Sunsail 49er London Boat Show Grand Prix
by Dave Hall, Ovington Boats 17 Jan 2006 08:22 GMT
14 January 2006
Light winds for the Sunsail 49er London Boat Show Grand Prix © Steve Arkley /
www.sailshots.co.uk
Whilst not first to race in the docks next to the Boat Show at Excel, it was a first for the 49ers and Olympic sailing. Six invited teams took part in 3 short crash and burn races right in front of the quayside. To say the wind was tricky was an understatement. The Southerly wind blew across the dock which runs East - West with tall buildings on each side. The 49ers with their huge spinnakers and twin wires proved very entertaining with much oohing and aahing from the shore as the near misses and near capsizes took place in front of the moored gin palaces.
In spite of the fickle winds it was the team of Richard Bone and Chris Rodaway on 'All Good Fun' who won all three races. Richard put it down to practicing in the winter on his small local lake. It was certainly a case of holding ones nerve. Often was the case that a good start and a healthy lead could be wiped out by a hole in the wind followed by a gust from behind. The Dell brothers in 'Etis' had a spectacular start in the 2nd race only to watch helplessly as the fleet sailed past them on the down wind leg. In race 3 Jonny Coates and Charlie Muir in 'Woolscroft' sailed from last into first at the leeward mark only to be thrown in backwards on the gybe -drop as the wind did a 180.
Thanks go to British Sailing from the BMIF and to Sunsail for the prize and champagne. Thanks also to all the staff at Excel and the Docklands sailing centre for their help in setting up the event.
More photos at www.sailshots.co.uk/49er/index.html
Overall Results:
1st Richard Bone & Chris Rodway (All Good Fun)
2nd Mike Senior & Chris Tattershall (Zhik's)
3rd Jonny Coates & Charlie Muir ( Woolcroft)
4th John Wilson & James Barker (Snugg)
5th Mark Dell & Paul Dell ( Etis)
6th Fred Shone & Hugh Shone (Goadsby and Harding)