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Harken National Solo Inland Championship at Rutland Sailing Club

by Will Loy
8-9 September 2012

Sponsored by Harken

85 competitors made the trip to Rutland Sailing Club on September 8/9th for the Inland Championship. The N.S.C.A held a training day on the Friday with free coaching provided by the association. 31 members attended and enjoyed the wall to wall sunshine and 10mph south westerly breeze.

Race 1 - Saturday and the main event kicked off after a short delay, windguru's prediction was spot on, 5-7 mph from the s'west and a temperature that matched Malaga and Athens. The race team set a course in the eastern quadrant of the lake and after two recalls the fleet got away with no black flag casualties. Michael Simms won the committee boat end and played the shifts up the right hand side, hooking into the lifts as the breeze bent around the headland and rounding first. The talented fleet including Andy Davis, Tom Gillard, Andy Tunnicliffe and Simon Maskell were all applying pressure but Michael was able to hold his lead throughout the 3 lap race.

Race 2 - The wind was stubbornly holding at 5-7 mph despite my prayers. Tom Gillard started at the pin and worked over the fleet on port, tacking on the occasional header and leading into mark 1. Simon Maskell who is new to the fleet was having a blinding day and was in the mix with Nigel Davies, Dave Mitchell and Michael Simms in close order. There was little place changing on the downwinds but tales of snakes and ladders up the beats. Invariably at this venue, corner hitting is a must which makes protecting a lead difficult. Tom did the business, securing the bullet from Simon Maskell and Nigel Davies.

Race 3 - The wind had shifted left slightly and those at the pin end benefited nicely. Andy Davis, Tom Gillard, Simon Maskell and Dan Goodman all rounded the top mark in close proximity. Getting in phase with the oscillating shifts was key. There were streaky patches of pressure on the downwinds, the sound of bow waves from behind is most disconcerting. Simon Maskell worked into the lead and then put a loose cover on his nearest rivals to take the gun and complete a 3-2-1 of results to end day 1 in the lead. Tom Gillard broke through Dan Goodman to finish second and hold second overall and Michael Simms worked through the fleet to finish 8th to complete day 1 in 3rd overall.

After a hard day on the water the fleet re-assembled at nearby bars to re-hydrate and re-fuel. Windguru were predicting 8-15 mph with gusts of 20mph and unbroken sunshine and 25 degrees for Sunday. If they had not been so accurate with Saturdays prediction then we would all have been sceptical.

Sunday (8-15 mph with gusts of 20mph and 25 degrees!)

I kid you not, unfortunately the predicted breeze came to fruition when Windguru said it would, about 12.16 pm. Race 4 was scheduled for 10.30am and despite my attempts to deter the fleet from launching, racing got underway at 10.45 approx. The blatantly port biased line was rewarded with 5 black flag offenders, I assume there was not enough room on the blackboard to write them all down. The breeze was trying it's best to live up to expectation, streaks of dark pressure started meandering on to the race track. My optimism was being fed little crumbs of hope, the choice of hiking pads over Bermuda shorts seemingly justified.

Race 4 - There was a definite port bias and Gillard, Davis, Goodman and Simms were all hooked into it, climbing over the fleet and rounding with a nice gap on the peleton. Simms worked to the front and stayed there, Jon Clarke, having spent some time preparing for the event by washing his Solo was up to second and Tom Gillard was third. That was the order at the finish. The wind was now freshening allowing hiking and even the occasional plane. The overall result now seemed secondary to the reward of sailing in these conditions or at least that is what I was telling myself.

Race 5 - The main players were at the pin end and on the gun tacked and crossed the fleet. Tom Gillard seemed to lead for most of the race with Michael Simms, Andy Davis and Chris Brown in the Speed Solo hassling. Their close proximity led to a momentary loss of concentration from Tom and he missed the spacer mark. Tom finished second but after a 'chat' with Mike fell on his sword and retired. This promoted everybody up one place!

Race 6 - My moment of glory. The majority of the fleet were towards the pin end but the wind had gone right, mark 1 had been moved right from 190 to 205 and had stabilised so surely the right would pay. Myself, Dave Mitchell, Nigel Davies and Michael Simms worked the right and were rewarded with a nice lead. Mitchell initially led but was reeled back in by Simms who was not to be denied a clean sweep of bullets. Andy Tunnicliffe completed a good days' work with a second which would see him scrape into the top five overall. Andy Davis finished third and third overall. Mitchell hung onto fourth with Brian Holland finishing a very creditable 5th.

So Michael Simms has now claimed the Harken Inland Championship with an impressive score of 1-4-8-1-1-1. The conditions were varied throughout the weekend with something for everyone and sunshine galore. Rutland Sailing Club once again proved wonderfully well organised hosts, the race management were on the ball, Harken generously provided prizes,

Windguru's predictions were on the money and Fotoboat were there to capture all the action. Thanks to all.

Overall Results: (six races, 1 discard)

Pos Sail No Helm Club R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 Pts

1st 5302 Michael SIMS Carsington SC 1 4 -8 1 1 1 8

2nd 5312 Thomas GILLARD Sheffield Viking SC 4 1 2 3 (DNF) 7 17

3rd 5342 Andy DAVIS Blithfield SC 9 -18 4 4 2 3 22

4th 5339 Simon MASKELL Hunts SC 3 2 1 6 11 (DNF) 23

5th 5340 Andy TUNNICLIFFE Royal Windermere YC 2 12 (DNF) 9 4 2 29

6th 4748 John CLARKE Draycote SC 12 10 9 2 5 (DNF) 38

7th 5263 Steve DENISON Hollingworth Lake SC 8 8 5 -16 12 6 39

8th 5310 David MITCHELL RYA 13 5 14 14 -25 4 50

9th 5149 I BLUNDELL Chester 5 9 6 (OCS) 23 12 55

10th 4735 Daniel GOODMAN Littleton SC -33 15 3 5 16 20 59

11th 5181 Paul RAYSON Fishers Green SC/Salcombe YC 34 6 7 10 7 (DNC) 64

12th 4985 Leo DIXON WKSC & Littleton 6 -19 16 13 14 16 65

13th 5225 Steve EDE Ardleigh SC 7 11 -33 12 15 21 66

14th 551 Chris BROWN 10 25 -26 19 3 14 71

15th 5326 Nigel DAVIES Draycote SC 11 3 -38 22 21 18 75

16th 4921/4121? Chris MAYHEW Royal Harwich YC 18 14 -43 18 20 8 78

17th 5111 Andy FRIAR Rudyard Lake SC 14 7 (DNC) 38 10 10 79

18th 5321 John WEBSTER Carsington SC 21 22 10 -44 26 11 90

19th 5205 Tim DAVISON Draycote SC 31 21 11 20 8 (DNC) 91

20th 5253 Ben HOLLIS Blithfield SC -50 16 21 8 27 23 95

21st 5157 Stuart GIBSON Clyde Cruising Club 19 23 32 17 6 (DNC) 97

22nd 5130 Mark LEE Weymouth SC 28 26 -41 21 9 17 101

23rd 5134 Robert LAURIE Tollesbury SC 15 13 23 -39 24 29 104

24th 5023 Brian HOLLAND SCYC 20 -50 18 29 38 5 110

25th 4386 Mike DRAY Littleton SC 22 -39 13 15 30 30 110

26th 5213 Andrew FOX Crosby SC 29 24 -45 31 13 22 119

27th 4736 Graham WILSON Northampton SC 23 28 12 23 37 -45 123

28th 5158 James MEAD Fishers Green SC 27 41 27 11 -54 19 125

29th 5037 Alastair RAYNARD Carsington SC 16 31 -49 46 29 9 131

30th 5287 Ian HOPWOOD Nantwich & Border Counties SC -42 29 31 28 32 13 133

31st 5104 Bob TAYLOR Tata Steel SC 37 30 34 7 -41 34 142

32nd 5067 Bernard CLARK Ripon SC 36 -40 19 27 35 38 155

33rd 5155 Simon KERR Hunts SC 49 33 17 26 31 (DNC) 156

34th 5232 Richard WILLETTS Burghfield SC 41 20 29 34 34 (DNC) 158

35th 5237 Derek JACKMAN Chichester YC -62 42 15 45 22 35 159

36th 4803 Godfrey CLARK Fishers Green SC 40 48 24 (DNF) 19 33 164

37th 4725 Steve CONROY Fishers Green SC 35 34 28 36 36 (DNC) 169

38th 4758 Paul HURN Littleton SC 39 27 22 -53 40 47 175

39th 4267 Iain CARPENTER Northampton SC 48 45 20 -54 39 24 176

40th 5115 Andrew BOYCE Papercourt SC 47 17 -50 43 33 40 180

41st 5286 Nick FISHER Chew Valley SC -51 35 40 51 28 32 186

42nd 4013 Tim GRAY Staunton Harold SC 25 51 30 24 57 (DNC) 187

43rd 4506 Andy ANDERSON Paxton Lakes SC 26 36 42 59 -66 27 190

44th 5202 Frank BROWN Papercourt SC 17 -52 51 40 47 37 192

45th 4705 Adam WHITEHORNE Wierwood SC 24 53 (OCS) OCS 18 15 196

46th 4542 Jason ALDOUS Papercourt SC 30 32 52 33 -61 60 207

47th 5259 Roger WILSON Rollesby Broad SC -52 49 37 35 45 41 207

48th 4879 Gordon EVANS Tata SC Margam 60 54 -74 32 43 31 220

49th 4903 Bill KNIGHTS Grafham Water SC 53 47 -58 50 53 26 229

50th 5151 IAN S SMITH Ripon SC 43 37 54 49 48 (DNF) 231

51st 4040 John DANIELS RYA 32 -72 36 57 55 57 237

52nd 5211 Philip Barnes Budworth/TBSC (DNC) DNC DNC 25 17 25 239

53rd 5167 Peter CURL Chipstead SC -81 62 61 42 42 36 243

54th 5138 Patrick OVERS Paxton Lakes SC -69 43 39 64 49 48 243

55th 5070 Ian FIRTH Notts County SC 55 38 44 (OCS) DNF 28 251

56th 4215 Claire CLARK Fishers Green SC 54 -56 48 55 50 46 253

57th 4263 Andrew ALCOCK Hunts SC 61 70 -76 37 46 43 257

58th 5230 Mick HEALY Chipstead SC -76 46 35 67 58 52 258

59th 4120 Andrew THOMPSON Chipstead SC 44 -67 47 65 60 42 258

60th 186 Will LOY RYA 46 58 46 30 (DNF) DNF 266

61st 5233 Glen WELLS Bartley SC 45 61 25 52 (DNC) DNC 269

62nd 5276 Michael KOSTIW Chipstead SC (DNF) 44 56 63 56 55 274

63rd 5243 Richard CHRISTMAS Hunts SC 64 -69 53 56 59 49 281

64th 5227 Kevin VIALS Ripon SC 74 59 66 47 44 (DNC) 290

65th 4768 Jon CAWTHORNE Shustoke SC 70 55 60 -74 69 39 293

66th 4461 John SADDINGTON Rollesby Broad SC 67 57 59 48 64 (DNC) 295

67th 4314 Barry GRAVER Rollesby Broad SC 38 68 62 62 72 (DNC) 302

68th 3931 Brian FISHER Notts County SC 63 66 57 66 -71 53 305

69th 4551 Bill HUTCHINGS Tonbridge SC 57 65 67 60 -70 58 307

70th 4933 Andrew HAGUE Ripon SC 65 -77 75 41 75 54 310

71st 4057 Sam HUSK Thorpe Bay YC 56 64 69 61 62 (DNC) 312

72nd 4474 Dave SMITH Hollingworth Lake SC 75 71 -79 75 51 44 316

73rd 4616 Peter FRYER Littleton SC 58 63 72 72 52 (DNC) 317

74th 4710 Simon ANDERSON Ripon SC 72 -75 65 69 68 51 325

75th 3061 Robert TREND Chipstead SC 71 73 63 68 -79 56 331

76th 5075 Barrie WOODHALL Shustoke SC 68 60 55 76 (DNC) DNC 345

77th 4888 Colin MATHER Ripon SC 80 -84 77 77 65 50 349

78th 3977 Dave RUDMAN Chipstead SC 73 74 81 (OCS) 63 61 352

79th 4183 Mark DUNNE Hunts SC 77 79 70 58 74 (DNC) 358

80th 3832 Robert WARD Banbury SC 79 -83 80 70 73 59 361

81st 4660 Keith TURTLE Chipstead SC (DNF) 76 78 73 78 62 367

82nd 4254 Keith RUNACRES Burghfield SC 59 80 68 (OCS) 76 DNF 369

83rd 4783 Colin VINCENT Hunts SC (DNC) 78 71 71 67 DNS 373

84th 4397 Martin ALLEN Bough Beech SC 66 81 64 (DNC) DNC DNC 383

85th 4195 Martin CARTER Burghfield SC 78 82 73 78 77 (DNC) 388

Pos	Sail No	Helm	Club	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	R6	Pts
1st	5302	Michael SIMS	Carsington SC	1	4	-8	1	1	1	8
2nd	5312	Thomas GILLARD	Sheffield Viking SC	4	1	2	3	(DNF)	7	17
3rd	5342	Andy DAVIS	Blithfield SC	9	-18	4	4	2	3	22
4th	5339	Simon MASKELL	Hunts SC	3	2	1	6	11	(DNF)	23
5th	5340	Andy TUNNICLIFFE	Royal Windermere YC	2	12	(DNF)	9	4	2	29
6th	4748	John CLARKE	Draycote SC	12	10	9	2	5	(DNF)	38
7th	5263	Steve DENISON	Hollingworth Lake SC	8	8	5	-16	12	6	39
8th	5310	David MITCHELL	RYA	13	5	14	14	-25	4	50
9th	5149	I BLUNDELL	Chester	5	9	6	(OCS)	23	12	55
10th	4735	Daniel GOODMAN	Littleton SC	-33	15	3	5	16	20	59
11th	5181	Paul RAYSON	Fishers Green SC/Salcombe YC	34	6	7	10	7	(DNC)	64
12th	4985	Leo DIXON	WKSC & Littleton	6	-19	16	13	14	16	65
13th	5225	Steve EDE	Ardleigh SC	7	11	-33	12	15	21	66
14th	551	Chris BROWN		10	25	-26	19	3	14	71
15th	5326	Nigel DAVIES	Draycote SC	11	3	-38	22	21	18	75
16th	4921/4121?	Chris MAYHEW	Royal Harwich YC	18	14	-43	18	20	8	78
17th	5111	Andy FRIAR	Rudyard Lake SC	14	7	(DNC)	38	10	10	79
18th	5321	John WEBSTER	Carsington SC	21	22	10	-44	26	11	90
19th	5205	Tim DAVISON	Draycote SC	31	21	11	20	8	(DNC)	91
20th	5253	Ben HOLLIS	Blithfield SC	-50	16	21	8	27	23	95
21st	5157	Stuart GIBSON	Clyde Cruising Club	19	23	32	17	6	(DNC)	97
22nd	5130	Mark LEE	Weymouth SC	28	26	-41	21	9	17	101
23rd	5134	Robert LAURIE	Tollesbury SC	15	13	23	-39	24	29	104
24th	5023	Brian HOLLAND	SCYC	20	-50	18	29	38	5	110
25th	4386	Mike DRAY	Littleton SC	22	-39	13	15	30	30	110
26th	5213	Andrew FOX	Crosby SC	29	24	-45	31	13	22	119
27th	4736	Graham WILSON	Northampton SC	23	28	12	23	37	-45	123
28th	5158	James MEAD	Fishers Green SC	27	41	27	11	-54	19	125
29th	5037	Alastair RAYNARD	Carsington SC	16	31	-49	46	29	9	131
30th	5287	Ian HOPWOOD	Nantwich & Border Counties SC	-42	29	31	28	32	13	133
31st	5104	Bob TAYLOR	Tata Steel SC	37	30	34	7	-41	34	142
32nd	5067	Bernard CLARK	Ripon SC	36	-40	19	27	35	38	155
33rd	5155	Simon KERR	Hunts SC	49	33	17	26	31	(DNC)	156
34th	5232	Richard WILLETTS	Burghfield SC	41	20	29	34	34	(DNC)	158
35th	5237	Derek JACKMAN	Chichester YC	-62	42	15	45	22	35	159
36th	4803	Godfrey CLARK	Fishers Green SC	40	48	24	(DNF)	19	33	164
37th	4725	Steve CONROY	Fishers Green SC	35	34	28	36	36	(DNC)	169
38th	4758	Paul HURN	Littleton SC	39	27	22	-53	40	47	175
39th	4267	Iain CARPENTER	Northampton SC	48	45	20	-54	39	24	176
40th	5115	Andrew BOYCE	Papercourt SC	47	17	-50	43	33	40	180
41st	5286	Nick FISHER	Chew Valley SC	-51	35	40	51	28	32	186
42nd	4013	Tim GRAY	Staunton Harold SC	25	51	30	24	57	(DNC)	187
43rd	4506	Andy ANDERSON	Paxton Lakes SC	26	36	42	59	-66	27	190
44th	5202	Frank BROWN	Papercourt SC	17	-52	51	40	47	37	192
45th	4705	Adam WHITEHORNE	Wierwood SC	24	53	(OCS)	OCS	18	15	196
46th	4542	Jason ALDOUS	Papercourt SC	30	32	52	33	-61	60	207
47th	5259	Roger WILSON	Rollesby Broad SC	-52	49	37	35	45	41	207
48th	4879	Gordon EVANS	Tata SC Margam	60	54	-74	32	43	31	220
49th	4903	Bill KNIGHTS	Grafham Water SC	53	47	-58	50	53	26	229
50th	5151	IAN S SMITH	Ripon SC	43	37	54	49	48	(DNF)	231
51st	4040	John DANIELS	RYA	32	-72	36	57	55	57	237
52nd	5211	Philip Barnes	Budworth/TBSC	(DNC)	DNC	DNC	25	17	25	239
53rd	5167	Peter CURL	Chipstead SC	-81	62	61	42	42	36	243
54th	5138	Patrick OVERS	Paxton Lakes SC	-69	43	39	64	49	48	243
55th	5070	Ian FIRTH	Notts County SC	55	38	44	(OCS)	DNF	28	251
56th	4215	Claire CLARK	Fishers Green SC	54	-56	48	55	50	46	253
57th	4263	Andrew ALCOCK	Hunts SC	61	70	-76	37	46	43	257
58th	5230	Mick HEALY	Chipstead SC	-76	46	35	67	58	52	258
59th	4120	Andrew THOMPSON	Chipstead SC	44	-67	47	65	60	42	258
60th	186	Will LOY	RYA	46	58	46	30	(DNF)	DNF	266
61st	5233	Glen WELLS	Bartley SC	45	61	25	52	(DNC)	DNC	269
62nd	5276	Michael KOSTIW	Chipstead SC	(DNF)	44	56	63	56	55	274
63rd	5243	Richard CHRISTMAS	Hunts SC	64	-69	53	56	59	49	281
64th	5227	Kevin VIALS	Ripon SC	74	59	66	47	44	(DNC)	290
65th	4768	Jon CAWTHORNE	Shustoke SC	70	55	60	-74	69	39	293
66th	4461	John SADDINGTON	Rollesby Broad SC	67	57	59	48	64	(DNC)	295
67th	4314	Barry GRAVER	Rollesby Broad SC	38	68	62	62	72	(DNC)	302
68th	3931	Brian FISHER	Notts County SC	63	66	57	66	-71	53	305
69th	4551	Bill HUTCHINGS	Tonbridge SC	57	65	67	60	-70	58	307
70th	4933	Andrew HAGUE	Ripon SC	65	-77	75	41	75	54	310
71st	4057	Sam HUSK	Thorpe Bay YC	56	64	69	61	62	(DNC)	312
72nd	4474	Dave SMITH	Hollingworth Lake SC	75	71	-79	75	51	44	316
73rd	4616	Peter FRYER	Littleton SC	58	63	72	72	52	(DNC)	317
74th	4710	Simon ANDERSON	Ripon SC	72	-75	65	69	68	51	325
75th	3061	Robert TREND	Chipstead SC	71	73	63	68	-79	56	331
76th	5075	Barrie WOODHALL	Shustoke SC	68	60	55	76	(DNC)	DNC	345
77th	4888	Colin MATHER	Ripon SC	80	-84	77	77	65	50	349
78th	3977	Dave RUDMAN	Chipstead SC	73	74	81	(OCS)	63	61	352
79th	4183	Mark DUNNE	Hunts SC	77	79	70	58	74	(DNC)	358
80th	3832	Robert WARD	Banbury SC	79	-83	80	70	73	59	361
81st	4660	Keith TURTLE	Chipstead SC	(DNF)	76	78	73	78	62	367
82nd	4254	Keith RUNACRES	Burghfield SC	59	80	68	(OCS)	76	DNF	369
83rd	4783	Colin VINCENT	Hunts SC	(DNC)	78	71	71	67	DNS	373
84th	4397	Martin ALLEN	Bough Beech SC	66	81	64	(DNC)	DNC	DNC	383
85th	4195	Martin CARTER	Burghfield SC	78	82	73	78	77	(DNC)	388

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