Hunter Formula One Nationals at Rutland Sailing Club

Enigmatic wins the Hunter Formula One nationals at Rutland © Phil Tomaszewski

J Ne Mac finishes second at the Hunter Formula One nationals at Rutland © Phil Tomaszewski

Sixteen yachts competed for the 2005 Hunter Formula One National Championships held at Rutland Sailing Club on the 24th to 26th of June 2005. Competitors travelled from Southern Ireland, Lake Windermere and Poole to take part in the seven race series.

Day one proved tricky for Race Officer Richard Johnson and the competitors as the light NE winds were shifting through 70 degrees. Race one allowed previous National Champion and Paul Harkeness and crew sailing Enigmatic from the Royal Windermere Yacht club to quickly establish control with a sizeable lead and then take the win from local RSC boats, War Department and Kingfisher. The light shifty winds took their toll on the remainder of the days racing which was abandoned to the Saturday.

Day two provided crews with a steady Force 4 NE breeze. Jou Jou (Dermot O'Morchoe) from Courtown SC in Southern Ireland took race one when race leader Whisky Mac (Steve Pirnie) lost a diamond shroud on the final downwind leg. Race two became a battle between Enigmatic, Typhoon (John Walsh) and J Ne Mac (Bob Sherriff) with Paul Harkness and crew giving a top performance to take the race. J Ne Mac took race three from Kingfisher (Chris Wright RSC). Race four saw Paul Harkness return to form and take line honours ahead of Whiskey Mac (Steve Pirnie, Parkstone SC).

Day three produced a force 2-3 NE with Paul Harkeness on Enigmatic needing to finish in the top five to take the series. This he did with a second place in the first race to take the trophy back to the Lakes for the secong time. All the more impressive as Paul had only purchased the boat a few months prior to the event from the auction site ebay.

Thanks go to Race Officer Richard Johnson and his team and all the staff at Rutland Sailing Club for making this another sucessful year.

Overall Results: