Kestrel National Championships at Stone Sailing Club - Overall

Kestrels nationals at Stone © Champion Marine photography / www.championmarinephotography.co.uk

Kestrels nationals at Stone © Champion Marine photography / www.championmarinephotography.co.uk

Race 5

This race started in a very slightly stronger sea breeze with the tide still flooding strongly. The start had a distinct committee boat bias and this resulted in a predictable bunching at that end of the line. It paid to be assertive and those who were able to hold their position and get away cleanly led from the start. At the first mark it was John and Olive Glasspool closely followed by Liam Pike and Alistair Luxford. This set in place a fascinating two boat race which the rest of us could only watch. With some horrid wind swings it was easy to be caught unawares and there was good close racing and lots of place changing throughout the fleet.

There were also frequent place changes at the front and the final outcome was never certain but John and Olives' win was popular, coming as it did 10 years after they last won a race at the Nationals. For Liam and Alistair their second was also an important result particularly given the lighter wind and at this point the event became theirs to loose rather than win.

Race 6

Sunday morning dawned bright and breezy, just the way we like it. The long broad reach out to the start area was a sizzler and held out the prospect of a great day on the water but one which would definitely favour the heavier crews.

The fleet got away cleanly but tightly bunched. Chris and Henry Richards showed particularly good speed and flew up the first beat. Fuelled by adrenaline and the significance of this race to their championship hopes Liam and Alistair got themselves too close to a group of starboard tackers and had to do turns to exonerate themselves from some chipped gell coat, this they did with impressive alacrity and still managed to reach the windward mark in touch with the leading group.

Those who attempted to fly their spinnakers on the first reach generally lost out to those who choose to two sail flat and fast. The second reach was much broader and resulted in a group of boats forcing each other high letting the leaders open up a useful gap.

Place changes were made up wind and by the time the fleet reached the windward mark for the second time it was Liam and Alistair who were challenging the Richards for their lead.

Off wind Stewart and Mhairi Murdoch and Malcolm and Danielle Worsley showed great speed and had a great race but never threatened the leading pair who went on to finish with an impressive win by the Richards followed by a championship clinching second from Liam and Alistair.

Race 7

Fourteen boats started the final race of the championships. All boats got away cleanly save two boats. 1544, Kevin Edwins/Kevin Jones, was over the line, although finished the race in the top 10. 1553, Ian Rintoul / Edward Rintoul, made contact with the committee boat, with their mast stuck in the shrouds and claimed a weathervane as a trophy of their entanglement. 1551, Liam Pike/Alastair Luxford and 1574, Graham Hoy/ Tony King were the best starters, making the windward mark together in the lead, Liam/Ali rounded first. This battle was followed by 1627, Henry Richards/Christopher Richards, 1610, Stewart / Mhairi Murdoch and 1615 Malcolm/ Danielle Worsley in a three way battle of interchanging places. 1551 and 1574 managed to get away and finish in that order. 1627 managed to hold off the other boats to finish 3rd followed by 1610.

The Kestrel fleet came together at the end of their four day National Championships at Stone Sailing Club for a prize giving hosted by the Commodore Neil Fulcher.

• Most Improved from last year's Nationals trophy: John & Olive Glasspool 1537
• Most Improved over the week trophy: Henry & Chris Richards 1627
• Wet Welly trophy: Ian Hunter & Trevor Macdonald 1559
• Masters trophy: John & Olive Glasspool 1537
• Under 21 trophy: Harry Rintoul 1553
• Champagne Moment: (bottle of champers) Chris Grice & Paul Wilkinson 408
• Charles Cox Memorial trophy: Jeremy & Jane Drummond 1510
• Mark II trophy: Jeremy & Jane Drummond 1510

The Kestrel class would like to thank Noble Marine for their continued support and sponsorship. We also awarded glassware for helm and crew for each day's racing.

National Champions 2013 were Liam Pike and Alistair Luxford in 1551.

Alistair Luxford thanked Stone Sailing Club for their kind hospitality throughout the week. In particular, all those members who gave up their time to man safety boats and positions on the committee boat. He thanked in person, Wendy Robinson, who acted as Race Officer for the whole four days. Lastly, he thanked the effervescent Mike Smith who fifteen years previous, had introduced him into the class.

The Kestrel class would like to thank Caroline Barnett for all her hard work arranging and organising our National Championships and seemed to be the person who, one minute was changing light bulbs and the next, serving beer.

Overall Results: (top ten)
If you finished in the top ten at the Kestrel nationals then enter your Gear Guide information here

1st 1551, Liam Pike Alistair Luxford (Welwyn GC)
2nd 1537, John Glasspool Olive Glasspool (Alton Water SC)
3rd 1615, Malcolm Worsley Danielle Worsley (Royal Tay YC)
4th 1574, Graham Hoy Tony King (Blackwater SC)
5th 1627, Henry Richards Chris Richards (Goldhanger SC)
6th 408, Chris Grice Paul Wilkinson (Maylandsea Bay SC)
7th 1545, Steven Worf Lyn Worf (Calshot SC)
8th 1601, Alisdair Hood Campbell Morrison (Royal Tay)
9th 1559, Ian Hunter Trevor Macdonald (Royal Tay / Fisher Row)
10th 1610, Stewart Murdoch Mhairi Murdoch (Royal Tay YC)

Full results can be found here.