SB20 UK National Championships - Survival mode on Day 2

by Katie Ashworth on 16 Jun 2012

Day 2 - SB20 UK National Championships 2012 SW

SB20 UK National Championships 2012 racing continued today, Friday 15th June, at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy.

The Race Committee reviewed the conditions in Weymouth Bay and the fleet waited ashore as the situation was assessed. The decision came that today’s race course would be set in Portland Harbour due to the confused sea state and higher wind speeds in Weymouth Bay. The fleet were released to the racing area where the wind was in the mid to high twenties, from a south westerly direction.

The Race Committee set a perfect course, offering a 0.7 nautical mile beat with two laps, an ideal course for these conditions. The fleet were shy of the line at the start, but it was Hugh Styles, Alison Young and Giles Scott who lead by a good five boat lengths at the first windward mark, having chosen the left hand side of the course. Team Russia rounded second, but Styles and his crew dominated the fleet for the next lap until a spectacular broach on the second downwind leg, provided John Pollard, Rob Smith and Charlie Hook the opportunity to take the bullet in the first race.

A second race was held, in building wind conditions and by the end of the race, many members of the back of the fleet were in 'survival mode'. After the second race, which was won by Team Russia, the fleet were sent ashore for the day.

SB20 class new comers Alan Harris-Guerrero, Dale Williams and Chris Matthews of Fowey came ashore beaming, they’d had a great day. 'Two, twenty-third positions for us is fantastic! We’ve learnt loads at this event, and we’ve had a really good time. Today’s conditions have been epic.'

'It was a beautiful day on the water,' said Pollard, 'Great to sail in the sunshine and we’ve climbed a position in the overall rankings. The Race Committee made the right decision to bring us in after just two races.'

The top speed readings on the Tack Tick units as the fleet came ashore, just showed how fruity today’s racing was. The 'Balls of Steel' award goes to Joe Llewelly, Jerry Vigus and Ben Vines who top the leader board with a high speed of 20.0 knots.

Llewellyn, Vigus and Vines 20.0 knots
Peach, Walker, Batchelor and Mills 18.5 knots
Luka, Zherebtsov, Klochko and Stepanova 19.5 knots
Oddie, Edwards, King 16.3 knots
Entwistle, Mon and Davies 15.5 knots

The weather forecast shows that the wind conditions are due to increase on Saturday, so a decision will be made as to the feasibility of racing at 9am tomorrow morning. Six races, and a series have now been completed.

Results - Top Ten:

Pos	Nation	Helm	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	R6	Nett
1	3554	Luka	1.0	2.0	2.0	1.0	(3.0)	1.0	7
2	3037	Hill	2.0	1.0	5.0	(8.0)	2.0	2.0	12
3	3042	Burlton	3.0	5.0	1.0	(6.0)	5.0	3.0	17
4	3571	Pollard	4.0	4.0	4.0	(9.0)	1.0	6.0	19
5	3082	Llewellyn	(9.0)	3.0	3.0	2.0	7.0	8.0	23
6	3508	Howard	(8.0)	7.0	6.0	7.0	8.0	5.0	33
7	3011	Styles	6.0	8.0	(12.0)	12.0	6.0	9.0	41
8	3084	Stokes	(19.0)	6.0	7.0	3.0	11.0	15.0	42
9	3546	Entwistle	10.0	9.0	10.0	4.0	(14.0)	11.0	44
10	3336	Peach	(16.0)	11.0	16.0	11.0	4.0	4.0	46