Int. Canoe Nationals at Royal Plymouth Corinthian Yacht Club Day 1

Plymouth Sound delivered champagne sailing conditions for the first day of the International Canoe Europa cup in Plymouth sponsored by Ullman Sails. With a steady south south-westerly wind of 17 knots and bright sunshine conditions on Plymouth Sound could not of been more perfect.

Race Officer Keith Kendall was able to set a 0.9 mile windward leg within the Sound providing a windward Leeward course for AC boats and a Olympic triangle for the IC class. First start away was the IC Fleet with Alistair Warren winning the pin in Dragonfly to hit the left side of the beat to sail to an unchallenged win in race 1. Chris Hampe in Monkey was forced right early on but pulled back on the second half of the beat to round the windward mark in 2nd along side Simon Allen. Steve Clark in his Morrison design closed up on the downwind legs but could not match the upwind pace of Warren and Hampe to finish 3rd.

Race 2 provided a drag race between Hampe and Warren both aiming to hit the left side of the beat, Things stayed close with Warren just ahead as both boats tock the first tack back towards the centre of the course form here it was Alistair Warren who made a big gain inside the lift to the windward mark on Dragonfly although Chris Hampe on Monkey showed great speed to close up on each downwind leg. On the final beat Monkey's challenge failed with gear failure causing a race retirement which left the ever consistent Simon Allen to come home in 2nd place behind Alistair's Dragonfly and ahead of John Ellis in 3rd.

The second start was for the Asymmetric fleet and at the front it was the battle of the Welsh Chargers Robin Wood of Llandegfedd Sailing Club was the only AC to stay upright to take two race wins with Aberaeron Yacht Club's Steve Bowen taking both 2nd places. Rob Bell is currently the best of the rest in 3rd overall with a 4, 3 scoreline from the two races.

Saturday night entertainment was held at the Mountbatten Centre and our expert sailmakers from Ullman Sails proved to also be experts chefs with the finest bbq'd burgers seen at any recent regatta.

Day 2 tomorrow promises slightly less wind but a chance to test the waters south of the breakwater as well as the arrival of the German challenge with the determined Arne Stahl arriving after swapping vans due to mechanical failure.

Results after Day 1:

AC