Event 1
Venue: Rutland Water, Whitwell
Date: 19th May 07

A windy start to the season

The Team 15 (Midlands) race season got off to a very windy start this Saturday at Whitwell, Rutland. With winds measuring force 4 gusting 5, the racecourse had to take shelter in the creek at Whitwell. However, the creek with its changeable strength and direction still challenged all competitors on the course.

It was a day full of close starts, and every one of the eight races saw positions being battled for on the course. With the UKWA junior sailors also racing on the same course, the start-line was extremely busy and the occasional wipe-out made it extra difficult to get a good position on the line. (It also made it very dangerous for the three of us in the committee boat dodging the falling sails and sailors!)

Changing courses

There were two course formats in the morning, the 3.5m class across wind racing, all other fleets racing around a box course. With the swirly wind conditions, it was decided to move the course after lunch so that the 3.5m class still had across wind and all other fleets had a triangular course. 

This did mean that all fleets were exposed to the very strong winds after lunch. The UKWA safety Boat crews did a fantastic job looking after all competitors on our course, and certainly earned their dinner recovering sailors from the nearby beach

Rutland Rockets dominate 3.5m class

The 3.5m class was dominated by the home team the Rutland Rockets, the across wind course still proving to be testing in the strong conditions. As the biggest fleet on the day, the 3.5m racers had to work extra hard, especially with their size! Newcomer Robert York clinched victory on his home water, showing that even in the big conditions the smaller guys can still hack it!

Carsington Comets show their strength

Both the 4.5m and 5.5m classes were ruled by the Carsington Comets, who entered the largest team helping them to claim victory in both fleets.  After her training with the zone squad, Jade Rogers from Carsington proved the girls can cut it by winning every race in the 5.5m class.

The 6.8m class saw some rather high speed racing as the strong winds fired the racers around the course. Newcomer Edward Colin (Carsington) managed to hang onto his sail long enough to reach victory, with Riley Harber (Pitsford Pirates) close second

The Winners

After some excellent racing, the results were added up and the presentations took place between the new Team 15 flags, which were clinging to their posts! (See results page for full details) The team scores were also checked and at the end of the day the Carsington Comets reached victory in this first event of the season.

We are all now looking forward to event 2 which will take place at Notts County Sailing club, home of the Notts County Outlaws on Saturday 16th June. If you would like to enter you will need to be ready on the day for a briefing at 10.30am.

Thanks

Thanks to Rutland Watersports for hosting the event. Also thanks to the UKWA Midlands region for providing safety cover, and running the provisional results on the day.

My Thanks also to Jeff and Marie who risked life and limb, helping me in the committee boat with the starts and results.

Hope to see you at Notts County

Team winners 

Photos courtesy of Ben H

Report written by:
Ben H
T15 CO - Midlands Zone

We are the Champions!
West Kirby Warriors
T15 Champions 2008

Congratulations!

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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

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