Event 1
Venue: Covenham S.C., nr Louth 
Date: 14 May 2006

Cyclonic Domination
With temperatures in the 20s and a feeling of summer in the air during the week preceding the event the appetite was “wetted” in anticipation of a day outdoors in shorts and tee-shirt, perhaps getting the first “undercoat” of a summer tan.  But this is the North Zone and by Sunday the temperature was down to 10 degrees C and the sky had the overcast look of a winter’s day.

The disappointment of loosing the summer conditions was quickly dispelled as you drove into the car park and witnessed the Covenham machine in action.  A map at the entrance directed competitors to one of two grassed rigging areas, the on-water crews were already afloat awaiting instructions regarding laying courses and the on-shore crew was causing the gastric juices to flow as they prepared bacon and sausage sandwiches for the arriving competitors.

Joining the host Team Covenham Cyclones (sponsored by Smart Life), were a solitary Crusher from Coquet, a lone Allstar from Surfstore (Neilson) – (there should have been 2, but one went to the wrong venue and turned up at North Lincs!), a Hurricane from Halifax (Bic), the Invaders from North Lincs and making their first inter-club appearance, the Pirates from Pugneys (Tushingham) in Wakefield.  A grand total of 37 competitors split across 4 fleets.  Would the Cyclones retain their Champions title? would the new team on the block cause an upset? With the briefing completed by 10.45 the action on the water got underway for 11.00am

First to hit the water was the combined 6.8 & 5.5m fleet, tackling a short windward leg and some nice long reaches.  Greg Baldock (Covenham Cyclones) in the 6.8m fleet got a flying start and by the windward mark had already established a commanding lead which, although pressed hard by Jack Tait (Surfstore Allstars) in the latter stages, he maintained to take first place.  In the 5.5m fleet it was Tom Dickinson (CC) setting the pace from team-mate Daniel Hufton with another Cyclone Jack Maw in third.  Another 2 races quickly followed before lunch which saw Jack Tait (Surstore Allstars) and Greg Baldock (CC ) each take a first and second in the 6.8m fleet and Tom Dickinson (CC) take a further two bullets to establish a commanding lead in the 5.5m fleet.

The 3.5m and 4.5m fleets were given separate courses and Tom Dickinson’s younger brother Joe (CC) in the 3.5m class took two firsts and a second ahead of Luke Raistrick (Pugney’s Pirates) and Harry Maw (CC).

A figure of 8 cross-wind course was set for the 4.5m fleet and the watching spectators were treated to some fine examples of “tight” gybing, as sailors who only a year ago may have struggled to get round the marks, did so with the ease of a young Dunkerbeck. Ben Foxon (CC) took 3 firsts, setting a high standard of sailing and consistency, while second and third places were shared between Joe Moore (CC), Hannah Tasker (CC) and Bethany (CC).

As competitors tucked into lunch, the courses were re-set to take account of the change in wind direction.  The combined 6.8 / 5.5m fleet were given a longer up-wind leg combined with some nice long reaches and the 3.5 /4.5m fleets moved closer to the clubhouse to take advantage of the cross on-shore winds.

In the 6.8m fleet, Greg Baldock (CC) continued where he had left off taking another first closely followed by Jack Tait (SA).  In third place and recording his third third place was Josh Brown-Bolton (PP), although James Tait (Coquet Crushers) was sailing equally consistently to take a couple of 4ths. A special Merit award was given to Keiran Henderson (CC) for his sheer determination and effort in completing all the races in his first ever T15 event. In the 5.5m fleet Tom Dickinson (CC) maintained his consistency taking another 4 first places giving him an unassailable lead.  Daniel Hufton (CC) took a second and third to secure second place while third and fourth places were closely contested between Jack Maw (CC) and Michael Robinson (North Lincs Invaders).  Nicholas Durham (PP) took the first Techno place.

The final 2 races in the 6.8m fleet would determine the eventual winner with 2 sailors within a point of one another – who would hold their nerve?  With a couple of good starts it was Jack Tait (SA) who took another 2 firsts to take top honours with Greg Baldock (CC) in second and Josh Brown-Bolton (PP) in third.

In the afternoon session in the 3.5m fleet Joe Dickinson (CC) maintained his consistency to take another 2 firsts and a second with Kieran Burley (CC) sailing well to take second place overall with  a first, second and third.  Harry Maw (CC) took third place overall by virtue of his consistent third place finishes.  A special mention for Nicola Dinsdale (PP) competing in her first inter-club event who picked up a Merit award.

In the 4.5m fleet Ben Foxon (CC) took first overall with consistent first and second places followed by Joe Moore (CC) in second and Joe Bennett (PP) in third.  Mark Sutton (PP) took the first Techno prize.

So with the racing complete and the results calculated via Shane’s computer the prize giving got underway to a packed clubhouse. With the class awards all presented it only remained for the Team award to be announced and it was the home club Covenham Cyclones who in maintaining their winning ways from 2005, took the overall Team trophy.

A big thank you to all the competitors who made the event so successful, to the parents for getting the sailors to the venue, to the Club Coaches for encouraging and supporting their Teams, and to  Derrick and all the staff at Covenham for their superb organisation.  Finally, a big thank you to John McAfee for managing the 3.5 & 4.5m fleet racing.

See you all at Coquet Shorebase Trust on June 11^th – their water base is Druridge Bay Country Park, about 2 miles south of Amble in Northumberland.

Team winners 
Covenham Cyclones (Smart Life)

Event report 
Written by
David Dobson - T15 CO (North Zone)

Photos by Mark Plaskett

We are the Champions!
West Kirby Warriors
T15 Champions 2008

Congratulations!

-- | --

Free National Sail Number
Make race scoring easy
& obtain your unique number.
It's yours for life
& a free benefit of RYA membership

Contact
tzaneen.mears@rya.org.uk
to be allocated your official number.

Once you have the number
the actual sticky-back digits
can be ordered from
UKWA

-- | --

Team15
Coach Courses


T15 Coach-Red courses
will now be known as
Racing Instructor Courses
 T15 Coach-Freestyle courses
will change to T15 Freestyle Coach!  

For information
(previous courses in 2008)

Mount Batten Centre - Plymouth
Course type: Racing Instructor
Weekend course: 27/28 September 2008
Closing date: 5 September
Cancelled: lack of candidates

Lakes Leisure - Windermere
Course type: Racing Instructor
Weekend course: 30/31 August 2008
Closing date: 15 August
Fully booked

James Hamilton Heritage Park - Glasgow
Course type: Racing Instructor
Weekend course: 30/31 August 2008
Closing date: 15 August
Cancelled: lack of candidates

Gwent Adventures - Wales
Course type: Racing Instructor
Weekend course: 9/10 August 2008
Closing date: 25 July
5 candidates on course


Grafham Water Centre - Cambridgeshire
Course type: Racing Instructor
Weekend course: 5/6 July 2008
Closing date: 30 June
Spaces available
6 candidates on course

Wimbleball Lake - Somerset
Course type: Racing Instructor
Midweek course: 3/4 July 2008
Closing date: 30 June
4 candidates on course


Roadford Lake - Okehampton
Course type: Racing Instructor
Midweek Course: 4/5 June 2008
Organised by South West Lakes Trust
Fully booked


Carsington Watersports - Derbyshire
Course type: Freestyle
Weekend Course: 3/4 May 2008
Fully booked


Carsington Watersports - Derbyshire
Course type: Racing Instructor
Midweek Course: 1/2 May 2008
6 candidates on course


Mountbatten Centre - Plymouth
Course type: Racing Instructor
Weekend Course: 12/13 April 2008
Cancelled: lack of candidates

-- | --

ADOPT-A-BEACH