2003 Tidal Championships by Frank Oliver
Weymouth and Portland Sailing Academy
proved to be an excellent venue for
our Tidal Championships. The large expanse of water and generous slipway
at the Academy's disposal meant that there was plenty of room to share
our
event with the Comets, Trios, Zeros and Versas.
The two races held on Saturday, back
to back in a light wind, were close hard
fought encounters. In the first race Stephen Linton & Bill Wright
just kept a head
of Jane Townsend and son Robert, followed by Frank and Glynis Oliver.
Race two saw Jane and Robert in first place, Frank and Glynis second
and
Ted Marchant and Allison Reeves in a well earned third place.
On Sunday the wind was stronger and
the sky overcast for the first two races but
sunny for the third. The sun certainly shone for Nigel and Anne Ford
who had a
excellent day. Two first places and a third saw them race up the leader
board.
However, Stephen and Bill with two seconds and a third, and Robert
and Jane
with a first, second and fourth set the scene for a very exciting
final day's racing.
Monday dawned with an even stronger
wind blowing. (It was so strong at lunch-
time that the fireworks at Weymouth, scheduled for the evening, were
cancelled !).
Dave & Heather Stearman found the lure of the local scenery irresistible
(or was
it the 5 races in 2 days !) and left the rest of us to battle it out
in the last two races.
Race six saw Nigel and Anne continue
their excellent form of Sunday with a well
earned second place, just behind Jane and Robert. Finally, race seven
had
Stephen and Bill back in first place, followed by Jane and Robert
!
So after three days and seven races,
the top three positions were seperated by
just 4 points, with Jane & Robert Townsend emerging as 2003 Tidal
Champions.
John Linnell was the only 'single-handed'
entrant and therefore won the trophy.
However, confirming his excellent helmsmanship, he secured four first
places
racing with the rest of the fleet, finishing the championships two
points ahead
of Jane and Robert.
RESULTS,