Biting Winds & Close Racing at Datchet F18 event
March 27, 2007 0 comments
This weekend saw the first qualifier event in the UK Formula 18 catamaran calendar, aiming towards the F18 Europeans in the summer. A good turn out of 18 boats greeted the biting north east wind at Datchet sailing club, for 6 races over the weekend.
This weekend saw the first qualifier event in the UK Formula 18 catamaran calendar, aiming towards the F18 Europeans in the summer. A good turn out of 18 boats greeted the biting north east wind at Datchet sailing club, for 6 races over the weekend. The winds were incredibly gusty and shifty all weekend; racing was never over till the finishing line and at times the competition could be described more like snakes and ladders than sail boat racing.
Saturday saw the wind from the north and off the line in the first race Leo Farrow (Capricorn) stormed into the lead. In the chasing pack there was a great deal of place changing, and the odd capsize, as the aggressive gusts swept down the lake. Hugh Styles (Nacra Infusion) <with new crew Ryan Crawford> had been delayed prior to the start, but quickly caught the front pack. Attacking on the downwind they overhauled Luke Yates (Hobie Tiger) and held off to the finish to claim 2nd.
The second race of the day saw Stuart Gummer leading the charge, off the line and never to be headed. Second was Luke Yates, sailing strongly in the breeze, more like the conditions they were used to from 3 weeks earlier at the F18 worlds in Yeppoon Australia. For Styles and Crawford an OCS hampered their efforts.
The last race of the day saw more breeze and a big left shift in the wind to keep testing the competitors. Whilst on the race course, there was much confusion, Styles and Crawford with a comfortable lead from Stuart Gummer. But miss counted and went through the line to finish on lap 4 of 5, and was given a gun. This prompted Styles to return to finish, but the OOD had been mistaken and then informed boats that they had another lap to do. Much confusion, racing continued for another lap, to finish, 1st Styles, 2nd Gummer, and 3rd Yates.
Sunday began with frostbite on the finger tips to start with, but once the sun worked its magic and the wind blew from the North East, a beautifly racing day transppired. The three races were tightly contested between Gummer and Styles. With the overall event win up for grabs it was excellent racing, never over till the last, place changes going on both upwind and down. The first race was taken by Styles, the second Gummer. So it was down to the last race, the winner took the overall event. Styles lead for 3.5 laps until on the last upwind, Gummer had to try something different and hooked into a big right shift jumping clearly into the lead. They held this to the finish to win the race and the event.
It is always a baptism of fire for teams at the Datchet event each year, it provides some of the closest racing of the season in the chilliest conditions. A big thanks to Datchet sailing club for putting on the event.
The next F18 event will be at Minnis Bay on the 21 and 22 April and then Highcliffe 12 and 13 may. These are all qualifiers for entries for the F18 Europeans in July, so be there for a chance to get in to the GBR team for the Euuropeans.
Team Styles would like to thank Nacra Europe for getting them their boat in time for the event and to their sponsors for their help. The next major event in the schedule is Carnac for the Eurocat event in the end of April, watch this space.
