D-Zero open meeting at Grafham Water Sailing Club

Start of Race 5 - D-Zero open meeting at Grafham Water © Paul Sanwell / OPP

The Grafham D-Zero Open, expanded to a two-day event this year, took place over the weekend of 17-18th May in glorious conditions. Held alongside the Hadron H2 Inlands and RS600 Inlands, the weekend brought together three dynamic fleets for some fantastic racing.

While the D-Zero fleet had a modest turnout of eight boats, the quality of sailing was high, with six local entries joined by enthusiastic visitors Gareth Tweedle from Emsworth and Terry Brooks from Oxford. Terry, a welcome new addition to the Class, raced in Gavin Fleming's former boat — Gavin himself competing in the H2 fleet.

Thanks to the expert race management of Peter Curtis, the event ran smoothly with minimal inter-fleet interference, ensuring enjoyable and fair racing for all. Overall, the weekend proved a great success, showcasing close competition and a strong sense of community across the fleets.

The wind on Saturday was around 8 to 10 knots with gust into the mid-teens, coming from the North. Peter Curtis warned competitors at the briefing to expect variability in wind direction and strength: how prescient he was! Over the weekend, whilst the mean direction remained fairly constant, there were frequent, sometimes sudden, shifts, and wind strength ranged from nothing to low teens. Peter set a trapezoid course with an upwind gate for all races.

In Race 1, Neil Washington, Colin Glover and John Aston had a close battle at the front with the lead changing a number of times. Neil Washington emerged the winner, with Colin second and Paul Murphy sailing through on the final reach to take third place.

In Race 2, John Aston pulled out a big lead on the second beat but was slowly hauled back by Neil Washington on the third beat and top reach. Neil, showing impressive downwind speed, broke through on the final run, to take first place again, with Gareth Tweedle third.

Race 3 started with a massive left shift just before the start. Neil read the conditions correctly, starting at the unfavoured Committee Boat end but in stronger breeze. When the wind shifted right again, he was able to tack and cross the fleet and held first all the way to the finish. Gareth was second and Paul Murphy third.

So, at the end of day 1, Neil was the clear leader with three first places.

Sunday started with similar conditions; a little colder maybe but wind pretty much the same as the previous day.

In Race 4, Colin Glover, Neil Washington and John Aston again battled it out at the front. Colin consolidated a lead on the second beat, which he maintained to the finish. John held on for second with Neil third, closely followed by Gareth in fourth place.

In Race 5, a starboard shift just before the start saw two boats OCS: John went back, Ben didn't! Neil went left on the final beat into stronger wind and a favourable shift to take an impressive lead at the windward mark.

However, the wind then died on the reach and filled in again on the run, allowing Colin to overhaul Neil to take the win. Gareth held on to take third place from John, recovering well from his premature start.

At the end of Race 5, Neil had the overall event won.

Neil Washington, overall winner - D-Zero open meeting at Grafham Water - photo © Paul Sanwell / OPP

The start of Race 6 was a copy of Race 3 with another massive left shift at the start.

However, this time the wind died completely shortly after the start. It re-emerged on the left-hand side of the course; Colin and John, having started at the pin end of the line, were able to get into it first and gain advantage. The conditions though remained light and fickle; at the end of the first beat John held a good lead from Gareth who had worked his way up to second ahead of Colin. The wind died even further on the top reach and first half of the run.

The inevitable then happened; it filled in from behind, bunching the entire fleet and enabling Colin and Gareth to close right up on John by Mark 3. John was just able to maintain the inside position at the mark and held on to win, the Race Officer mercifully shortening after one lap only. Colin broke through Gareth on the bottom reach to secure second place.

So overall, Neil was the winner with Colin and second and John third. The full results were:

Thanks to Peter Curtis and the Race Team for putting on some excellent racing in really taxing conditions. Also, thanks to our fellow competitors from the RS600 and Hadron H2 fleets: the combination made for a good event.

Paul Sanwell's photos can be seen at 8573832.tifmember.com/p/46982bpt/rs600-d-zero-hadron-event-17-18th

Prize-winners Colin Glover, Neil Washington and John Aston - D-Zero open meeting at Grafham Water - photo © Paul Sanwell / OPP

Overall Results: