Tim Holden wins Hayling Island Contender Open
by Matt Aston on 29 Sep 2005
Contender OM Hayling Island SC Gerald New
http://www.sail-world.co.uk
The penultimate event of the Contender TT took place at Hayling Island SC over the weekend of 24/25 September and attracted 29 boats.
Race 1 started in a shifty force two to three with a lumpy sea, Gary Langdown picked the shifts and tide correctly and rounded first followed by Rodger White, Matt Aston and Ben Holden. These four showed a clean pair of heals to the remainder of the fleet with Ben finding a little extra to pass White and Aston for second behind Langdown.
Race 2, Rodger White rounded first followed by Aston, Philip Dickinson and Ben. Aston slipped past White and held the led until the last beat only to go for the wrong finish mark, allowing Tim Holden to come in from the left to take the win. A fast finishing Tony White pipped namesake Rodger White for third.
The forecast for Sunday was for a lively one, which it did not disappoint. Race 3 started in a good force four with Tim surviving a poor start after doing turns to lead a group from the right that included Dickinson and Nick Noble, as the wind shifted 20 degrees. Only Ben coming in from the left was able to break into this group finally finishing 2nd with Dickinson third and Noble fourth.
The final race was dominated by Simon Mussell. Mussell showed superior upwind speed to lead until his failure to read the sailing instructions proved costly as he sailed past the finish, to allow Tim to take the win. Behind Aston worked his way forward through the race to finish third ahead of Nick Grace in fourth.
Yet again HISC provided excellent race management in a venue that once again proved itself as one of the best in the country.
Final overall leaders after 4 races, 29 entries:
1 Tim Holden Halifax 8 1 1 1 3 pts
2 Ben Holden Halifax 2 5 2 7 9
3 Matt Aston Datchet 4 2 6 3 9
4 Gary Langdown Highcliffe 1 10 8 5 14
5 Simon Mussell Highcliffe 10 DNF 7 2 19
6 Phil Dickinson Weston 11 7 3 20 21
7 Nike Grace Castle Cove 14 9 11 4 24
8 Rodger White Stewartby 3 4 20 19 26
9 Tony White Lancing 5 3 18 18 26
10 Richard Buttner RCPYC 20 16 5 6 27
Event website: http://www.hisc.co.uk
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