Buzz National Championship at Warsash Sailing Club
by Mark Wilson 8 Jun 2015 13:53 BST
30-31 May 2015
Well done to Matt Butler and Frankie Cook who with 3 first positions out of 4 races are the deserved winners of the 2015 Buzz Nationals that were held at Warsash SC over the 30th and 31st of May.
15 buzzes came to the start line on a bright and blustery day in the Solent off the south east corner to Southampton Water. With an ebbing tide, most of the fleet headed towards Calshot. Newcomers Neal Gibson and Keith Macey (826) triumphed closely followed by the Flewitts (1000).
Unfortunately after this fantastic result in the first race Ellen and Chris Flewitt really did have some pretty rotten luck -.and despite leading in race 2 they had spinnaker halyard troubles and headed to shore.
In races 2 and 3 Matt Butler and Frankie Cook (748) took advantage winning both races from Julian and Iain Christie (966). The wind built to 25knots for race 3 with plenty of choppy water around the upwind mark – but with screaming spinnaker blasts which everyone enjoyed.
Tea and cake were supplied by Vantage sailing which everyone chomped down after an exhausting afternoon. The fleet re-joined at the club for a lovely dinner and chance to talk to their partners in the Pro-Am competition which pairs the more experienced with less experienced crews.
The overnight windy weather did not abate until late morning, by which time it was only feasible to run one more race in a sheltered spot up Southampton Water. Jonathan and Samantha Unsworth-White(946) and John Radford and and Nick Dyke (918) got their best results a 3rd and 5th respectively. Buzz 1000 again had trouble and had to retire despite being first round a busy windward mark. Buzz 748 gybed early and lead from there on in. Mark and Robbie Turner (949) unfortunately had an hour glass in the spinnaker which sent them back on the last downwind leg.
Here are a couple of quotes from the competitors:
'Despite a dreadful forecast it was great to see fifteen boats racing in the National Championships - the best we have seen since 2006 - providing lots of close competition throughout the fleet for novices and experts alike. With a very active and probably the most welcoming and friendly Class Association around......... the future is looking really great for this exciting but still easy to manage little boat.'
'I had heard that the Buzz class was super friendly, and it really is!'
Overall Results: (top three)
1st Buzz 748, Matt Butler and Frankie Cook (Stewartby SC)
2nd Buzz 966, Julian Miles and Iain Christie (Mountbatten SC)
3rd Buzz 826, Neal Gibson and Keith Macey (Redoubt SC)