Hunter Formula One Nationals at Rutland Sailing Club
by John Ball 30 Jun 2004 23:34 BST
25-27 June 2004
Rutland Sailing Club welcomed 13 boats from around the Uk and Ireland on June 25-27th for the Hunter Formula One national Championships.
Close racing between the fleet saw stiff competition between previous National Champions, Dermot O'Morchoe (Jou Jou, Courtown S.C), Paul Harkness (Hitch Hiker, Courtown S.C) and Paul Bankroft (Tenocious RSC). Day one delivered a force 3 - 4 South Westerly. Jou Jou took full advantage of this to pull out a slim lead with a 1st and a 3rd.
Day two began with a stronger Southerly breeze gusting up to 25 knots. Jou Jou again came out on top with two firsts and a fifth. Hitch hiker closely followed closing the gap with two seconds and a first.
Day three proved to be a battle between the 2002 and 2003 National Champions, Jou Jou and Hitch Hiker, with Dermot O'Morchoe and crew managing to hold on to their advantage to take the Hunter Formula One national Ruddles Trophy back to Ireland. The weekend proved a Testiment to the Race officer Val Milward and her team and the Staff at RSC for provide a first class weekend of racing. Their efforts were appreciated by all competitors.
Overall Results:
Pos | Sail No | Boat Name | Helm | Club | Pts |
1st | 805 | Jou Jou | Dermot O'Morchoe | Coutown | 9 |
2nd | 8044 | Hitch Hiker | Paul Harkness | Courtown | 16 |
3rd | 8050 | Tenacious | Paul Bankroft | RSC | 17 |
4th | 8024 | Typhoon | John Walsh | Courtown | 20 |
5th | 8030 | Kingfisher | Chris Wright | Rsc | 22 |
6th | 7283 | Apocalypse | Nick Betts | RSC | 30 |
7th | 8020 | Jiny Mac | Bob Sherriff | Courtown | 44 |
8th | 8017 | Caveat | Nigel Pask | RSC | 53 |
9th | 8018 | Tearaway | Andrew Bonar | RSC | 56 |
10th | 8052 | War Department | Robert Beggs | RSC | 57 |