Tasting victory

Vampire wins J/92 Nationals at Skandia Cowes Week reports Andy Bird

The 2003 J/92 National Championships sponsored by Kleinwort Benson Private Bank were held as part of Skandia Cowes Week and saw 10 boats on the water in a 4 race series with no discard.

With around half the fleet made up of new owners together with 2001 champion Jammin of Poole and 2002 champion Moby-J the outcome was hard to predict.

Race 1 got underway in the light breeze which was to characterise much of the racing. Sent to the west to a mark past Beaulieu on a relatively short course due to the light winds the first five boats finished within 29 seconds after 2 hours of racing - new owners and ex-Bull sailors Robin and Jill Stevenson on MOJO took the bullet following a long tactical run against the tide.

Race 2 on Sunday was to prove very significant as with the breeze even lighter but now from the east the class was sent on a long course out towards Portsmouth. Strong spring tides and shifty light winds off the Lee-on-Solent shore tested the crews to their limits and only 3 boats finished within the time limit. Class regulars Vampire FRA14388 owned by David Moore who is half-French took the win followed by Moby-J and Big Wednesday.

Newcomers Neilson Redeye representing Neilson Active Sports and sailed by Pip Tyler was smarting from missing out on the time limit on Sunday and sailed a very strong third race to win by three minutes. This race saw perhaps the closest boat to boat racing behind the leader with a number of incidents, I-flag time penalties taken and a protest between Big Wednesday and Moby-J which saw the latter given a DSQ. After three races we had seen three different victors.

Race 4 brought the most promising conditions with a solid morning breeze of 12 knots racing got underway on time with more pressure forecast for later in the afternoon. Fittingly for a deciding race a course of some 22 miles in the Eastern Solent provided plenty of challenges and a glorious surfing run back past Cowes under spinnaker in the building breeze where the J/92s were finally let off the leash and speeds of 16+ knots were seen throughout the fleet.

After 3.5 hours racing just 51 seconds split first from third with the consistent Vampire taking her second win and thus the championship from Big Wednesday and Moby-J. David Moore was presented the magnificent Kleinwort Benson Private Bank Trophy winning at his third attempt having previously literally spilt blood in his quest for victory.

Results:
1: Vampire (David Moore) 7 points (2,1,3,1)
2: Big Wednesday (Roger Mavity) 14 (7, 3, 2, 2)
3: Moby J (Mark Franklin) 20 (3, 2, DSQ, 3)
4: Neilson Redeye (Pip Tyler) 21 (4, DNF, 1, 5)
5: Mojo (J & R Stevenson) 25 (1, DNF, 5, 8)
6: Jammin of Poole (Mike Riley) 27 (5, DNF, 4, 7)
6: Jambalaya (Andy Bird) 27 (6, DNF, 6, 4)
8: Juliette (John Burton) 36 (8, DNF, RET, 6)
9: Vegas (Sikstrom and Mork) 38 (DNF, RET, 7, 9)
10: Hissy Fit (Melanie Kill) 41 (9, RET, RET, 10)