Niner inlands

Light airs on Grafham for last meet of the year

The final open of the year for the 29ers and 49ers was also their Inland championships and was shared with the B14s and Musto Skiffs. Just under 100 boats took part making for a very colourful spectacle across the lake.

It was a light wind affair with only 4 of the planned 8 races sailed. Race Officer Simon Childs and his team did well to get the 4 in. A very fragile breeze on both days meant a lot of waiting for the sailors.

In the 29er class, racing was very close with only 5 points between the first 5. It was a welcome return for Hannah Stodal with a new helm Helena Lucus – they won overall, but only just. On equal points and therefore count back they just beat the team of Ed Chapman and Tom Peel. Justin Vissar and Simon Wheeler followed in 3rd in spite of a black flagged 1st place. Anne & Dylan Noble in 4th seemed to clean up most of the prizes taking not only 4th but 1st mixed team and 1st non Youth squad.

29er Results

1st GBR611 Helena Lucus & Hannah Stodel
2nd GBR 6 Ed Chapman & Tom Peel
3rd GBR5 Justin Vissar & Simon Wheeler
4th GBR734 Anne & Dylan Noble
5th GBR703 Sophie Jones & Ben McViegh
6th GBR933 Huw Humpreys & Max Todd

The 49er class as usual was full of the top UK teams. John Pink and Alex Hopson made up for missing out on the National title by winning the Inland title with two 1sts and a 3rd to count. Ben McGrane and Jonny Clegg sailed a consistent series to come in 2nd with a 3.2.2. With a change of role the team of Simon Hiscocks on the helm with Tim Paull at the front came in 3rd.

49er results

1st GBR30 John Pink & Alex Hopson
2nd GBR831 Ben McGrane & Jonny Clegg
3rd GBR2 Simon Hiscocks & Tim Paull
4th GBR748 Steve Wilson & Tom Dawson
5th GBR908 Lester & Lee Noble
6th GBR872 Tom Smedley & Phil Kennard