Comet Duo 2024 'Worlds' and UK National Championship at Cransley Sailing Club

Comet Duo 'Worlds' and UK National Championship at Cransley © Ian Pidd

The 8th Comet Duo 'Worlds' and National Championships was held at Cransley Sailing Club on 3rd August 2024.

The original aim back in 2016 of holding the Worlds was to get young sailors to helm or crew these wonderful dinghies in a competitive but friendly setting. We know that there aren't any Comet Duos that have strayed too far from the British Isles but of the 180 odd that were built so well by Andy Simmons (some years ago), we were keen to get a good fleet together. We have 14 of them at Cransley and although due to a variety of reasons we were only able to get 9 boats out this year, they all went really well (with no capsizes) in the variable Force 2-4 wind.

It was great that we saw the youngsters represented by Grace Morgan, Aiyushi Patel, Georgie Hinde, Charlie Guyett, Callum Darbon, Polly Guyett and Roo Stevenson. All the other competing boats had slightly older helms and crews - but young at heart.

Race 1 saw the majority of the fleet hanging back from the transit apart from Nigel and Roo and Charlie and Aiyushi, who rounded the windward mark neck and neck. The rest of the fleet though managed to concertina up at the 2nd mark which was located in the lee of the hill on the southern arm and led to a little bit of discussion at lunchtime as to whether the race officer had been knobbled to include it in, as it was well known that Nigel loved negotiating highly shifting and low wind areas!

Suffice to say this mark was removed from the next 2 races. Yours truly and Roo managing to get away eventually from the tenacious John and Polly, whilst the remainder of the fleet followed in an ever changing order round the course, leading to the full set of emotions for many.

Lunch was sumptuous as ever and at this stage we had a chance to talk through with our international visitors (Ian and Grace Morgan - well from Warsash - but they do have South African links) over their thoughts of the Comet Duo. Whilst Ian (who many know through his Laser, D-Zero, Solution and sailmaker connections) was obviously going to need a little more time in the boat, Grace was obviously loving it (so much so that at the end of the day, the request to dad went in asking for him to get one!).

Race 2 saw a simplification of the course (and the course was all in wind!) and this led to a much tighter race, with Charlie and Aiyushi and Ian and Grace joining the fray. Unfortunately Ian was not counting the laps and retired in 2nd place (behind myself and Roo) 30m from the finish as he thought he had another lap and Grace needed a pitstop before that. That meant that everyone moved up a notch and left the 3rd and final race finely poised with 3 boats able to get 2nd place.

Comet Duo 'Worlds' and UK National Championship at Cransley - photo © Nigel Austin

Despite the race officer saying it was back to back races, everyone decided being on the water for more than an hour was taking it too seriously so we all came in for a natter and a drink! And then resumed Race 3. A much closer start saw Ian and Grace, Charlie and Ayuishi and myself and Roo all tacking frequently on windshifts in a decreasing wind. Whilst there was very little close quarter action Ian and Charlie did have a luffing duel, something quite rare at Cransley!

Ian managed to win out and pulled out a lead with myself and Roo pursuing for a couple of laps and whilst we got close and Ian and Grace's nerves were in tatters they held on, and Grace celebrated with some wild shrieks!

That was all that action at the business end, however during the course of the 3 races there was plenty of rival battles going on with Georgie and Charles, seeing off Mark and Ruth, John and Callum and Edd and Lu. Well done also to Sarah and Sue, and Jane and Tracey for getting out on the water for a race each and getting in the thick of it.

Lastly on performance we have to congratulate John and Polly because both of them were a little worried beforehand about a day of racing, but they shouldn't have been, they had some great races.

We were all back in the clubhouse for an afternoon tea (fit for the Ritz) by 4.30pm. Prize-giving was a little lengthy as everyone always gets a medal and other memorabilia for the slightly quicker ones. Roo, 11, my crew made one of the best speeches (to all those who had put on the event) with the immortal word "Thanks!" (short and sweet).

Whilst the results are important, and this year we had 3 boats tying for 2nd place, the memories of a great day sailing these boats with such a friendly bunch will be the lasting legacy (we say that every year!)

Well done to the whole team at Cransley (Sophie and Nisha, Sarah, Andrew, Sue and Stuart) plus those I have forgotten.

Already looking forward to 2025.

Comet Duo 'Worlds' and UK National Championship at Cransley - photo © Ian Pidd

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