Inaugural Cheddar Chase, sponsored by Cheddar Ales, at Bristol Corinthian Yacht Club
by Alice Driscoll 12 Apr 2022 09:32 BST
9-10 April 2022
The inaugural Cheddar Chase © Aaron Geis
The first Cheddar Chase, sponsored by Cheddar Ales was hosted by Bristol Corinthian Yacht Club on 9th and 10th April. The first time this event has been held at Cheddar Reservoir, it also marked the second round of the Great British Sailing Challenge 2022.
Despite the rocketing fuel prices, the event attracted visitors from as far afield as Wilsonian Sailing Club, Rickmansworth, and Royal Lymington as well as local sailors from Chew Valley Lake Sailing Club and a number of home-based boats. Classes represented included National 18, Alto, Vortex, RS200, RS300, Phantom, Laser, Solo, Enterprise and Byte.
Saturday saw a fresh North Westerly breeze and sunshine, marking the start of an excellent day's racing. PRO Ken Falcon set a trapezoid course making the most of the full length of the reservoir to maximise the course length for all classes. The first two races were run back to back in an increasing breeze, seeing some feisty 20 knot gusts at times. The Vortex, sailed by Jonathon Carter from Rickmansworth Sailing Club took the bullet in the first and second races. With each race averaging 40 minutes, the competitors enjoyed a short but welcomed break for delicious refreshments over lunch, before heading back out into the sunshine for Races 3 and 4, held back to back.
John Teague had found his form and went on to take bullets in Race 3 and 4, with fellow RS300 sailor and home club member Richard Packer coming second in Race 3 and Jonathan Carter in the Vortex coming second in Race 4.
Home cooked food from BCYC's galley, provided by Antonia's Deli and a welcoming well-stocked bar, ensured the competitors all enjoyed a great evening in the club house, with many staying overnight in camper vans.
Sunday dawned bright and sunny with the promised breeze kicking in from the South East in time for the 120-minute Pursuit Race. Using Great Lakes Handicap, the first boats off were the Solos and Enterprise, with the mighty National 18 starting last. The earlier stronger breeze favoured the early starters with local sailor Dave Marsden in the Enterprise holding the lead for the first four laps, closely followed by Solo sailors Jon Coates and Paul Teague. With several significant shifts up the windward leg, lap 5 saw John Teague in the RS300 popping out into the lead closely followed by Timothy Kift and Jo Wickens from Wilsonian Sailing Club in their Alto. By lap 6 and with the fleet bunching closely together, it was John Teague in the RS300 who took the lead from Alto sailors Timothy and Jo, with Ollie Houseman, Jeremy Vines and Steve Watton powering through to third place in the National 18.
The final overall results saw John Teague from BCYC in the RS300 holding firmly onto first place overall, with Vortex sailor Jonathon Carter from Rickmansworth SC second, Alto sailors Timothy Kift and Jo Wickens third, with Ollie Houseman, Jeremy Vines and Steve Watton in National 18 fourth, BCYC's Laser sailor John Lapes 5th and Nigel and Andy Bird in their RS200 sixth. The prizes were provided by local popular brewery Cheddar Ales.
BCYC enjoyed hosting this inaugural event and feedback from competitors reflected how successful the two days racing had been in absolutely perfect sunny weather with solid breeze on both days. The highly effective and efficient race team, led by Ken Falcon, was praised for the smooth running, with sailor-pleasing snappy course and line setting, and fast turnaround between races, ensuring everyone enjoyed maximum time on the water racing.
Next event:
POSH - Paignton Sailing Club (7-8 May 2021)
www.sailingchallenge.org
The Great British Sailing Challenge is a series of handicap racing events that take place throughout the year, and it's open to pretty much any sail-powered craft. The Challenge will involve events throughout the year. Competing sailors will earn ranking points from each event they compete in. The series is managed by RestartSailing.
- YDSC Brass Monkey 13 Mar 2022
- Cheddar Chase 9-10 April 2022
- POSH 7-8 May 2021
- Bala Long Distance 25-26 June 2022
- Wilsonian River Challenge 25-26 June 2022
- Medway Marathon 6th August 2022
www.sailingchallenge.org