K1 End of Season Trophy 2023 at Broxbourne Sailing Club
by David Hume 30 Oct 2023 08:55 PDT
28 October 2023
K1 End of Season Trophy at Broxbourne © Peter Selway
There was a strong entry of 17 boats for this last event in the K1 Class Travellers Trophy
series for 2023 on Saturday 28th October. All six boats, comprising the Broxbourne K1 fleet,
were joined by eleven visitors, who had trailed from Barnt Green, Burton, Rutland,
Tewkesbury, Lyme Regis, plus the usual suspects from Datchet Water.
WindGuru promised a 9mph southerly, with gusts in the teens. The early morning autumnal
mist gave way to sunshine and predominantly blue skies. The high cirrus showed some signs
of stretching, but on the water nothing other than ripples caused by local wildfowl. The race
team were becoming nervous in regard to the race schedule.
Blind faith was rewarded and the promised breeze finally filled in fitfully from the south, the
fleet hoisted sail and were ready to start for the first of three races only 30 mins behind
schedule.
The wind was swinging both west and east of south and those starters who tacked off early
were strongly favoured at the first mark. The wind strength was perfect for K1's, helms could
go for height or speed, depending on need and choosing the right gybe downwind was very
beneficial.
Ian Duke 170 took an early lead from a busy following pack. David Hume 111 edged his way
past three Kings - this is beginning to sound like a Christmas Carol - into second place, and
the race finished after 60 minutes with Geoff King 138 third and Simon Patterson 124 fourth.
After a pleasant lunch break, which many competitors took on the club's patio, the fleet took
to the water for two shorter races, which were to be held back-to-back for the afternoon
session. The mean wind strength was stronger and it was also gusty, providing opportunity
to stretch the legs upwind.
In this second race Simon Patterson 124 found his way into the lead, which he never
relinquished, Jeff Vander Borght 171 finished second and Andrew Wilson 97 was third. Ian
Duke retired with gear failure when well placed and never found the time for repairs before
the third and final race.
The third and final race found a third new leader in Andrew Wilson 97. Behind him there was
a close fought battle between two of the Kings, Geoff 138 and Hilly 161, which ended in
favour of Hilly. This battle was characterised though out the fleet, featuring close racing and
constant place changing throughout the day.
Results:
1st Andrew Wilson, Datchet Water
2nd Simon Patterson, Tewkesbury
3rd Geoff King, Tewkesbury
A full schedule of K1 events for the 2024 season are already published on the K1 Association
Website, including dates, venue and event status. For those whose requirement for
competition in the balance of this year and early 2024 is still unsated, there is the SailJuice Winter Series to look forward to.
Further Photographs of this event are featured in the Gallery section of the Broxbourne
Sailing Club website.