Access Class UK National Championships at Rutland Sailability
by Ejler Johansen 26 Sep 2013 22:29 BST
20-22 September 2013
2.3's on the beat during the 2013 Access National Championships at Rutland © Craig Dundereale
This year's Access Class UK National Championships were held at Rutland Water using Rutland Sailing Club's facilities and hosted by Rutland Sailability.
We were very lucky with the weather - as sailors started to arrive on Thursday it was raining and cold but, the weather forecasts proved right - Friday turned out to be overcast but pleasantly warm, Saturday saw some sun and Sunday turned out to be a fantastic sunny late September day and we saw near perfect wind conditions during the Championships.
For the first time the Championships were held over a three day period. We had two races back-to-back on Friday afternoon, two back-to-back races on Saturday morning and afternoon and two back-to back races on Sunday in total eight races.
We got positive feed-back as well: "The Association will be in touch also, but I wanted to send my personal thanks to you and your fantastic team for the truly superb Nationals that you put on for us. Your helpers, both on shore and on the jetties, were brilliant as always, and your Race Officer and team second to none. The courses set were a perfect length, and the beat absolutely spot on.
Many of the sailors taking part have expressed similar comments to me, which they asked to be passed on. We were all also grateful for the yellow buoys, which proved to be much more easily visible than the black ones."
Sailors and supporters were fed and watered at Sam's Kitchen in Rutland Sailing Club. Sam also served up an excellent Championships dinner Saturday night. This was a joint event with the Challenger Association who had their Championships over the same period.
Friday night saw the AGM of the Access Class UK Association where the name change to Hansa Class UK Association was approved. Andrew Hunter, Chairman of Friends of Rutland Sailability presented prizes at Sunday's prize giving ceremony after a quick draw for sailing accessories donated by Steve Sawford Marine Ltd and Rutland Chandlery Ltd.
The Championships attracted 26 entrants: 8 Access 2.3, 7 Access 303 one Person, 7 Access 303 Two Person and 4 Access Liberty. Entries were from Frensham Pond, Rutland, Waveney, Chew Valley, Tideway and our friends from Holland and Switzerland.
Overall Results: (top three)
Access 2.3
1st Lindsay Burns (Frensham Pond)
2nd Rob Risbridger (Rutland)
3rd Chris Hole (Rutland)
Access 303 One Person
1st Paul Phillips (Frensham Pond)
2nd Tessa Watkiss (Frensham Pond)
3rd Margaret Foreman (Frensham Pond)
Access 303 Two Person
1st Chris Emmet & Malcolm Kirk (Rutland)
2nd Willi Lutz & Claudia Schmid, (YCA Arbon, Switzerland)
3rd Peter & Peta Etherton (Frensham Pond)
Access Liberty
1st Wilma van den Brok and winner of the Liberty Full Servo trophy (WV Zeewolde, Holland)
2nd David Durston and winner of the National Liberty trophy (Whitefriars)
3rd Joe Taylor (Notts County SC)
The First Novice trophy was won by Ben Lewis (Rutland) in an Access 2.3
The Endeavour trophy went to Nicola Brown and Roy Emmerson (Rutland) in an Access 303W