Race reports

Clacton Sailing Club hosted an F-18 TT event with six visiting boats combined with the Tornado national championships contested by 3 boats on the weekend of the 7th and 8th of September.   It was decided to hold 4 races on the Saturday as there was some concern about the forecast for the Sunday.  Saturday’s racing was in the light airs with a wind that backed and built through the afternoon.  The race team directed by Race Officer Stuart Offer reset the course 3 times during the afternoon to ensure that the courses remained square.  This included one race being abandoned as just after the race start the wind shifted so dramatically that the Tornadoes with the first start in the sequence started to lay the windward mark without needing to tack.  Racing on Sunday was held in a moderate to fresh southerly breeze that these boats excel in with the bonus of some unexpected sunshine. The fleet were all ashore and busy derigging their boats when one of the rain squalls arrived with the gusty conditions that justified the decision to run the 4 races in the lighter airs on Saturday.

 

There was tight competition in both fleets and the range of conditions meant they suited different teams strengths resulted in 4 separate race winners in the F18 fleet and in the smaller Tornado fleet every boat won a race.  Simon Nortrop sailing with Chris Young won the event with one race win and consistent seconds and a 4th place discard.  Adam Piggott and Robby-Jon Garcka were second despite winning the last 3 races as they were counting 3rd and 4th place from the lightest wind races on Saturday.  Tim Neale and Simon Farren completed the podium.  The honours for the Tornado fleet were divided across all 3 boats.  Joshua Hunt and Michael Conlon won the first 3 races and were second in the 4th race of the day but suffered rudder damage.  Jenny Ball sailing with David Ball won the 4th race winning the trophy for 4 race winners at the Nationals.  The rudder damage that Joshua and Michael had sustained on Saturday meant they could not take any further part in the event so could only watch the Match race between Jenny & David vs. Jason Clarke and Andrew Dowley on Sunday.  The overall result was decided only at the very end of the final race when Jason beat Jenny across the line.  Joshua Hunt and Michael Conlon tied with Jenny and David on points securing the title with their 3 wins from Saturday.  The two wins on Sunday secured Jason and Andrew the trophies for the most improved crew and they also won the trophy for the youngest crew.