Graduate National Championships 2024 at Carsington Sailing Club - Day 2
by Bob Murrell 26 May 23:38 PDT
25-27 May 2024
The 7 o'clock alarm came all too early accompanied by the all too familiar sound of rain, and lots of it. The forecast was no better with the very strong chance of thunder and lightning in the afternoon.
The race committee took the sensible decision to bring forward one of the afternoon races to the morning and then assess the situation at lunchtime.
By the time the crews were rigging the heavier rain had eased and with a pleasant force 2 from the Northeast with occasional stronger gusts the combined fleets made their way to the racecourse.
The race officer continued with the policy from Day 1 of flying the "U" flag to encourage good line discipline and the Grads duly got away cleanly for the third Championship race on a fairly biased start line. With a reasonable breeze in the middle of the first beat, the crews shook down to a familiar order. Chris & Chloe showed early form along with Richard & Jane Thorpe and Bob & Maggie making up the chasing pack very close to Ric Lewis & Sarah-Jane Critchley, John, Bryn and Fresh. By the windward mark the wind started to be quite flukey and the wind shifts gave options for some place changing. By the end of the race Fresh & Ross held off Bryn & Emma followed home by John & Jamie.
The fourth Championship race warning gun was sounded as soon as possible after the final boat of the Miracle fleet had finished. The breeze deserted the crews on the West side of the course and although flukey, the race leaders opting for the dam side gained. On the downwind legs boats coming from astern held the advantage by coming down with the small gusts. Threading through the Miracles who were flying their kites made the beats interesting but, as in the three previous races, the leading pack consisted of Bryn, Fresh and John. John & Jamie infringed and the resulting 720 meant it became a 2 boat shootout to the finish line, Bryn just pipping Fresh for the gun.
Without a discard, which kicks in after 5 races, overnight leaders are Fresh & Ross on 6 points, Bryn & Emma and John & Jamie tying on 9 points.
The weather forecast for Monday is more benign and the wind a more consistent Southwesterly 15 knots which promises an exciting final day with the final result difficult to predict.