a light and very shifty wind promising difficult conditions for the fleet of 17 boats.

First race was staged on a trapezoid course. A good start from Charles Watson, George Love, and Erling Holmberg saw them reach the windward mark first. On lap 4, a huge windshift on the left side on the course meant it was snakes and ladders for positions. John Postlethwaite and Steve Sawford used this to best advantage, with John taking the lead, and Steve picking up at least 7 places. Postlethwaite went on to win the race from Charles Watson and Robin Newbold.

Race 2 saw light-wind guru Robert England take the lead from the start and hold off stiff competition from Neil Parkhurst. Tactical genius Postlethwaite found another windshift to take him up to fourth. In the same shift, Keith Chidwick managed to gain around 10 places to put him up the sharp end. England stretched his lead, from Parkhurst, and Postlethwaite third.

Race 3 had a very port biased line, allowing 7 boats to start on a port flyer. At the windward mark, Watson, Newbold and Parkhurst led, with England gradually catching. Postlethwaite lost out on lap 2 by getting on the wrong side of a windshift. The leading group contained Watson, England, Newbold and Parkhurst, but England was soon to drop back with a mistake, missing a mark and doing his turn. Watson pulled ahead, but was chased down by Parkhurst but Watson somehow managed to scrape the victory by just a few seconds.

Sunday brought less wind, and the start was delayed in hope the wind would build up to forecasted levels.

Most boats started race 4 at the committee boat end. A big group of boats were to round the windward mark together and head downwind 6 abreast, producing a busy leeward mark. The fleet split into 2 groups further down the course. Gordon Goldstone showed a lack of spatial awareness as he managed to clip a buoy unprovoked. At the end of a tight race Newbold got his first gun of the weekend from Parkhurst, Holmberg and Stewart Pegum.

Race 5 saw the wind die even more, to around a few knots with the occasional gust. At this point there was 4 leaders within 2 points of each other, so it was still all to play for into the last race. A big windshift on the start benefitted Watson, George Love and Howard Hawkes who started on port. With the wind shifting, Newbold, Watson and Parkhurst kept close to each other, but Postlethwaite once again managed to make the most of the conditions and snuck away. Hawkes hung on to take second and Holmberg made a big gain on lap 2 to pull himself up to third. With John Postlethwaite's convincing win, he clinched the title of Northern Champion.

After racing on Sunday, the raffle was drawn, and the winners were Robin Newbold, Gordon Goldstone and John Postlethwaite. Thanks to Windsport for donating these vouchers.

The sailors now look forward to Grafham Cat Open on 24-25th October, and a return to Carsington Water on 5th December for a winter TT.

Overall Results:

Pos Sail No Helm Club R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 Pts

1 1405 J Postlethwaite Beaver SC 1 3 4 5 1 9

2 991 R Newbold Carsington SC 3 9 3 1 4 11

3 1237 C Watson Halifax SC 2 4 1 10 6 13

4 1761 N Parkhurst Beaver SC 7 2 2 2 7 13

5 2007 E Holmberg Shanklin SC 6 6 5 3 3 17

6 1733 S Sawford Rutland SC 4 5 7 9 5 21

7 1643 H Hawkes Thorpe Bay YC 18 7 11 6 2 26

8 1918 S Pegum Queen Mary SC 18 11 6 4 8 29

9 2004 G Goldstone Queen Mary SC 10 8 8 7 10 33

10 1825 G Love Carsington SC 5 10 9 11 11 35

11 753 R Gill Beaver SC 9 13 13 12 9 43

12 1914 R Gall Carsington SC 13 16 12 8 12 45

13 1351 R England Carsington SC 18 1 10 18 18 47

14 1945 I Collyer Hollowell SC 8 15 17 13 14 50

15 1348 Rob Bowen Netley SC 11 14 14 16 15 54

16 1840 K Chidwick Queen Mary SC 12 12 15 15 16 54

17 1974 C Hodges Carsington SC 14 17 16 14 13 57

Pos	Sail No	Helm	Club	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	Pts
1	1405	J Postlethwaite	Beaver SC	1	3	4	5	1	9
2	991	R Newbold	Carsington SC	3	9	3	1	4	11
3	1237	C Watson	Halifax SC	2	4	1	10	6	13
4	1761	N Parkhurst	Beaver SC	7	2	2	2	7	13
5	2007	E Holmberg	Shanklin SC	6	6	5	3	3	17
6	1733	S Sawford	Rutland SC	4	5	7	9	5	21
7	1643	H Hawkes	Thorpe Bay YC	18	7	11	6	2	26
8	1918	S Pegum	Queen Mary SC	18	11	6	4	8	29
9	2004	G Goldstone	Queen Mary SC	10	8	8	7	10	33
10	1825	G Love	Carsington SC	5	10	9	11	11	35
11	753	R Gill	Beaver SC	9	13	13	12	9	43
12	1914	R Gall	Carsington SC	13	16	12	8	12	45
13	1351	R England	Carsington SC	18	1	10	18	18	47
14	1945	I Collyer	Hollowell SC	8	15	17	13	14	50
15	1348	Rob Bowen	Netley SC	11	14	14	16	15	54
16	1840	K Chidwick	Queen Mary SC	12	12	15	15	16	54
17	1974	C Hodges	Carsington SC	14	17	16	14	13	57

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