J24 European Championship-FINAL
September 29, 2006 by Chris McLaughlin | 0 comments
Southworth retains European title in Hedgehog
J24 European Championship Day Four
Hedgehog and Headcase battle it out, as Robertson also takes a gun
Southworth retains European title in Hedgehog
Two Nineteen -eighties Rogers-built J24 battled each other across three races at today’s J24 European championship in Poole Bay. Once again, Parkstone Yacht Club provided great race management and good judgement in at times light and difficult conditions. Spring tides have also challenged both competitors and race officer alike.
Race nine began in 5 mph wind and stayed that way throughout. Shirley Robertson in Volvo won the start and drove to the right hand side of the course. Ian Southworth, was pushed off by a well-timed Robertson tack, to the left side of the course. By the windward mark she was first and Southworth second. Holding the lead, Robertson slipped away down the run as Southworth followed her route.
Third place went to Dutch J24 sailor, Ivo Kok, fourth to Sweden’s Stefan Walkuschand fifth to Stefan Mais of Germany.
Race Ten and the breeze was improving to 6-8 mph. Al Clarke in Serco won the start and headed right. Southworth split tack in search of pressure but failed to cover the fleet. Clarke led the procession from the right, with Southworth rounding twelfth.
Up the next beat, Southworth took advantage of a twenty degree lift to climb over the pack of leading boats. By the windward mark he was through to second, but unable to challenge Serco, who reversed yesterday’s down wind battle and held their lead to the line. Third place went to Duncan McCarthy in Madeleine, Fourth to Stuart Jardine in Stouche and fifth to Gavin Watson and Team Gul, who again should impressive downwind speed.
Race eleven and the final race of the day and Southworth was looking to wrap the series. From a left end line start he worked the shifts to be first to the weather mark, a short distance ahead of Serco and JSpot, helmed by Ivo Kok. He maintained his lead until the final run, with Serco chasing to within one and a half boat lengths to the finish line. Both boats seemed evenly matched, but it was Hedgehog ahead of Headcase by a couple of boat lengths in a hard fought, multiple gybe run to the line.
Ian Southworth has retained the J24 European Championship title with a day to spare. His score of 14.4 points, discarding tomorrow’s DNS, comprises seven first places, 1.3 points for redress and three second places.
A very happy Ian Southworth comments: “This has been a fantastic week sailing. The J24 provides real challenges and great racing. I would like to thank my team who gave 110%; Paul Brotherton, our coach, who made a major step-change in our performance and David Heritage Racing Yachts, who prepared Hedgehog so beautifully”.
Ian Southworth uses Ullman sails on a Sparloft rig. His crew is Andy McLelland, Cockpit; Chris Mclaughlin, Tactician; Nigel Smith, mast and Mark Hayman, Bow.
