Gill Europe class Inland Championships at Grafham Water Sailing Club

Gill Europe class Inland Championships at Grafham Water © Paul Sanwell / OPP

On 13th/14th May the Europe class assembled at an unseasonably chilly Grafham Water SC for our Inland Championships, sponsored by Gill. The plan was for three races each day, but with Sunday's forecast looking very light PRO Peter Curtis made the wise call to pull an additional race forward to the Saturday, so four races back-to-back.

Race 1

With a shifty (and chilly) breeze of around 10 knots, we were sharing a trapezoid course with the RS600s, whilst the Flying Fifteens sailed a windward/leeward course.

One of the joys of Europe racing is how close it all is, with very little difference in speed despite sailor weights ranging from 55 to 85+kg. This was apparent in race 1 when most of the 26 entries arrived at the first mark pretty much together, two boats coming in just off the port lay-line.

Adam managed to thread his boat through the eye of a needle and come out in pretty good shape, whilst the other one didn't (and my cheeks are still slightly pink with embarrassment).

Steve C, Sue, Adam and Hector, in what was to become quite a familiar sight, led the fleet home in that order.

Gill Europe class Inland Championships at Grafham Water - photo © Paul Sanwell / OPP

Race 2

Race 2 got under way in similarly light and shifty conditions, with a second hoot and individual recall signalled. I thought it was either Adam at the pin end or me in the middle of the line that had 'Started Too Well', but we both plugged on regardless. It was me.

Adam and Steve C had a close battle for the first lap, with Adam nailing the shifts up the second beat to pull away for a big win, followed by Hector and Sue.

Simon Jones, as he did in every race, showed some great speed in his new boat.

Gill Europe class Inland Championships at Grafham Water - photo © Paul Sanwell / OPP

Race 3

With a right hand shift just before the start, the boat end was keenly fought for. I wasn't close enough to see the carnage, and barely even the committee boat once said carnage unfolded, but apparently as Joe pulled the trigger to start he found another boat between his boom and himself, thus spinning him into a tack of sorts and pinning another boat or two against the committee boat, all whilst obscuring the RO's view of anyone else on the line. General recall.

The RO re-set the startline, rather generously giving us the tallest electricity pylon in Cambridgeshire as a transit. With a nice square line it felt like pretty much everyone got a good start.

Richard E, sailing his new Synergy boat, along with Brian C-B in his lovingly restored and now immaculate 30+ year old Winner were very much in the mix all the way round, with Steve C first, followed by Adam, Hector, Richard, then Brian.

Race 4

Going into the final race Steve was leading, but a race win for Adam could give him the title.

Steve W and George Crammond came flying out of the blocks to push the leaders all the way round. Steve C took the win, and the event, followed by Sue, George and Mike W, returning to fleet after 6 years and getting quicker and quicker with every race.

Adam Catlow takes second (and Youth prize) in the Gill Europe class Inland Championships at Grafham Water - photo © Paul Sanwell / OPP

With a forecast of no wind for Sunday, and the camping area now feeling very cold indeed, a number of sailors headed home on Saturday evening. Those of us that stayed enjoyed a meal at the club followed by a very cold night.

Sunday dawned with, as forecast, no wind, but at least it had warmed up a bit. A pleasant couple of hours of chilling and catching up with friends before the racing was cancelled for the day.

So Steve Cockerill regained the Inlands title, with Adam Catlow second and first youth, and Sue Ogg third and first lady.

Our thanks go to PRO Peter Curtis and his team of volunteers at GWSC for a great event that ran like clockwork.

Steve Cockerill wins the Gill Europe class Inland Championships at Grafham Water - photo © Paul Sanwell / OPP

Next Event

The fleet heads to Plymouth next for the Nationals June 1st-4th, followed by Staunton Harold SC 15th-16th July for what is always a great event.

Overall Results: