Event 3
Venue: Coquet S.C., nr Amble
Date: 15 July 2007

Cool up at Coquet

Well it was certainly cooler than the Saturday, which had produced F5 gusty south westerlies, but with blue skies and a balmy 18-20 degrees C. As in previous years many of the sailors based in the south of the Zone had made a weekend of it and travelled up to Coquets water base, Druridge Bay Country Park on the Saturday, set up camp and had gone sailing! Joining host club Coquet Crushers, were the Cyclones from Covenham (Smart Life), the Invaders from North Lincs and the Pirates from Pugneys in Wakefield (Tushingham), which made a grand total of 35 competitors of which 14 were in the 3.5m class.

With little evidence of even a slight zephyr of a wind on the journey up from Durham, it was a relief to feel a light breeze and see the first eager sailors already out on the water as I arrived. A quick conversation with the club coaches revealed that the 4.5m fleet were ready to try a more demanding course and so together with the 5.5m, 6.8m and 6.8Techno classes they would tackle the “M” course with a testing upwind leg. A downwind slalom course, courtesy of the easterly sea breeze which was conveniently blowing down the length of the lake, was set for the 3.5m fleet.

Under the control of race officers Geoff, John and Roy the 3.5m were the first to hit the water and in the morning races which followed it was Tom Harding (PP) and team mate Joel Peacock who were setting the early pace taking a series of firsts and seconds, although Robert Griffiths (NLI), was pushing hard in third and took a second place in race four.

In the combined 4.5 / 6.8m fleet, which consisted of 21 sailors, the 4.5m class was starting on a 2 minute start and Luke Raistrick (PP) set the standard by winning all 3 races in the morning, with Max Bushell (NLI), Edward Appleton (CC) and Emma Brown Bolton (PP), occupying second and third positions. Luke’s feat in the 4.5m fleet was being replicated in the other fleets with Mark Sutton (PP), Daniel Hufton (CC) and Tom Dickinson (CC), all posting consistent first places in their respective class.

A promise of more wind

With lunch over there were signs that the breeze was beginning to strengthen so the long upwind leg of the “M” course was shortened and a couple of extra gybe marks put in to create more of a downwind slalom and test the gybing ability of the combined fleet.

The 3.5m fleet stayed with their original course and in total completed 8 races before retiring for the day. Tom Harding (PP) AND Joel Peacock (PP) weren’t having it all their own way in the afternoon session as Robert Griffiths (NLI) took 2 seconds and Nicola Dinsdale (PP) who had been in the bottom part of the fleet in the morning sailed remarkably well taking first place in races 7 & 8 – what had she had for lunch!!!! Taking part in their first ever T15 inter-club event were Matthew Garman (Coquet C) and Chris Simpson (Coquet C) who had only been windsurfing for 2 weeks and congratulations to both for getting round the course.

In the combined 4.5 / 6.8m fleet, it was largely as you were as Luke, Mark and Tom dominated in the 4.5m, 5.5m and 6.8mTechno classes. However, in the 6.8m class Daniel was gradually being overtaken by the stirling efforts of team-mate Kieren Henderson who took 2 firsts and a third to clinch the winners’ position. On the rare occasions when Mark Sutton (PP), didn’t finish first in the 5.5m class, Isaac Cooper (CC) and Ellis Cerrone (PP) were on hand to take a first place respectively.

But it wasn't to be

By mid-afternoon the promise of a strengthening wind was diminishing by the minute and with competitor moans and groans about rapidly developing blisters echoing across the water, racing was curtailed for the day.

With the results calculated, Alison Clayden, ex-British Raceboard & Funboard Champion and BIC World Champion, kindly presented the prizes and with only one point again separating the two top teams – Covenham Cyclones and Pugneys Pirates, it was the Cyclones who took the Team prize and, barring a disaster at the final event in September, will once again represent the North Zone at the T15 Champions Cup

Team winners - Covenham Cyclones 

Report written by:
David Dobson
T15 CO - North Zone

We are the Champions!
West Kirby Warriors
T15 Champions 2008

Congratulations!

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