Round one

The UK 18ft Skiff GP got off to a light wind start at Draycote Water SC

The first round of the UK 18ft Skiff Grand Prix got off to an excellent start with nine teams turning up for this season's opener. There were some key omissions from the line up which bodes well for the UK Nationals taking place in two weeks time where 15 teams are expected. 2006 is hotting up to the best and most competitive season in recent history.

Draycote was then the venue of the first round, probably UK's best stretch of inland water with unrivalled on shore facilities and excellent race management. This year had seen the arrival of two new teams who, amongst several others, will no doubt rival the established fleet for the silverware this year. Mason Woodworth and his White Stuff team have certainly put in the most hours over winter, and Mason, a former US team racing national champion, has set his sights very high over the coming 12 months. Joining them are the Mears brothers sailing Pica. They were joined this weekend by current B14 World Champion crew Andy Ramus - an interesting tie-up given that James Mears actually helmed the runner up spot in this years B14 Worlds in Sydney. Both these teams have committed to an ambitious first season and proved this weekend that they will be fighting for podium places in 2006.

So to the racing - the forecast didn't set pulses racing, however the first day delivered enough breeze to fire off three races. In the first, White Stuff showed everyone a clean pair of heels and took their maiden win on the circuit in their very first event in the UK. Base 1 showed they'd lost none of their 2005 pace to follow up in second while newly named SELS with Ed Browne and his team took up third.

The second race saw 2005 UK Series and National champions Radii to the front but while leading comfortably on the last leg they threw it all away by sailing into a large hole, letting four teams past. Fat Face made the best of this error and after fighting for mid fleet positions suddenly found themselves at the front taking the gun from Barron and Smithers.

The third race finally saw Radii pull their act together with a cracking start at the favoured end of the line and they never looked back. Base 1 consolidated with another second place along with a third in the previous race to take the lead overnight while newcomers Pica showed their potential by slotting in a third place - this was unfortunately the last we saw of this team as gear breakage in the first race of the next day saw them retire from the event.

Sunday dawned grey, although the wind appeared more steady though never getting aboveseven knots - just on the verge of getting everyone on the wire with the big rigs. Still it meant close competition was the order of the day and Radii started where they left off the previous day with a win, but this was courtesy of White Stuff fluffing their lines whilst leading on the last downwind when someone on the team (will remain nameless.) dropped the kite sheets to let Radii sail through. Worst still it allowed the ever improving Fat Face through into second.

In the second race of the day, Fat Face continued their rise up the leaderboard with another well sailed race win, this time with Radii having to take up the runner up slot. With Base1 having a shocker of a day with two fifths, this effectively meant it would be between Fat Face and Radii for the chocolates, with White Stuff, Base1 and Barron & Smithers fighting it out for the last podium place. Fat Face stamped their authority on the deciding race and lead at the top mark, and although they were passed by the late surging B&S team, it was enough to beat Radii for the Gul Challenge Plate for the first round the UK Series. Radii took the runner up spot while B&S race win secured them third. UK Series newcomers White Stuff manage to scrape in with fourth overall just out doing Base 1 on count back.

With four different race winners and newcomers White Stuff and Pica showing their potential this will prove to be the most competitive series for years. A new F1 grand prix style scoring system will also mix things up - no discards with a bonus points system for the top teams.

The next event is the UK National Championships at Weymouth in two weeks time which should hopefully see a fleet of 15 UK boats - as the event doubles up as the first round of the European Tour, there's a good chance that the event will see the largest gathering of 18ft Skiffs in the UK in the modern era of the class - roll-on 2006!

Results:

1-Fat Face Tim Penfold / Matt Alvarado / Will Penfold 11pts
2-Radii Andy Richards / Andy Fairley / Alex Tobutt 13pts
3-Barron & Smithers Peter Barton / Martin Borrett / Ian Turnbull 16pts
4-White Stuff Mason Woodworth / David Brown / Simon Hamilton 17pts
5-Base1 Rob Dulson / Paul Constable / Alec McKinlay 17pts
6-SELS Ed Browne / Graeme Oliver / Simon Spolton 21pts
7-Pica James Mears / Andy Ramus / Stewart Mears 35pts
8-The Boot Iain Lewis / Alex McKee / A Another 37pts
9-Grapefruit Graphics John Archer / Mlies Woodgrove / ?? 42pts