Chop practice

Sonar Worlds fleet takes to the Solent

The 2005 Sonar World Championship got underway in Cowes on Sunday 25 September. Two practice races were held in brilliant sunshine and a fresh southwesterly breeze that gusted at times to 20 knots. The Solent chop was even more viscous than usual and gave a good taster of what the visitors could expect during the week-long championship.

The twenty-five boat fleet is crammed full of world, European, and national champions plus Paralympic gold medallists – all of whom enjoyed a close race with the six American teams showing that they are just as capable in the strong breeze and Solent chop as any of the top local boats.

At the leeward mark first time round it was American Pete Galloway who led narrowly from local star Paul Bowen who rounded just ahead of Skip Shumway. While Shumway trawled his spinnaker Andy Cassell's Jenny rounded fourth followed by Israeli Paralympic Gold Medallist Droh Cohen. In sixth it was another local boat, Bertie which is sailed by the Barter family.

At this stage another of the top American sailors, Dave Franzel, was back in the pack but by the time the fleet had completed another lap the situation had changed.
Pete Galloway had extended his lead over Billy while Franzel had climbed to third. While Galloway bowed to superstition and didn't cross the finish line, the Billy team had no qualms about taking the win followed by Franzel in Spring and Steve Shepstone in Nefarious.

Only eight boats bothered to take the second start in the breezy conditions, most preferring to save their boats and gear for the first championship races tomorrow.

The sponsors of the 2005 Sonar World Championship are: Isle of Wight Council, Sonar Manufacturing, Andy Cassell Foundation, Azure Dragon Marine Sculptures, and Cowes Online.

Practice races:

		Helm/crew	Points	R1	R2
1	Shellie ISR 1	Dror Cohen	6	5	1
		Arnon Efrati, Benny Vexler, Yoram Gafni
2	Hibiscus AUS 611	Jervis Tilley	14	12	2
		Pete Tindale, Kate Tindale, Andrew Dallas
3	Billy GBR 719	Paul Bowen	27	1	26
		Duncan Bates, Shaun Kellett, Dave Thompson
4	Spring USA 369	David Franzel	28	2	26
		Todd Cooper, Wade Edwards, Gene Hinkel
5	Nefarious USA 384	Steve Shepstone	29	3	26
		Tom Kinney, Peter Wilson, Michael Loeb
6	Bertie GBR 724	Simon Barter	30	4	26
		Donald Wilks, James Barter, Alistair Barter
7	We're Here GBR 720	Graham Bailey	32	6	26
		Julia Bailey, David Ross, Duncan Grindley, Anna Bailey
8	Wisconsin ISR 13	Shimon Ben Yakou	33	7	26
		Yusef Barda, Alon Solomon, Sabi Almuzlind
9	For Sale USA 100	Skip Shumway	34	8	26
		Doug Faust, Tom Rufkin, Shane Omley
10	Your Mother USA 1	Eric Snavely	35	9	26
		Rick Sullivan, Donna Faust, Jeff Sullivan
11	Troll USA 544	Greg Anthony	36	10	26
		Rick Myers, Tony Allott, Brian Hayes
12	Eiribh IRL 717	Sean Cullinan	37	11	26
		Nick Gibbon, Gary Fryer, Will Beckingham
13	Wombat 2 GBR 608	Ewan Mackay/Ewan MacKay	39	13	26
		Dave Jones, Emma Jones, Jean Mackay
14	Halfing A Laugh GBR 696	Arthur Wylie	40	14	26
		John Beaty, Jamie Dobson, Angus Smart
15	Sighaoith IRL 697	Paul McCarthy	41	15	26
		Paul Ryan, Patrick Keily, Trevor Draper
16	Josh GBR 535	Tony Flinn	52	26	26
		Lucy Hodges, Ian Shirra, Johnny Cormack
16	El Toro GBR 602	Paul Hayden	52	26	26
		Mark Watson, Ian Hayden, Jane Bonser
16	Fiscal GBR 609	Emma Atkinson-Willes	52	26	26
		Bridget Forster, Vic Gregory, Jenny Deacon
16	Echo GBR 698	John McIntosh	52	26	26
		Barry Byham, Mark Dyer, Roger Boxall
16	Sinful GBR 699	Kenny Laird	52	26	26
		Chris Girling, Kevin Berry, Andy Parr
16	Scintillate GBR 700	Laurie Gustar	52	26	26
		Paul Airey, Steve Cole, Ian Moore
16	Chimera GBR 702	John Robertson	52	26	26
		Jon Waite, Hannah Stodel, Steve Thomas
16	Jenny GBR 737	Andy Cassell	52	26	26
		Rudy Jurg, Simon Clark, Henry Bagnell
16	Tamar ISR 1000	Avi Tzur	52	26	26
		Baruch Persman, Shany Bachar, Alon Dagan, Sami Dahan
16	Fast Forward USA 701	Pete Galloway	52	26	26
		Jim Linville, Paul Steinborn, Ched Proctor