2014Whitstable1The Whitstable Open was contested in glorious sunshine on the weekend of 17/18 May, with Alex Barry/Adam Kenney taking the event from Charlie Walters/Dougal Cram and Ben Iliffe/Richard Nurse.

Saturday started with a light winds a glorious sunshine. Alex Barry, who had travelled all the way from IRL to race with Adam Kenney, a combination that was second in last year’s nationals, started strongly putting in three bullets in the first three races. Second over night were locals Tudor Owen and Keith Borders with a 3,2,3, third at the half way point was Charlie Waters and Dougal Cram with 2,3,5.

Sunday dawned and well frankly seemed very bright after the previous evening hospitalities, which saw the club put on a great band and meal for the competitors.

After an hour’s postponement the fleet launched to a less steady off shore breeze that saw interesting choices to be made with regard to tide and shifts.

In the first race the lead changed several times between Walters/Cram, Barry/Kenney & Iliffe/Nurse. At the start of the last run Walters/Cram were in the lead with Iliffe/Nurse just in striking distance, and Barry/Kenney further behind. Iliffe attempted to cover Walters down the run, slowly catching but not enough, seeing Walters take the win. Meanwhile Barry/Kenney gybed off at the windward mark and sailed down the run in more breeze, gybing onto starboard and heating it up towards the finish. Barry/Kenney sailed fast but a longer distance, just overhauling Iliffe & Nurse at the finish – a well-deserved 2nd place after a fantastically sailed last run.

The last race started in similar conditions. Walters/Cram headed to the left of the fleet straight from the start, tacked on to port and disappeared in to the distance, always out of reach from that point, leaving the rest of the fleet to battle it out.  In a lot of place changing, on the penultimate run Iliffe & Nurse overtook Tudor & Borders by playing the shifts downwind before consolidating up the next beat. Terry Scutcher (of Laser masters fame) sailing with Bruno Vaniekaut, the second of our International competitors, this time from Belgium, went hard left up the final beat to finish 3rd in the final race and 5th overall, Tudor Owen & Keith Borders 4th, Ben Iliffe & Richard Nurse 3rd, Charlie Walters & Dougal Cram 2nd & Alex Barry and Adam Kenney 1st.

So it just remains to say a big thanks to Whitstable Sailing Club for hosting a great event, and to all the competitors for making it such great racing on the water and great fun off the water.

And a special mention to David and Matt Oakley sailing 505 1317.  The boat was originally their grandfather’s and is in perfect condition. It was great to have, and will stimulate the growing interest in the possibility of a classic world championship in 2016, as well as the Endeavour trophy at this year’s National Championships to be held a Felixstowe Ferry SC on the 24th-27th July.

See you all on the 21st-22nd June at Stone SC.

Nick Champion photos available here.

Overall Results:

 

Pos Sail No Helm Crew Club R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 Pts
1 9104 Alex Barry Adam Kenney BSC/MBSC 1 1 1 2 ‑4 5
2 8835 Charlie Waters Dougal Cram Datchet SC 2 3 ‑5 1 1 7
3 9079 Ben Iliffe R Nurse KGSG ‑6 4 2 3 2 11
4 9093 Tudor Owen Keith Borders WYC 3 2 3 ‑6 5 13
5 8699 Terry Scutcher Bruno Vaniekaut Cercle de Voile de Valenciennes 4 ‑5 4 4 3 15
6 8905 Stuart Turnbull Adrian Howe Burton SC 5 ‑7 7 5 7 24
7 8419 Pete Mallaband Darrel Samanjoul Datchet SC 7 6 6 7 ‑8 26
8 9013 John Cooper Dan Spratling WYC 8 8 (DNS) 8 6 30
9 1317 David Oakley Matt Oakley WYC ‑9 9 8 9 9 35