High turnout for the Gill Summer Series at Grafham Water Sailing Club
by Peter Gee 28 Sep 2022 18:38 AEST
Colin Glover was first in the D-Zero fleet in the Gill Summer Series at Grafham Water © Paul Sanwell / OPP
After 39 races the Gill Summer Series at Grafham Water SC for 2022 has finally concluded. A high turnout of 140 boats across 8 fleets took part in the event that had everything from drifters to gales and towards the end of the season lower water levels and some mud.
Despite weeks of lovely sunshine the average wind levels were higher than usual. A high level of tenacity and stamina was required across the series with 13 races to count.
The Asymmetric Cat fleet had a great series with over 30 different boats racing. The series was dominated by Jon Sweet & Reece Webb in their F18 who finished 5 points clear of Christian Mash in his Spitfire. Kevin Cummerson in another Spitfire was third overall.
The Flying Fifteen and double-handed fleet was won by Nigel & Fiona Denchfield in their Lark who comfortably held off the Flying Fifteen combinations of Bob Gatton & John Forsdike (second) and David Philpott & Jan or Katy Wyatt (third).
The ILCAs/Lasers remained the fleet with the biggest average turnout with 26 different boats taking part. Michael Parker counted an impressive eleven wins with Barrie Holden second overall and Richard Major third.
The Solo fleet at Grafham also recorded a strong and competitive turnout. Ewan Birkin-Walls maintained his run of wins with Ian Walters second and Pat Overs third.
The D-Zero fleet was won by Colin Glover and the asymmetric fleet was won by John Reynolds & Fran Howell in their 4000. The non-asymmetric cat fleet was won by Stuart Snell in his Sprint 15. The single handed handicap fleet was won by Krzysztof Bonicki, in an OK, who recorded 13 firsts.
The final weekend of the summer saw the annual battle for the Club Championship racing for the Duke of Edinburgh trophy. The first three three places were taken by Solos which were Ian Walters with Harry Lucas second and his father Dave Lucas third.
Full results: www.grafham.org/club-race-results.html
Grafham Water SC would like to thank their sponsors Gill for their generous support of the club and the series. Special thanks to all the club members who volunteered for race and rescue duties. More photographs of the event can be viewed at the Grafham Water SC Photo Gallery.
Grafham Water SC is based in Cambridgeshire and offers some of the best inland sailing in the country. The club is open to all classes of boat with strong fleets of Sprint 15's, catamarans, Lasers/ILCAs, Solos, D-Zeros, RSs and Flying Fifteens. For more information about the club please visit the website at www.grafham.org or call the club on 01480 810478. Follow the club on Facebook