UK Masters Christchurch - report/results
UK Masters Christchurch - report/results
Finn UK Masters 2009 Christchurch
Print Finn UK Masters 2009 - Report Uk Masters Christchurch - Results
After a night of storms 15 Finns showed up on Friday 26th June at Christchurch for the UK Masters.
As per the forecast the wind was barley able to blow the cob webs of Sanders boat for the first part of the morning, but by mid morning 5kts was registering and the fleet was released.
First start at 12.00 noon was moved to 13.00hrs and the fleet got under way on the first gun, Rory Al and Graham MacDonald tacked onto port and headed for the Mudeford shore, local knowledge was predicting a lift to the mark, the rest of the fleet were soon to follow but it was too late the order was set. Graham Page took the gamble of the right hand gate and went against the grain of staying in the middle, it paid!!! With a controversial finish of port and starboards over the line the order of finish was Graham Mac 1st Rory 2nd Graham Page 3rd Al Burrell 4th.
Race 2. Wind died racing canned for the day.
Saturday day 2.
With 3 more boats on the grid
Blue skis and a glittering day on the sea, the breeze around 10-12kts set out an exciting day of 4 anticipated races.
Race 2 . Right paid again but with a bigger sea and more wind the big boys dominated the front John Tremlett, Al Burell Martyn Hughes Andy Denison rounded the windward mark first and the fleet started to split, the down hill was truly enjoyable for all the sailors surfing under manageable conditions. After 2 laps. 1st Alan Burrell, 2nd John Tremlett 3rd Martin Hughes, 4th Andy Denison.
Race 3. Pretty much the same thing, no alteration in the course and the breeze held at the 10-12knts. 3 laps scheduled the race got underway with a couple of boats over the line that went back and unfortunate for Howard Sellers returning to the line when he didn’t need to. Again the right paid and the middle of the fleet saw changing positions but at the finish 1st John Tremlett,2nd Martin Hughes,3rd Al Burrell, 4th Andy Denison.
Race 4. The tide started to flatten out on the first high and the right hand side became less crucial, Al Burrell had a mare of a start and struggled to get back and Howard Sellers picked up an OCS, but the top bunch still led the way and the finish was 1st John Tremlett, 2nd Martin Hughes, 3rd Andy Denison, 4th Graham Page.
Race 5. With the Masters now feeling the pain of 4 races in breezy conditions a few mistakes were made Martin Hughes putting in a capsize at the leeward finish gate and a lack of concentration from Mike Till left Giuseppe Di Stefano with a hole in the port side.
The sea state became more confused as the pleasure crafts came out for the day but the pecking order stayed with a couple of new faces showing themselves Dan Belton and Sander picked up places going down wind. 1st John Tremlett, 2nd Al Burrell, 3rd Dan Belton, 4th Sandr Kooij.
Sunday day 3
Race 6 The Fleet were kept a shore whilst the committee scrutinised the local internet wind station.! The wind died as the morning drew on and racing was canned. The Fleet enjoyed tea and cakes and prize giving was at 15.00hrs Andy Denison, Chairman of the British Finn Association thanked all who were involved in a fabulous and sociable regatta and wished everybody a safe journey home.
