Just enough races

The Hurricane 5.9 fleet struggled with the conditions at their National Championships at Stokes Bay

Stokes Bay Sailing Club played host to the Hurricane 5.9 fleet over the May bank holiday weekend between 22nd and 24th May 2008. 28 boats from as far a field as Northern Ireland, Devon and the North of England produced an interesting melting pot of competition. The most notable feature of this years entry was the number of new faces attending their first nationals as the class continues attract new members following the adoption of the SX spinnaker Kit.

For day one of the event competitors were met with a stiff offshore breeze which didn’t deter any of the fleet from getting out and having a go. Conditions out in the middle of the solent, however, proved rough and challenging with powerful gusts smashing down the race course. Initial Race leaders Morgan and Gregg took a trip down the mine early on during the first downwind leg, the apparent wind angles generated by the high downwind speeds coupled with a strong cross tide caused a number of competitors to overstand the downwind mark and drop their kites early to tight reach up to the mark. Connelly and Tickner, having delayed their kite hoist following a running repair on their mast rotation control system, spotted the situation and gybed early for the lay line snatching second place.

Upwind race leaders Hanmore and Kimber switched tacks from Connelly, this proved a mistake as they suffered a header allowing Connelly to take the lead which he held to the finish. Morgan having righted from a full inversion capsize pushed his boat to the limit to grab third place as most of the fleet backed off the accelerator for fear of risking a capsize/gear failure so early in the series. Racing was cancelled for the rest of the day due to the high winds.

Day two looked promising as the fleet twin wired out to the start area in a cross shore breeze with sunshine. Minutes before the scheduled start the breeze decided to veer and drop to nothing forcing the R/O to send the competitors ashore and await some breeze. Fortunately, some breeze returned from the original easterly direction early in the afternoon and racing commenced for race two. Hanmore took first spot at the initial weather mark rounding followed by Donnovan and Hingston and Roberts and Smith. This order remained for another lap but as the breeze began to drop it became vital to stay in the pressure downwind. Connelly took a line down the middle of the course on the last leg staying in that vital pressure and sailed through from third to first, Hanmore settled for second, newcomers to the fleet Tindale and Foreman third.

Race three got underway in quick fashion, the tide had increased in strength from east to west. Couple this with the fluctuations in pressure across the course this was going to be tough. Off the start line Allen and Allen stayed in control of the fleet which opted to tack out into the tide having spotted greater pressure. Downwind Connelly went hard to the right of the course for the best tide and breeze, Allen covered loosely, Connelly managed to close up the gap on Allen at the leeward rounding. Back upwind the leaders again bashed out into the foul tide opting for the stronger wind but this time Tindale and Roberts went left inshore which paid for both of them as they took third and fourth places respectively. Allen hung onto his lead and the top four places remained unchanged at the finish.

Race four was another back to back job. The breeze had reduced to non trapezing conditions and the tide was now flowing to the max. Donnovan was out of the blocks first and hit the shore on the hard left of the course keeping out of the tide for as long as possible before breaking out on the port layline. He took the weather mark comfortably and extended his lead further taking his first nationals race win having tried for nearly eighteen years! This was even more remarkable as he had opted to sail the event in the standard two sail configuration. Plenty of place changing ensued back in the leading pack, Hanmore hanging on to second with challenges from Allen and Connelly, however new faces Smith and King found some pressure out in the middle of the course to climb up the pack and on the last downwind leg of the shortened race headed to the right of the course with Allen who both overhauled Hanmore and Connelly, Allen third, Smith fourth.

Racing was over for the day and to the relief of the organisers the minimum of four races had been sailed which made the event an official nationals which was just as well as the last day dawned with gale force winds and heavy rain. Neil Connelly (Class Chairman) and Buster Tickner of Stone Sailing Club were duly announced National Champions with John Donnovan and Nigel Hingston of Starcross YC winners of the standard two sail rig championship trophy.

Results:

1-Neil Connelly and Buster Tickner - Stone SC
2-Adrian Allen and Mike Allen - Ballyholme YC
3-Richie Hanmore and Matt Kimber - Stone SC
4-Geoff Tindale and Clint Foreman - Stone SC
5-John Donnovan and Nigel Hingston - Starcross YC
6-Mark Thompson and Jack Tindale - Stone SC
7-Martin Andrews and ClaireAndrews – East Lothian YC
8-Doug Smith and Bill King – Starcross YC
9-Kami Marshall and Helen Scott – South Shields SC
10-Tim Roberts and Chris Smith – Runswick Bay SC