Draycote Water Christmas Pursuit Race Series
by Jeremy Atkins 21 Dec 2022 02:41 PST
26 & 31 December 2022
Pursuit racing at Draycote © Malcolm Lewin
Every bank holiday, Draycote Water Sailing Club runs a pursuit race and there are two over the Christmas period: Boxing Day (datum 11am) and New Year's Day (datum 1.30pm). Visitors are very welcome to enter providing their boat is allowed at Draycote (if unsure, check with the Club).
The entry fee is just £10. Just turn up on the day, but make sure you have complied with the Check, Clean & Dry procedure and have a completed form with you. It can be found at draycotewater.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Visitor-Information-PDF-v2.pdf
Each race runs for 100 minutes from datum when the Toppers start - slower boats start before datum. The series starts on Easter Monday, through the May and August bank holidays and culminates in the two Christmas races.
With three races completed so far, Greg Irish from the home club leads from William Sunderland, both in ILCA 7s, with the 505 of Steve Irish and Norman Byrd in third. Our most regular visitors, the Pepperdines from Staunton Harrold, would be near the top of the results if they had not sailed two different class of boat which are scored separately.
Other sailors that have achieved podium results in individual races this year include Topper World Champion Joe Rowe (now in an ILCA), multiple national champions Jeremy Davy & Martin Huett (Flying Fifteen) and club newcomer Chris Brown (Solo).
But, with two races in quick succession to close the series, all could change - two good results over the Christmas period could propel other competitors to the top of the leader board and the chance to win the Club Champion trophy which will be presented on New Year's Day to the series winner.
80 different boats have competed in the series so far this year and this will probably rise to over 100 over Christmas.