Please select your home edition
Edition
Zhik Black Friday 2024 Early Access

Sprint 15 TT at Marconi Sailing Club

by Jenny Ball 29 Sep 2015 18:24 BST 26-27 September 2015
Sprint 15s at Marconi © Jenny Ball

The Marconi SC traveller event took place on 26/27 September with 12 competitors taking part.

Saturday was a lovely sunny day but lighter winds than the fleet would normally prefer, so the race officer set the race course in the bay to give some respite from the local tide.

The first race saw the fleet converge on the windward mark in light conditions, making manoeuvrability slow and generally favouring those who did not find themselves tacking on the mark. Paul Grattage pulled clear, followed by David Ball with the rest of the fleet grouped behind. Following two laps of the square course, Paul and David retained their positions with Paul Craft taking third place.

The start of the second race saw the full fleet on the line and with two guns from the committee boat, a number of people returned to recross the line. Chris Tillyer, Paul Grattage and Jenny Ball got to the windward mark first but a windshadow from the land put Chris' boat in irons, allowing much of the fleet to sail through. However, by taking a different line from the fleet on the downwind leg, Chris got himself back to the front of the fleet and had a hard fought race with Paul Grattage who eventually took the win with Chris second and Jim Bowie third.

A wind shift necessitated the course to be moved and a resulting port hand bias on the start line led to a bunching of most of the fleet on port at the pin end, resulting in a general recall. The line was tweaked and this time the fleet split between a port or starboard start. In the main body of the fleet, it was the tactics between mark 4 and the committee boat line that resulted in most of the changes of position – but Paul Grattage emerged in front, with Chris Tillyer second and David Ball third.

Sunday morning dawned with both sun and, more importantly, with the promised improved wind strength. This year, a different course was set for the traditional Marconi long distance race (as a joint club Bart's Bash race was taking place round Osea Island). This year, the fleet set off down river, with a triangle course set around Ross Revenge - known better as the home of Radio Caroline – currently moored in the River Blackwater. The fleet split between the north and south shores to keep out of the main channel and tide – apart from Paul Craft who sailed mostly up the middle and still managed to make great progress against the fleet! As the fleet approached the windward mark, it transpired that the south bank paid off with Kevin Kirby getting round the mark with a healthy lead followed by Paul Craft and Howard Hawkes. The second leg was an exhilarating reach across the river, past Radio Caroline, followed by a run home with the tide and then a short tactical beat against the tide to cross the finish line. Kevin Kirby took first, followed by Paul Craft with Paul Grattage tacking out of the main channel at the finish to take third place with Howard Hawkes coming in fourth.

The favourable weather on Sunday and a fun race made up for the lighter airs on Saturday and resulted in a good weekend's sailing.

Overall Results:

PosSail NoHelmClubR1R2R3R4Pts
12018Paul GrattageShanklin11133
21928Paul CraftWorthing SC312429
31923David BallMarconi SC283510
41776Kevin KirbyMarconi SC478112
51953Chris TillyerTBYC8221312
61267Howard HawkesSnettisham Beach SC566415
71917Jenny BallMarconi SC945716
81981Jim BowieTBYC739919
92007Erling HolmbergShanklin6117821
102004Gordon GoldstoneQueen Mary11511622
111240Donald SloanBrightlingsea1010101130
121339Jon PearseMarconi SC129121031

Related Articles

Dart 15 TT and Inlands at Grafham Water
A total lack of breeze on Saturday and 4 light wind races on Sunday Saturday 26th & Sunday 27th October saw 16 Dart 15s prepare themselves for the last of the Summer Series and Inland Championship at Grafham Water Sailing Club, generously supported by Gill. Posted on 5 Nov
Dart 15 TT & Northern Championship at Carsington
It was hard to imagine the change in weather fortunes over the course of the regatta Ten Dart 15 travellers were welcomed by three home sailors to Carsington Sailing Club on a glorious autumn day and with the sun shining, warm temperatures and moderate breeze, the Derbyshire Dales / reservoir vista was looking superb. Posted on 24 Sep
Dart 15 Summer TT Draycote Water
A fresh westerly force four greeted the sailors On Saturday Draycote Water SC welcomed 17 Dart 15 sailors to the club. Special mention goes to Liam Thom and Yvonne Pike, who crossed the Solent to join us from Shanklin Sailing Club, and Ian Mounce and Keith Heason, who traveled up from Instow. Posted on 9 Jul
Noble Marine Dart 15 Nationals at the WPNSA
A stellar weekend of champagne sailing at the home of British Olympic sailing A stellar weekend of champagne sailing at the home of British Olympic sailing - the 2024 Dart 15 Nationals sponsored by Noble Marine insurance really were a weekend to remember! Posted on 12 Jun
Dart 15 Southern Championship at Shanklin
A game of two halves 29 boats entered the second of the Dart 15 Summer Series events with six sailors coming from across the Solent. Posted on 22 May
Dart 15 Summer TT at Marconi
Racing on the beautiful River Blackwater on the Essex East Coast Having concluded a successful Winter Series, the Dart 15s held their first Summer TT at Marconi Sailing Club on the beautiful River Blackwater on the Essex East Coast. Posted on 24 Apr
Oldest videos of racing catamarans
We start in 1965, covering Hobie, Shearwater, Prindle and C Class, then the Worrell 1000 We delve into the past, and round-up all the videos which show racing catamarans, including Hobie cats, Shearwaters, Prindles and C Class, from the 1960s to the 90s. Plus some Worrell 1000 history. Posted on 7 Apr
Dart 15 Winter TT at Grafham
Fifth and final TT of the series, racing for the Chris Black Icicle The fifth and final TT of the Dart 15 Winter Series for 2023/4 was held at Grafham Water on Sunday 3rd March. Posted on 8 Mar
Dart 15 Winter TT at Datchet
Competitors delighted to arrive to a decent breeze and mild temperatures The Dart 15 Winter Series continued with its fourth Winter TT at Datchet Water Sailing Club. The February TT does not have a great track record - with several years lost to either Covid or storm force winds. Posted on 23 Feb
Dart 15 Winter TT at Rutland
A weather window in the forecast for Sunday The second event of the Dart 15 Winter Series took place at Rutland Water on Sunday. Despite the 50 knot winds on the Saturday, there was a weather window in the forecast for Sunday which encouraged ten competitors to turn up and take part in the event. Posted on 13 Dec 2023