Windy Whitstable

Stenhouse shows the rest of the Musto Skiff fleet how its done in 25 knots of breeze.

Ballistic is the only word that can be used to describe the sailing at Whitstable over the 21-22 May. With winds topping out at 28kts on the Saturday it was to make for a spectacular day’s racing.

The first race started with Richard Stenhouse taking an early lead on the first beat closely followed by Graeme Oliver, Dave Poston and the rest of the fleet. With a very steep chop it made for a tricky bear away and kite hoist with many pitchpoles including Oliver and Poston. With Stenhouse capsizing on the gybe it allowed a now recovered Oliver through to lead but after a mistake on the beat and a meaty pitchpole on the following run he allowed Stenhouse through for the win with Oliver second and a charging Ian Trotter through to third.

Race two was sailed in an increasing breeze with boats clearing the water on the upwind leg it was to be even more spectacular on the run, some impressive pitchpoles and some very impressive boat handling from Stenhouse and the ever improving Simon Dodds. Stenhouse went on to take the win with Dodds second and Oliver recovering from lower in the fleet to take third.

Race three started in even more breeze and an ever steepening chop, Stenhouse made the perfect start and led at the first mark, the decision was made to shorten the course after just one lap as a 28kt gust went through and prevented even the most fearless MPS sailors from hoisting the kite, Stenhouse at first missed the shortened course flag but recovered to take the win from Trotter and Oliver who finished within a boatlength of each other.

Sunday dawned with an increased amount of wind and the decision was taken to abandon the day’s racing before the fleet even hit the water. Thanks must go to Whistable YC for organising a great event and being able to cope with what were very extreme conditions.

Results

1st GBR 163 R.Stenhouse Rutland SC 3
2nd GBR 161 G.Oliver Whitstable YC
3rd GBR 168 I.Trotter Derwent Res SC
4th GBR 114 S.Dodds Whitstable YC
5th GBR 179 K.Stenhouse Rutland SC
6th GBR 162 R Perkins Whitstable YC