Fab 4 shoot out

Simon Childs reports from the Phantom Nationals

An excellent 65 entries descended on Saundersfoot for the 2003 National Championships over a long weekend, 29-31 August. What was billed to be the most closely contested event for many years, with at least eight helms capable of wining races, lived up to expectations, with the event going to the wire in the last race and 4 still in with a chance of victory.

Day 1 saw 2 races held back to back in a blustery Force 4-5, blowing off the shore. Race 1 saw a one-sided beat enabling Lawrence Crispin, Nick Beloe and Graham Scott lead round the first lap. Allen Burrell headed inshore on lap 2, overstood the windward mark and stormed through to a commanding lead from 8th. At the finish Burrell, Crispin, Beloe and Scott took the top places.

Race 2 soon followed with a better beat, and the fleet splitting on the first beat. Simon Childs won the pin end and headed inshore, Burrell went right and Crispin & Scott played the middle. A close beat saw Burrell, Crispin, Scott & Childs the order at the first mark. The top six pulled away as Burrell held on to win from Scott and Crispin, Childs lost 4th to Beloe as the effects of not having a slot gasket provided a Water Feature Charlie Dimmock would have been proud of.

Saturday saw three races in a light and shifty offshore Force 1-2, full of holes.

Race 3, a testing first beat saw Simon Elliot lead round, followed by Childs, Beloe and Crispin. Childs pulled through to lead on the second beat, but as the leg turned into a fetch Beloe and Crispin were lifted through into 1st and 2nd. This was the finishing order with Burrell finishing 4th.

Race 4 saw a few recalls as the tide carried the fleet over a number of very long and biased lines. Eventually the fleet got away and split left and right again trying to guess the next 30 degree shift. Left won and Dave Guthrie led round, Phil Argent pulled through downwind in front of Graham Scott and Andy Elliot. These 4 had their own battle with Scott claiming the win from Argent, Elliot and Guthrie snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. The other contenders were all battling back from right hand first beats and scraped into the top 10.

Race 5 saw some more well biased lines and eventually out came the black flag Childs gave up any hopes of retaining the title by being on the blackboard and missed the best race of the day. Beloe, Scott and Burrell led the way, and the race became a very close battle between Beloe and Burrell, who finished in that order with never more than a few boat lengths in it.

The other 2 members of the 'fab 4' finished next, Crispin holding off Scott.

Sunday meant the Championship showdown. Burrell led Beloe, Crispin and Scott who were all in contention. Wind conditions were Force 1 again off the shore – “lovely!!”.

Race 6 Burrell called the coin toss correctly and led from Crispin, Beloe and Childs, however going too low let the next 4 through on the first reach with Andy Elliot moving into 3rd. The 2nd beat was a lottery as first Childs then Burrell and finally Crispin thought they were into a lead. Crispin, led down the final run with Burrell and Childs in close attendance. As the leaders approached the final third of the run the leeward mark was eventually spotted in the back of a rescue boat! Eventually it was thrown in just in front of the leaders Crispin wins from Burrell with Childs two feet further behind. Beloe kept in the hunt with a 4th.

With many murmurings about protests and incorrect procedure Race 7 was banged off in short order to ensure the 12 o’clock starting time limit was met. Apart from another impossibly biased line, and the shortened course flag still being up as the 5 minute went the fleet tried to get to the pin end or as near as possible in the time allowed. Childs started well on the pin again and the fleet tacked immediately to fetch to the first mark. Scott tacked off in a 'Burrell' move to overstand and get in more pressure to lead
round, from Beloe, Crispin and Burrell. The 'fab 4' shootout continued on a succession of fetches and runs. Crispin led down the final run only to watch the leeward mark moved again as the fleet approached! Crispin held on from Scott, Burrell, Beloe and Childs.

The on-the-water results meant that Crispin beat Burrell on discard, with Beloe beating Scott on discard for third. However two protests were lodged over incorrect procedures on the Final 2 races which would change the overall winner to Burrell followed by Beloe and Crispin. The main protest was eventually heard and dismissed - watch this space as it may not be over yet!

So Lawrence Crispin completed the Inlands/Nationals double over a very unlucky Allen Burrell. Beloe and Scott sailed a great series in the difficult conditions to keep the pressure up, but no-one matched the consistency of Crispin. Roll on next year at Thorpe Bay!