OK World qualfier and Upper Thames Open

Reports from the weekend's racing

23 competitors turned out for the second OK qualifier for the 2004 World Championships in Parkstone, held at Tees & Hartlepool YC.

Saturday brought some unusual conditions with storm clouds passing from the west, shifting the wind through 180°, causing much frustration throughout the fleet (and no doubt the race committee).

Jim Hunt made the most of the conditions and chalked up three 1st places, exhibiting good offwind speed. Terry Curtis posted two 2nds and a lucky 13th. Neil Goodhead, Tony Thresher and Gavin Waldron picked up the rest of the placings. THYC laid on the evening’s entertainment before the fleet zigzagged off into the town centre.

Day two dawned sunny again with a steadier wind. Terry tried out his new Superspars carbon mast to good effect. Jim again had a good day with two firsts and a second, the second due to he and Andy Rushworth holding a long conversation between races a ¼ mile to windward of the race start.

Chris Arnell & Geoff Woollen (ex National Champion) made welcome returns to the class. Neil Goodhead had an excellent second day showing phenomenal light wind speed to post a 1st and two 2nd places. Tony Thresher using a JP Williams carbon mast and North sail showed much improved boat speed.

Results:

1st	Jim Hunt	South Staffs	Proctor	North UK	Rushworth
2nd	Neil Goodhead	South Staffs	Al Needlespar	North UK	Rushworth
3rd	Terry Curtis	Upper Thames	C Needlespar Superspars	Pinnell & Bax North UK	Delf
4th	Tony Thresher	West Oxford	Williams	North UK	O’Donnell
5th	Gavin Waldron	South Staffs	Al Needlespar	Port Nicholson	Delf
6th	JP Williams	West Oxford	Williams	Batt	Thresher

Upper Thames OK Open A healthy fleet of 27 OKs turned up at Upper Thames SC over the weekend of May 10th-11th for the Thames valley travellers series event.

A series of pursuit races were staged on Saturday, where the fast end of the fleet were handicapped up to 9 minutes, the series was won by Garth Thompson from the home club.

There was a little more wind on Sunday, but it was still fairly shifty with the wind filling in from various directions causing some frustration. Gavin Waldron took the event with 2 first places, Neil Goodhead won race two, but Terry Curtis took second overall with a consistent three 2nd places.

1st Gavin Waldron South Staffs SC
2nd Terry Curtis Upper Thames SC
3rd Neil Goodhead South Staffs SC
4th Tony Threasher West Oxford SC