Boss National Championships at Stokes Bay Sailing Club

Sponsored by TGS and Xtremity

Pouring rain greeted the crews as they arrived for The Boss nationals at Stokes Bay S C on the 27 September. The rain stopped just in time for boats to be rigged and racing commenced with a breezy 17 knot wind and a short chop.

The first race was close for the initial lap but as the race progressed a leading group of 7 boats broke away with a close tussle for first place between Mark Asquith and Peter Bennett and Geoff Kimber. The tide was having a large influence over the course that was sailed with most of the boats going left and consequently coming into the windward mark on port. This made for some fairly close encounters especially on the first lap when the fleet was tighter. Eventually Bennett got the upper hand and held the lead to the finish ahead of Asquith and Kimber. The second race was again a fight between Asquith and Bennett for first but further down the fleet the close competition and conditions were telling as a couple of crews had to retire due to injury including one dislocated knee, two from gear failure and one from collision damage. In the end Asquith got the better of the downwind legs and pulled clear ahead to win followed by Bennett and Russell Belben. On the shore standing near the ambulance an loud plock noise was heard as Mick Green's knee went back in followed by 'come on we can just make the third race' from his helm. Out on the water the remainder of the fleet continued to fight it out in the third race with Asquith not having it all his own way. Dan Dixon took up the lead from Belben with Asquith in third and a tussle between these three ensued right to the finish. So there ended the tiring but satisfying first day's sailing. For the evenings entertainment the assembled crowd settled for a few beers in the bar and an attempt to break the suspension of the pizza delivery boy's bike with a monster order of pizzas.

All repairs completed and bodies healed, racing the second day was in lighter winds. As with the first day the racing was very close, but with no dramas, with the first race being won by Asquith from Dixon with Bennett in third. The second race was won by Kimber from Dixon with Asquith in third and the third race was won by Asquith from Dixon with Belben in third. The evening and night brought some fairly stormy weather with very persistent and heavy rain and thunder and lightening. The occupants of the 'Kimber Camper' van never knew how close they came to being invaded by the tented camp seeking refuge.

The third days racing followed a very similar pattern and conditions to the second day. In the first race Asquith lead from the start and gradually pulled clear of Bennett and Belben as the race progressed. In the second race Asquith was PMS and so sat and watched while Bennett and Julian Cramp fought it out for the lead followed a short distance behind by Dixon. In the last race of the day the results were predictable with Asquith taking the lead to win from Bennett and Dixon.

Overnight the gales that had been forecast arrived and with a 24knot wind the racing for the final day was cancelled. This didn’t stop Chris Gandy and Julian Cramp from pairing up and joining the windsurfers for a bit of 'extreme sports' fun.

All in all the championships was a great success for both the racing and the social, and the venue of Stokes Bay SC a great venue for such an event. Everyone is now looking forward to the final event of the year, the Inland Championships at Datchet Water 13/14 October.

Overall Results:

More Information:

• YachtsandYachting.com BOSS Page