Bull 7000 Nationals at South Caernarvonshire Yacht Club

6 Bull 7000’s gathered at Abersoch, for the 4th national championships, run in conjunction with Abersoch Keelboat Week.

All races were windward leeward. 6 races where run in a variety of conditions. Monday saw a steady sailing breeze across the course. Rustler a brand new Parker built Bull got away at the start and posted two wins in the two races, with Bullrush in second place and Hullabulloo in third.

With all to play for in the fleet, all crews where frustrated by the lack of racing on Tuesday due to 30kt winds which stopped the fleet of ferries getting the crews out to the boats.

Much improved conditions on Wednesday gave an opportunity for Bullrush to level the score with two wins over Rustler in second place. The variable conditions saw places swapping all around the course. Rustler had a couple of bad starts and had to work up the fleet to hang on to Bullrushes transom. Cow’s Rig came close to a second place in race 4 before sailing in to a hole and letting the fleet sail past her.

Thursday saw a frustrating day for all with racing abandoned due to a complete lack of wind.

Bullrush and Rustler were matched on points, going into the last day. After a long wait for wind the race officer finally got the boats away. In race 5, Rustler hounded Bullrush up the course, disregarding the positions of the other boats and using every trick in the book to stay in front. Hullabulloo won race 5 with some excellent up wind technique, Rustler second and Bullrush third. Still not over, Bullrush could take the championship on countback if she won the last race.

Again Rustler came out on top from the start of race 6. Almost a carbon copy of race 5 but much closer, with Bullrush trying desperately to break Rustlers cover. You could have stepped from one deck to the other at the finish, but Rustler got her horns over first to take the championship

Testing conditions for all with variable wind on most days and a good helping of weed on the course, ready to slow down the un-wary.

Overall Results:

More Information:

• YachtsandYachting.com Bull 7000 Page