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29er fleet at the Ovington Championships at Weymouth & Portland Sailing Academy

by Charlie Gran 18 Nov 2022 00:58 NZDT 12-13 November 2022
29er fleet at the Ovington Championships in Weymouth © 29er class association

Once again, the 29er fleet headed to Weybiza for what seemed to be a glamourous forecast for the Ovington Champs. We were greeted with sunshine, breeze and with the hope of building conditions throughout the weekend! With no delays, the fleet was clear to get launched on time for racing! Everyone was keen to get out on the water, in the sunshine and get started.

The day started with a good solid 18 knot south easterly breeze, with Race 1 under way with no generals and clear start by all sailors. It was evident that Finn and Oscar were going to be clear winners having led from the start with James and Noah following behind them.

Race 2 shortly followed and saw a much tighter race between the top five, however James and Noah won the battle with Charlie and Sam snapping at their heels to take second followed by Finn and Oscar, locking out the top three.

Race 3 saw Finn and Oscar dominating the race, taking another win for the day followed by a great result from Santi and Kuba coming in second.

With the clear leaders of Day 1 in place, the sailors came in looking forward to some socialising in the club catered by WSPNA, refuelled for more racing on Sunday.

Sunday's forecast was looking just as glam with 20 knots on the water with more chop and sunshine. With points at the top of the leader board very tight, there was everything to play for!

Day 2 dawned. A crisp and early start with sunshine and wind greeted the sailors in the boat park. Similar conditions to Day 1 meant another glamour day of skiff racing was on the cards.

Race 4 saw the left coming in strong again with Jamie^2 winning to the top mark and taking a relatively comfortable win. There was a tough battle for second and third between overnight leaders, Finn and Oscar and Charlie and Sam but the former managed to read the left hand gain at the top of the beat and lead round the final windward to take second place.

The second race of the day quickly followed in the classic flat water and 20 knots of wind that we had seen throughout the event. First to the windward mark by a margin were James and Noah after a strong start at the pin end. Closely following them were leading ladies team Annabelle and Maddie. By the leeward mark it was James and Noah out front with Sam and Charlie behind them. Another battle followed for 1st and 2nd with James and Noah proving victorious. Third place went to Finn and Oscar, another strong result for them.

The pointy end of the regatta was fast approaching as preparations for the final race began. The start was dramatic as a collision just before the gun meant that event leaders Finn and Oscar were unable to sail the final race due to damage. Fortunately they had already won the event by that stage so no redress hearing was required!

Whilst this was happening, the rest of the fleet set off up the race track. Once again, Jamie and Jamie lead from the left round the windward mark with Scottish pairing Morven and Ollie second around. Going into the final downwind, Jamie and Jamie were relatively clear ahead but a tight battle followed them not too far behind. Charlie and Sam managed to get ahead before the jibe point but some class pace downwind from Morven and Ollie built up to an intense leeward mark rounding.

All the while, the Jamie's were nervously looking behind them as the fighting pair caught up. Approaching the rounding, Morven and Ollie had the inside line, Charlie and Sam were in the middle and Jamie and Jamie were just ahead on the outside. The leaders were the first to jibe, just getting around in front of Morven and Ollie whose right of way meant they overtook Charlie and Sam and claimed second in the race.

A tight battle to finish then!

Prizes were provided and presented by Ovington boats, the event sponsor, so a big thank you to them!

Overall a very good weekend was had by all with some perfect skiff sailing conditions and some balmy temperatures for November! A special mention to all of the transition sailors who had a fantastic weekend in the strongest winds so far this season. 29ers aren't the easiest boats to handle and there were some great performances and results amongst the teams new to the class.

The now hotly contested (virtual) Buddy trophy went to James and Noah, Maya and Gregan, Hazel and Ben, Josh and Ollie.

Category prizes:

Ladies:
1st - Annabelle Vines and Maddie Bilbrough
2nd - Karrie Clarke and Amèlie Curtis
3rd - Ella Lightbody and Felicity Brellisford

Mixed:
1st - Morven Wood and Ollie Bull
2nd - Hazel Mcdonnell and Ben Paling
3rd - Millie Irish and Szymon Matyjaszczuk

Juniors:
1st - Benjamin Ripley and Toby Holmes-Ling
2nd - Sophie Watson and Holly Mitchell
3rd - Merryn Attridge and Sarah Davis

Overall Results:

PosSail NoHelmCrewClubR1R2R3R4R5R6Pts
12849Finian MorrisOscar Morgan‑HarrisHayling Island SC13123RET10
218James CrossleyNoah FitzgeraldHayling Island SC213‑41411
33260Charlie GranSam WebbHISC / R Lym YC32‑532313
42433Jamie WilkinsonJamie GatehouseHISC4‑5414114
52816Santi Sesto CosbyKuba StaiteR Lym YC / HISC582‑1471032
62743Morven WoodOllie BullHelensburgh SC‑181011512240
72416Josh StokesOllie MearsHISC64‑18185740
82216Hazel McdonnellBen PalingDraycote Water SC‑157998841
919Olly PetersFreddie WestwellHayling Island SC119‑21661143
102479Millie IrishSzymon MatyjaszczukWelsh Harp13116‑229544
113079Annabelle VinesMadeline BilbroughLymington7137810‑1845
122225Alex SydenhamMax SydenhamHayling Island SC‑211581211652
132539Zeb FellowsFin GribbinYealm YC91412713‑1655
142507Louis HiscocksSimon Hiscocks 10610‑27141959
153007Rob MawdsleyOllie VinesHISC / R Lym YC8‑19141719967
162924Karrie ClarkAmelie CurtisBlackwater SC‑22121311181569
172122Harvey JenkinsTom ArmstrongNewhaven & Seaford1216‑2213171270
183224Ella LightbodyFelicity BrellisfordRoyal Lymington YC17‑231710151372
192879Charlie GatehouseBen StokesBewl Valley SC1618‑1916161480
202787Katy JenkinsAmelie HiscocksWPNSA1417152121UFD88
212477Laura ElmsJess CharlesworthHayling Island SC19‑281620201792
222915Tilly PhelpsBen AdlerCastle Cove SC2024‑26152222103
232882Hazel JonesBen StokesHayling Island SC‑242023192321106
242826Maya Bergmann SmithGregan Bergmann SmithHayling Island SC232520DNS2520113
251858Benjamin RipleyToby Holmes‑LingHayling Island SC‑252224232423116
262736Ella JonesCharlie HopkinsonHayling Island SC‑282727242724129
272327Sophie WatsonHolly MitchellHayling Island SC27‑2929282627137
281285Merryn AttridgeSarah DavisCastle Cove SC‑313030253026141
292982George BiggsAlicia BiggsLlandegfedd SC26212530RETDNC142
302338Theo BurnMaksym DatsenkoDatchet Water SC29263129‑3230145
312121Kitty O'HalloranLily O'HalloranRestronguet SC30‑3232263129148
322016Fin SouthonRhys GriffithsBough Beech SCDNF3128332932153
332234Harry SimsJack SimsLlandegfedd SC3433DNC313328159
342900Allegra MasseyMartyn JonesISC/HISCDNCDNCDNC322825165
352493Emily McstayMark Jenkins Jauma 3235NSC3434DNC175
362217Henry Wolfe‑BarryImmy EspigNetley SC3334DNFRETDNS31178
373085Edward Roberts‑StrawEwan Plowden‑WardlawCardiff Bay YCDNCDNCDNCRETRETDNS200
372478Rachel HarperCharlie HopkinsonHISCDNCDNCDNCDNCDNCDNC200
372900Allegra MasseySamuel TonksISC/HISCRETDNCDNCDNCDNCDNC200

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