Etchells National & British Open Championship

by Fiona Brown on 20 Jun 2006 The Etchells National & British Open Championship came to a close today with three great races on the final day in 12-20 knots on the Solent. Hosted by the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club and with 36 competing crews the regatta ran from Saturday 17 to Monday 19 June and will be followed later this week by the Etchells European Championship, which takes place from Wednesday 21 to Saturday 24 June.

It was a closely fought regatta and with all six scheduled races completed double Etchells World Champion Stuart Childerley and his crew Simon Russell and Roger Marino retain their National & British Open Championship crown with a very low score of 11 points.

European Champion Nils Razmilovic, crewed by Brian Hammersley and Adam Turk (22 points) took second and third place went to David Bedford sailing with owner James Howells and Phil Lawrence (27 points). Ante Razmilovic, crewed by Mike Wolfs and Stuart Flinn, was fourth (29 points) and 1996 Etchells World Champion Adam Gosling crewed by David 'Sid' Howlett and Star World and European Champion Steve Mitchell was fifth.

Speaking after racing Stuart Childerley said - 'The first couple of days were a real test, but if you stay consistent and just watch the others make mistakes around you you're there. Despite the conditions the race management was excellent and we're very much looking forward to the Europeans starting on Wednesday. The only negative is that the Royal Corinthian's hospitality has been fantastic, which is going to make it tough for us at the weigh in on Wednesday morning!'

On the opening day competitors spent as much time waiting for the sea breeze to make up its mind as they did racing. PRO Tony Lovell did get race one underway but up the beat the wind died completely and he was forced to abandon and restart. The second attempt was more successful but it was still very light and shifty with strong tide making it hard work for all concerned.

Double European and former British National Champion Nils Razmilovic kept his head and took the race from John Brinkers and his all girl crew of Julie Wilkinson plus Lucy Macgregor and Annie Lush, who are keeping their hand in while their Yngling helm Shirley Robertson takes maternity leave. Third place went to Stuart Childerley with David Bedford fourth and Mike Sparks fifth. They dying wind made it impossible to start race two and the crews were sent home.

Day two was another light and extremely difficult day. Ultimately two further races were completed but it was frustrating sailing for all concerned. In the first Graham Bailey did a great job of the first leg and took off down the run with a lovely lead. Sadly about half way to the leeward mark the Solent delivered one of its classic 160 degree wind shifts and Graham's lead evaporated as the crews found themselves beating instead of running.

Back in the pack Stuart Childerley was the first to spot the shift, going high and dropping quickly to put himself firmly in the led. Tony Lovell wisely decided to finish the race on the leeward mark putting Childerley first with Ireland's Jamie Boag second and Tom Hughes of the USA third. Graham Bailey had to content himself with fourth place just ahead of Cordelia Ellis.

The day's second race was a little more conventional but the sea breeze still refused to come out to play. Nils Razmilovic again showed the fleet a clean pair of heels while Nigel Harley put in his first appearance at the front of the fleet taking second. Ever consistent Childerley slotted into third with Simon Williams fourth and Ante Razmilovic fifth.

Much to everyone's delight the wind finally put in an appearance today and the championship closed with three incredibly close races in 14 - 20 knots from the west. By the end of the day legs and backs were turning to jelly as the crews hung on up the final 1.6 mile beat but there were plenty of happy faces.

Adam Gosling got his day off to a nice start by winning the opening race from David Bedford with Stuart Childerley third. Ireland's Anthony Shanks had his best race of the regatta, initially leading the fleet but eventually finishing fourth with fellow Irishman Richard Burrows in fifth.

In the day's second race Ante Razmilovic decided it was his turn to star with a nice win over Graham Bailey as brother Nils came third and Anthony Shanks was forth again. Stuart Childerley was having his worst race of the regatta and only managed fifth!

Stuart Childerley closed the regatta in style with a lovely win in the final race. There was quite a tousle for second which Graham Bailey won putting John Brinkers third. The Razmilovic brothers duelled over fourth with Ante beating Nils and Doug Flynn finished fifth.

Back ashore the sailors gathered on the balcony at the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club to enjoy a sausage supper and the prize giving.

Final positions:
1 GBR 987 Bedrock Stuart Childerley 3 1 3 3 (5) 1 16 11pts
2 GBR 1340 Matatu Nils Razmilovic 1 12 1 (14) 3 5 36 22
3 GBR 1332 Gelert David Bedford 4 (21) 7 2 7 7 48 27
4 GBR 1333 Swedish Blue Ante Razmilovic 9 10 5 (12) 1 4 41 29
5 GBR 1331 Yes! Adam Gosling (15) 14 10 1 6 9 55 40
6 GBR 957 Arbitrator Graham Bailey 11 4 (24) 23 2 2 66 42
7 GBR 1175 Darling S John Brinkers 2 19 15 6 (32) 3 77 45
8 IRL 1116 Muddy Paws Anthony Shanks (17) 17 11 4 4 11 64 47
9 GBR 1075 Extravaganza Cordelia Ellis 10 5 (18) 9 15 15 72 54
10 IRL 1015 Matatu Dubh Richard Burrows 6 6 (24) 5 17 21 79 55
11 GBR 1198 Fresh Guidance Simon Williams (37) 16 4 11 11 16 95 58
12 GBR 1021 Bushfire Jervis Tilly 25 8 (37) 7 10 10 97 60
13 GBR 992 China White Andrew Cooper 8 7 (21) 21 13 14 84 63
14 IRL 1330 Fraculator Dan O'Grady 7 (20) 20 15 9 13 84 64
15 GBR 1339 Freelance Laurence Mead 12 9 (27) 13 20 12 93 66
16 GBR 1165 Wobbegong Doug Flynn (26) 11 14 25 12 6 94 68
17 USA 526 America Tom Hughes 16 3 8 8 (37) 37 109 72
18 GBR 1297 9 Mike Sparks 5 (28) 9 24 18 17 101 73
19 GBR 1193 Snatch Andy Oddie 20 15 6 18 (21) 20 100 79
20 GBR 1036 Esprit Robert Elliott (23) 18 19 20 8 22 110 87
21 GBR 1195 Patriot Games Jamie Boag 14 2 26 10 (37) 37 126 89
22 GBR 1187 Shirin Andy Beadsworth 13 (37) 37 17 14 8 126 89
23 GBR 1196 Best Mate Chris Torrens 19 (31) 12 19 19 26 126 95
24 GBR 937 Evelina Chester Maudsley (37) 35 13 16 16 18 135 98
25 GBR 812 Macado Nigel Harley (37) 26 2 27 26 19 137 100
26 GBR 1324 Pale Tide Ian Law 18 24 16 (32) 25 24 139 107

Event website: http://www.rcyc.co.uk/da/27898

For further information about the 2006 Etchells UK National and European Championships please visit www.rcyc.co.uk or contact Louise Morton, Secretary, Royal Corinthian Yacht Club, The Parade, Cowes, Isle of Wight, PO31 7QU. Tel +44 (0)1983 293581, Fax +44 (0)1983 294385, E-mail louise@rcyc.co.uk.

For further information about the British Etchells Class please contact Jan Ford, British Etchells Class Association Secretary, E-mail jan@janford.co.uk, Tel +44 (0)7747 602707.