Early lead for Base 1

At first UK 18ft skiff Grand Prix in Calshot

Twelve 18 foot Skiffs arrived at the excellent Calshot sports facility for the first of three rounds of the 2004 UK 18 foot Skiff Grand Prix that will be sailed in the Central Solent, organised by the Royal Thames Yacht Club.

Racing was due to commence at 1pm, but race officer Frank Newton and RTYC racing manager Malcolm McKeag wisely decided to postpone the start until a sea breeze had a chance to improve on the feeble zephyr and brilliant sunshine which were no doubt pleasing almost the entire population of the UK, apart from the Skiff sailors. When you are there to race a boat with one of the highest top speed of any sailing monohull, light airs simply will not do.

The first attempt at a start had to abandoned when the breeze, blowing at a mere 4 knots, shifted to the south from its original north easterly direction. Some good wind spotting by the on the water race team allowed a new course to be set quickly to capitalize on the westerly sea breeze that filled in sufficienty to allow three good races to be sailed, with two wiring most of the time and occasionally three.

Rob Dulson, Paul Constable and Alec McKinlay on Base 1 got into the groove immediately and won the opening two races with apparent ease, followed in the first by Ed Browne, Mark Tait and Lachlan Torrance on Hermes, and in the second by newcomers Peter Barton, Martin Borrett and John Heissig.

Tim Penfold, Matt Alvarado and Will Penfold on Link Associates finished third in both the opening races and then won the third with the biggest lead of the day, having judged their tack to the lay line at the first mark across the now strong flood tide to a nicety. Hermes was second and the Barton team third.

Three more races are scheduled for tomorrow, and the competition promises to be as close as today.

Race 1 result:

1. Base 1, Rob Dulson, Paul Constable and Alec McKinlay
2. Hermes, Ed Browne, Mark Tait and Lachlan Torrance
3. Link Associates, Tim Penfold, Matt Alvarado and Will Penfold
4. Peter Barton, Martin Borrett and John Heissig
5. Radii, Andy Richards, Andrew Fairley and Dave Richards

Race 2 result:

1. Base 1, Rob Dulson, Paul Constable and Alec McKinlay
2. Peter Barton, Martin Borrett and John Heissig
3. Link Associates, Tim Penfold, Matt Alvarado and Will Penfold
4. Hermes, Ed Browne, Mark Tait and Lachlan Torrance
5. Radii, Andy Richards, Andrew Fairley and Dave Richards

Race 3 result:

1. Link Associates, Tim Penfold, Matt Alvarado and Will Penfold
2. Hermes, Ed Browne, Mark Tait and Lachlan Torrance
3. Peter Barton, Martin Borrett and John Heissig
4. Base 1, Rob Dulson, Paul Constable and Alec McKinlay
5. Hyde Sails, Mark Jardine, Ben Cooke and Olly Holden