Pica takes opening round

A report from the 18ft skiff racing on Rutland Water

Seven boats turned out for the 18ft skiff fleet's first event of the 2009 UK season at Rutland Water Sailing Club, the usual suspects being joined by two local crews sailing older B18 designs.

They were greeted with deceptively calm conditions under a clear blue sky - a perfect start to the season. However, the offshore breeze made itself felt once the boats were on the course with a typically gusty, shifty Rutland wind off the south shore. Gusts of up to 17 knots or so making it very challenging for the teams and shaking out the winter cobwebs quickly. The PRO got the fleet off to a punctual start and it was Jamie Mears, Stuart Mears and Matt Gill on PICA who took the first race from Ed Browne, Mark Tait and Jocki Christophers on Gill Wild Graphics, with Mason Woodworth, Ben Clothier and Simon Hamilton on Investec taking third place.

PICA repeated the feat in both the second and third races. However, the shifty gusty conditions made this a lot harder than it seemed with the lead changing frequently between PICA and Gill in both races. PICA having to come from behind to take the last race on the final run. Investec took third in both races.

Sunday's racing was held in gentler but possibly even shiftier conditions. PICA again looked to be making the early running, but this time it was they who were pipped at the post by a matter of feet when Gill came through on a gust, with stand in helm Ian Martin ably substituting for Ed Brown. Third was Ronstan, (Dave Hall, Paul Constable and Alec Mckinlay) who had stayed ashore on the Saturday to catch up on some overdue winter maintenance. In the second race Gill came home the runaway winners followed home by Pica and Ronstan.

The final race was led from start to (almost) finish by Ronstan until, much to their frustration, Pica managed to catch a gust on the final gybe to the finish to take the race by a couple of boat lengths.

The event ended with Pica the deserved winners, counting four firsts and one second place, from Gill and Ronstan.