Windy Radials

Jon Emmett reports on the final qualifier in Weymouth at the weekend

The final Radial Qualifier in Weymouth at the weekend turned into a one day affair with the results decided after the first two races. Over twenty knots of breeze from the West greeted nearly 100 sailors on the last weekend of October.

Race one Ben Paton made the best start at the pin end but it was Steve Cockerill who worked the right hand side of the course to lead the fleet half way up the beat. Jon Emmett still suffering with a neck injury from last weekend lacked the upwind pace of the lead two but managed to stay in touch as Paton and Cockerill rounded the top mark well clear of the fleet. Downwind Paton chased down Cockerill with Emmett gaining on the lead pair, 30 knots of breeze came through just after the gybe mark allowing these three to escape from the pack but Emmett was yellow flagged, the resulting 720 putting him behind the pack lead by Charlotte Dobson.

Paton managed to overhaul Cockerill downwind and sailed a solid tactical race, making the most of his downwind speed to stay clear of Cockerill. These two finishing well clear of the rest of the fleet which was still being lead by Sail for Gold winner Dobson.

Race two and Paton again won the pin end and crossed the fleet, this time it was Emmett close behind but Paton maintained the gap. Downwind Emmett gained and at the final mark it was marginal for water, with Emmett deciding not to push the incident in twenty five knots of breeze giving Paton his second win and although he didn’t realise it at the time the overall event. There was no surprise when Cockerill, someway behind the lead two managed to pull through to third.

The final race (Sunday’s racing was abandoned at midday due to no wind) again saw Cockerill work the shifts on the right hand side of the beat to gain the lead at the top mark from Paton. However with the breeze dropping to around 20 knots he managed to stay well clear of the fleet, never being seriously changed. Emmett pulled through on the downwind legs to second and despite chasing hard never serious threatened Cockerill position. Paton did enough to stay clear of the chasing bunch, taking third place.

Overall only two points separated the top three win Paton taking his first Qualifier win, the only other two winners of Qualifiers this year finishing second (Cockerill) and third (Emmett). Charlotte Dobson continued her run of good form to finish top Lady as did Iain Mckeeman to finish top Youth.