Comet National Championship 2023 at Ogston Sailing Club
by Pete Coop 6 Oct 2023 13:54 BST
26-28 August 2023
Comet Nationals 2023 at Ogston © OgSC
Ogston provided the perfect venue for the 2023 Nationals. Set in the beautiful Amber Valley in Derbyshire. 35 boats entered with a strong competitive fleet featuring 5 previous National Champion winners!
Day 1 started with sunshine and light variable winds making it very challenging for the race officer to get the regatta under way. With a South Westerly wind direction, the racetrack was moved to the South part of the reservoir.
Race 1
Ogston is blessed with a dog leg shape sailing area which enables a favourable sailing area to be found for most wind directions. In shifty and variable light winds Pete Coop (Winsford Flash) came out on top followed by Eddie Pope (Ogston) and Guy Wilkins (Chipstead)
All 3 are ex - National Champions.
Race 2
Following lunch Race 2 got under way, again light, variable and challenging conditions for both the race team and the competitors. Eddie came out on top with Pete second and Alan Bennett 3rd (Staunton Harold).
Approx 10 boats (mid fleet) sailed the wrong course, missing a small leg out. By the time they had corrected their error, many on the edge of the top 10 places found themselves at the back! John Coppenhall took the credit for the scenic route!
No more races were possible so day 2 was all to play for with 4 races scheduled and a lot more breeze in the forecast.
Race 3
Race 3 produced a different winner with Guy followed by Eddie and Pete.
Race 4
The wind built to 15 knots (occasional 20 knot) gusts making for fast off wind legs and tough beats. Pete secured another win, Chris Robinson 2nd (Burghfield) and Guy was 3rd.
Following lunch conditions ramped up again - big breeze and plenty of very strong gusts. Many people described being in 'survival mode' with multiple capsizes, especially at the gybe marks. Avoiding upturned boats became the new skill!
Race 5
The start and first beat dominated by Toby Hancox, led the first full lap before an unfortunate capsize on a gybe - huge gust. Pete won again closely followed by George Coop (Pete's Son) in second with Guy third.
Race 6
This was raced in very challenging conditions. Pete got out in front and built up a substantial lead to win the race. Ben Palmer (Baltic Wharf) moving up the field took 2nd with Alan getting another podium in 3rd. The strong winds took their toll as the day progressed with only 25 boats finishing.
With 4 firsts, a 2nd and a 3rd, Pete Coop had secured the championship with a day to spare.
The Race Officer did a great job in getting 4 races on Sunday which meant just 2 scheduled for the final morning.
Race 7
Despite a lighter wind forecast the conditions were still a lively 15knots with 20 knot gusts. By the finish 3 boats crossed the line within 30 seconds of each other. Ben came in first (clearer enjoying the stronger winds), with George and Pete completing the podium. George's first victory over his Dad!
Race 8
After a battle with Andy Dale (Eyott Sailing Club), Pete got into the lead and extended to take the win. Andy and Eddie had a great fight to the finish with Eddie just taking 2nd and Andy 3rd.
Local sailor Isobel Hedley Fenn finished a very credible 9th overall to take out the Ladies Trophy.
The team Trophy went down to the wire with Winsford Flash coming out on top.
The Comet chair thanked Ogston Sailing Club for their great effort in producing a memorable and exciting championship in particular Andy and his race team, Craig the commodore, all the rescue crews and Andrea's team for keeping everyone well fed throughout the regatta.
Pete Coop also thanked Ogston for putting on a great regatta in challenging conditions and shared some final tips with the fleet before a final whole of regatta photo shoot.
Overall Results:
Pos | Helm | Sail No | Club | Sail Type | HelmAgeGroup | HelmSex | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | R7 | R8 | Pts |
1st | Pete Coop | 610 | Winsford Flash SC | W Xtra | Ancient Mariner | M | 1 | 2 | ‑3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ‑3 | 1 | 7 |
2nd | Eddie Pope | 377 | Ogston SC | W Xtra | Ancient Mariner | M | 2 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 4 | ‑9 | ‑7 | 2 | 15 |
3rd | Guy Wilkins | 886 | Chipstead SC | W Xtra | Ancient Mariner | M | 3 | 5 | 1 | 3 | ‑6 | 4 | ‑8 | 4 | 20 |
4th | Ben Palmer | 597 | Baltic Wharf SC | Std | Adult | M | 5 | 6 | 5 | ‑14 | 5 | 2 | 1 | ‑10 | 24 |
5th | George Coop | 437 | Winsford Flash SC | W Xtra | Adult | M | ‑16 | ‑28.5 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 12 | 33 |
6th | Andy Dale | 788 | Eyott SC | Std | Veteran | M | 6 | 4 | ‑9 | 6 | ‑8 | 8 | 6 | 3 | 33 |
7th | Alan Bennett | 126 | Staunton Harold SC | W Xtra | Ancient Mariner | M | ‑10 | 3 | 8 | ‑12 | 10 | 3 | 4 | 8 | 36 |
8th | Chris Robinson | 867 | Burghfield SC | W Xtra | Veteran | M | 7 | ‑15 | 13 | 2 | 3 | ‑15 | 5 | 13 | 43 |
9th | Isobel Hedley‑Fenn | 804 | Ogston SC | Std | Adult | F | 13 | ‑14 | 4 | 7 | 9 | 6 | ‑15 | 11 | 50 |
10th | Stephen Bellamy | 311 | Winsford Flash SC | W Xtra | Ancient Mariner | M | 9 | 7 | 10 | ‑13 | 11 | 12 | ‑13 | 9 | 58 |
11th | Bob Dodds | 869 | Crawley Mariners YC | W Xtra | Veteran | M | 18 | 13 | 6 | 9 | 7 | 7 | (DNC) | (DNC) | 60 |
12th | Mike Heap | 380 | Ogston SC | Std | Ancient Mariner | M | ‑21 | ‑17 | 11 | 8 | 13 | 11 | 10 | 7 | 60 |
13th | Tobias Hancox | 358 | Eyott SC | Std | Youth | M | ‑15 | (RET) | 14 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 9 | 6 | 62 |
14th | Jacky Stagg | 894 | Bowmoor SC | W Xtra | Veteran | F | 11 | 8 | ‑18 | ‑21 | 15 | 14 | 17 | 5 | 70 |
15th | Peter Mountford | 864 | Staunton Harold SC | W Xtra | Ancient Mariner | M | 12 | 9 | 20 | 10 | ‑26 | (RET) | 14 | 15 | 80 |
16th | Sarah‑Jane Critchley | 221 | Chipstead SC | W Xtra | Veteran | F | 8 | ‑27 | ‑25 | 15 | 19 | 13 | 16 | 14 | 85 |
17th | Alun Bevan | 694 | Merthyr Tydfil SC | W Xtra | Adult | M | ‑30 | ‑30 | 15 | 17 | 14 | 16 | 11 | 17 | 90 |
18th | John Hancox | 433 | Eyott SC | Std | Veteran | M | ‑20 | 16 | ‑22 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 12 | 20 | 98 |
19th | Henry Jaggers | 800 | Beer SC | W Xtra | Ancient Mariner | M | ‑19 | 12 | 16 | 19 | 16 | 18 | ‑20 | 19 | 100 |
20th | John Coppenhall | 532 | Hunts SC | Std | Ancient Mariner | M | 4 | 19 | 21 | 20 | ‑25 | 20 | ‑23 | 23 | 107 |
21st | Nigel Fern | 845 | Staunton Harold SC | W Xtra | Ancient Mariner | M | ‑23 | 11 | 23 | 23 | 20 | (DNC) | 18 | 18 | 113 |
22nd | Charlotte Coop | 877 | Winsford Flash SC | W Xtra | Veteran | F | ‑25 | ‑26 | 12 | 24 | 18 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 117 |
23rd | Ken McKenzie | 108 | Ogston SC | Std | Ancient Mariner | M | 24 | 18 | ‑27 | 22 | (RET) | 22 | 19 | 16 | 121 |
24th | Louise Curry | 123 | Chipstead SC | W Xtra | Veteran | F | ‑26 | 21 | ‑26 | 18 | 21 | 19 | 26 | 24 | 129 |
25th | Timothy Higgs | 849 | Burghfield SC | W Xtra | Ancient Mariner | M | 17 | 20 | 24 | 26 | 23 | (DNC) | 24 | ‑28 | 134 |
26th | Matilda Harrison | 208 | Ogston SC | Std | Youth | F | ‑32 | 22 | 17 | 25 | 22 | (RET) | 27 | 25 | 138 |
27th | Chris Fowler | 895 | Ogston SC | W Xtra | Ancient Mariner | F | 27 | 23 | 19 | ‑29 | 29 | (DNC) | 22 | 22 | 142 |
28th | Martin Loud | 705 | Winsford Flash SC | W Xtra | Ancient Mariner | M | 22 | 25 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 25 | ‑29 | ‑29 | 155 |
29th | Craig Harrison | 531 | Ogston SC | Std | Veteran | M | 29 | ‑31 | ‑32 | 30 | 24 | 23 | 25 | 26 | 157 |
30th | Lee Purslow | 190 | Ogston SC | W Xtra | | M | (DNC) | 32 | 30 | (RET) | 28 | 24 | 28 | 27 | 169 |
31st | Joanne Hill | 522 | Swarkestone SC | W Xtra | Veteran | F | 31 | 10 | 29 | (RET) | (RET) | DNC | RET | 30 | 172 |
32nd | Janet Gaukroger | 697 | Winsford Flash SC | W Xtra | Ancient Mariner | F | 28 | 28.5 | 31 | 27 | 30 | (DNC) | (DNC) | DNC | 180.5 |
33rd | Izac Dodds | 701 | Crawley Mariners YC | Std | Adult | M | 14 | 24 | (DNC) | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | DNC | DNC | 182 |
34th | David Peacock | 902 | Severn SC | | | M | (DNC) | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | DNC | DNC | DNC | DNC | 216 |
34th | Nigel Austin | 875 | Cransley SC | | | M | (DNC) | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | DNC | DNC | DNC | DNC | 216 |