Close racing

Final report from the Ronstan Tornado National Championships at Stokes Bay Sailing Club

32 tornados turned up for nine races over three days, with glorious sunshine and winds from 5-18 knots.

Top RYA funded Olympic Representatives Athens 2004, Leigh McMillan was up against Sydney 2000 representative Hugh Styles and last years National Champions Andy Walsh and Edward Barney.

Other top sailors included past National Champions Will Sunnucks and Mark Self, past F18 Champion Rob Garcka, Hurricane National Champion Andy Webb and World windsurfing Champion Jonnie Hutchcroft sailing with new crew Robbie Garcka.

Day one saw a long postponement waiting for the sea breeze to build. Eventually the race officer felt there was enough breeze to get a race away and called the fleet onto the water. The fleet were just too quick to get away and the first start resulted in a general recall. The second start under the Black flag rule kept most of the fleet back with two exceptions. The left side of the course was favoured and those that got away early were looking good. The Race was led from start to finish by defending champions Andy Walsh and Ed Barney, with Johnny Hutchcroft second and Richard Allen and Simon Farren third, closely holding off the attentions of the World Nunber two pairing of Leigh McMillian and Will Howden.

Day two dawned with perfect conditions, a south easterly sea breeze building throughout the day testing all the competitors. A strong west going tide meant getting to the shore first paid big dividends. This led to some very close short tacking up the beach and led to the majority of the fleet arriving at the windwind mark on port. A number of collisions occurred as competitors pushed just a little too hard not helped by a busy weekend on the Solent with lots of cruisers seeming oblivious to the speeds and the racing of the Tornado fleet around them. Four races were sailed in perfect conditions and the majority of the fleet was exhausted by the end.

This year has seen an increase in the number of ladies into the fleet and crewing a Tornado is not easy for anyone as they do all they work, mainsheet upwind and then hoisting and lowering the spinnaker as well as trimming it all downwind.

Going into last day, it looked like the three pro teams would be fighting it out for the title and the three Tornados from Worthing, Jonnie Hutchcroft, Rob Garcka and Leo Farrow, along with Richard Allen, Simon Northrop and Will Sunnucks fighting it out for top non funded and fourth position.

The wind was again blowing 12-18 knots from the east with bright sunshine and a busy Solent race area. There were four races scheduled and only one discard, so anything could happen.

Race six has a very special trophy, a one meter long mounted sword by Wilkinsons, presented to the winner, with previous winners including Olympic Gold Medalist Reg White. The race was won by world ranked number two sailors Leigh McMillan and Will Howden, with Andy Walsh and Edward Barney in second and Hugh Styles and stand in crew 16 year old Chris Rashley, Leo Farrow and Tris Lamb finished fourth and Simon Northrop and Matt Young fifth

Race seven was won by Andy Walsh being pushed hard by Leo Farrow and Tris Lamb and Brian Wilson and Sam Jones from Largs scoring their best result in third.

Race eight was the turning point of the championship for McMillan and Howden, as they were leading they had problems with their main sheet, Leo Farrow and Tris Lamb took the lead, but Hugh Styles managed to pip them right on the finish line. Rob Garcka and Ryan Crawford finished third and Andy Walsh fourth

Again Leo Farrow and Tris Lamb led in race nine, but were denied a win again by Hugh Styles and Chris Rashley, with Jonnie Hutchcroft and Robbie Gacka third and Andy Walsh and Edward Barney finishing fourth which was enough for them to secure the Championship.

Ronstan provided an outstanding array of prizes and Stokes Bay ran an excellent regatta with Race Officer Mike Rayden getting excellent racing on the water with very quick turnarounds between races.

1-Andy Walsh & Edward Barney, 16 points
2-Hugh Styles & Chris Rashly, 20 points
3-Leigh McMillam & Will Howden, 23 points
4-Leo Farrow & Tris Lamb, 31 points
5-Jonnie Hutchcroft & Robbie Garcka, 42 points
6-Rob Garcka & Ryan Crawford, 48 points
7-Richard Allen & Simon Farren, 64 points
8-Simon Northrop & Matt Young, 64 points
9-Brian Wilson & Sam Jones, 66 points
10-Will Sunnucks & Mark Self, 85 points

More photos on the following pages.