Contender Open at Oxford Sailing Club

Contender Open at Oxford © Alistair Weston

Contender Open at Oxford © Alistair Weston

Contender Open at Oxford © Alistair Weston

The Oxford Sailing Club played host to an exhilarating weekend of racing at the Oxford Contender Open, where sailors faced a mix of sunny skies and blustery winds ranging from 14 to 22 knots.

The fleet set sail in the early afternoon, with a leisurely start at 1:30 PM, but the competitors were surprisingly hesitant, with many well away from the line when the starting gun fired.

As the first race commenced, the tightly packed fleet navigated the initial beat and first reach under the O flag, allowing for pumping across the reach and down the first run. Leading the charge was Stu Jones, closely followed by Carl Tagoe and Gary Langdown. However, the variable wind conditions soon took their toll, with Gary falling behind as Dan Hollands capitalized on the shifting breeze, ultimately securing a strong position and finishing Race 1 in third place behind Jones and Tagoe.

Race 2 mirrored the challenges of the first, with the wind unexpectedly dying halfway down the run, leading to several capsizes among the back of the fleet and prompting a number of retirements. The unpredictable conditions continued to test the sailors' skills.

By Race 3, the wind had returned with a vengeance. Jones and Tagoe rounded the windward mark neck and neck, but it was Hollands who seized the opportunity, taking a gamble on the right side of the course and emerging ahead by a staggering 30 boat lengths at the next mark.

In clear air, he maintained his lead while chaos ensued behind him, culminating in a near-collision between Carl Tagoe and Gary Langdown, both of whom took an unexpected dip in the water to avoid damage. Unfortunately for Hollands, a gust during the final mark rounding led to a capsize, allowing Jones to snatch victory.

Sunday dawned with a prompt 10:30 AM start, but the wind was significantly lighter, with only occasional puffs to propel the fleet. The sailors, less shy at the line than the previous day, witnessed a dynamic race as they approached the windward mark. Jones once again led the charge, trailed closely by Tagoe, Langdown, and newcomer Rodger White, who had wisely opted to sit out the previous day's races.

The shifty winds kept the top positions in flux, with Tagoe holding the lead for a time before Jones capitalized on a personal gust to surge ahead, followed closely by Langdown. The race saw moments of near standstill, with one run featuring a dramatic 360-degree wind shift.

In the subsequent races, Langdown's fortunes turned as he took the lead by a comfortable margin, finishing ahead of Chris Howe and Tagoe, while Jones found himself relegated to fourth place.

The final race of the weekend saw a slight increase in wind, and the fleet was perfectly aligned at the start. Positions continued to change throughout the race, but it was Jones who ultimately triumphed, finishing first, followed by Langdown in second and Tagoe in third.

The Oxford Contender Open proved to be a weekend filled with excitement, skill, and the unpredictable nature of sailing, leaving competitors eager for the next challenge on the water.

The Contender Traveller Series now continues onto Mounts bay Yacht club on the 3rd and 4th of May, all details can be found on sailcontender.org.uk

We will return to Oxford for a free contender training event on the 28th June with legendary coach Adam Bower in charge, please contact the class through the website for more details.

Overall Results: