Musto Skiff Inlands at Grafham Water Sailing Club
by Dan Vincent 8 Nov 2007 17:14 GMT
3-4 November 2007
Although ‘windguru’ put off some, 20 boats turned up to contest the Musto Skiff Inlands, including 2 current World Champions and 1 National Champion, none of whom could win a race.
Saturday’s racing started in a variable and patchy F2 breeze. Dan Vincent and Tim Chapman banged left, were first around the mark and stretched away in a private puff, although Chapman was later caught by the pack, Vincent stayed out in front to record a win, in front of Graeme Oliver.
The Race Officer, Peter Saxton, did an excellent job and quickly turned around the racing for the Mustos, B14s, 49ers and Int 14s. Soon we were lining up for a second start, but this time joined by Nick Craig sailing his Musto for the very first time. Ominously for the fleet, he achieved all his goals in the first race by; not capsizing, not finishing last and beating Sten (although Sten had broken his trapeze harness).
While the 2 World Champs were ‘duking it out’ at the back of the fleet, Mike Palfreman was stretching away from Dan Dixon and Kit Stenhouse to record a convincing win.
Race 3 and the breeze was now noticeably reduced. Kit won, having overtaken light wind guru, Alex Koukarakis on the final lap, with Rick Perkins, National Champ, in third place.
Race 4 and the fourth different race winner was Dan Henderson, followed by Kit.
The main winner on Saturday evening was the landlord of the Wheatsheaf pub who witnessed 6 different fleets of sailors discussing the relative merits of leech tension, breeze spotting, X-factor and, are Jaffa Cakes cakes or biscuits, long into a Flaming Sambucca-filled night.
Sunday morning was spent packing the boat away while the surface of the lake got glassier and glassier. In a weekend that rewarded consistency, Kit was the deserved overall winner. Thanks to Grafham for the generous prizes and another superb event, despite the weather. Results below.
Overall Results:
| Pos | Helm |
|---|
| 1st | Kit Stenhouse |
| 2nd | Dan Hendersen |
| 3rd | Dan Vincent |
| 4th | Rick Perkins |
| 5th | Dan Dixon |