Burton week 2003 daily write ups
Turned into 2 practise starts on the Sunday due to a shortage of wind
In a repeat of the 2002 race at Tenby, Richard Williams and Stella Brown were the deserving winners of the first race of Burton Week. Having stormed out of the gate start early on, they were never headed and were able to stretch out a good lead at the finish over Tom Stewart & Liz Ross in second.
Having waited for nearly two hours for the wind to stabilise it was an offshore breeze rather than the anticipated sea breeze which dominated. Sailing towards the shore was always going to be shifty but it was the variation in wind speed which caused the most problems for the 58 competitors.
By the end of the race the wind was blowing in excess of 15 knots, providing fantastic championship course sailing. Notable performances on the water included a 3rd place for Jon Brown & Charlotte Ibbotson in their newly launched Bim Daser boat. No design name as yet - but it looks unlikely to be a Slowcoach. Defending Burton Week champions Graham Camm & Zoe Ballantyne opened their account with a solid sixth.
In the Admirals Cup competition for older boats, Kevin Iles & Jane Jones had the glory of going round mark one fourth, with a finish in the teens which was good enough to give them a good lead in this competition.
Marlow Rope Salver
1 N3450 Richard Williams & Stella Brown - Final Chapter
2 N3476 Tom Stewart & Liz Ross - Feeling Foolish
3 N3483 Jon Brown & Charlotte Ibbotson - Daser ?
4 N3436 Steve Sallis & Jenny James - Feeling Foolish
5 N3473 John & Katy Meadowcroft - Final Chapter
6 N3469 Graham Camm & Zoe Ballantyne - Numinous
Race Rating (out of 10)
SEVEN. Sun, exciting reaches, tactical beats and fully hiked even
for the heavyweights on the final beat.
Tom Stewart & Liz Ross added a first to yesterdays second in the first race to head the leader board at Burton Week. Mike Cooke and Helen Hunt benefited from being pathfinder and rounded in the leading pack together with Ian & Alex Gore and Phil & Jo Bush.
The wind was much steadier in velocity than in race 1, but the shifts were just as big. Race 1 winners Richard Williams and Stella Brown were among those caught out, as were Steve Sallis and Jenny James. Graham Camm and Zoe Ballantyne continually picked up places to record a second top ten finish as did Antony & Jo Gifford, Chris Mayhew & Nicole McKenna and Jon Brown & Charlotte Ibbotson.
The Gores took second place after three beats of the trapezoid course with Cooke and Hunt in third and the Bush's recording fourth - their best ever Burton Week race finish.
1 N3476 Tom Stewart & Liz Ross, Feeling
Foolish
2 N3441 Ian & Alex Gore - Feeling Foolish
3 N3472 Mike Cooke & Helen Hunt - Big Issue
4 N3467 Phil & Jo Bush - Feeling Foolish
5 N3438 Mike Hoyle & Henry Johnson - Feeling Foolish
6 N3443 Chris Mayhew & Nicole McKenna - Final Chapter
The wind died as the fleet approached the first leeward mark of the trapezoid course. At the time Tom Stewart & Liz Ross led from Ian & Alex Gore, and these two were able to hold onto the leading positions to a shortened course finish, with the Gores taking the gun. The dogfight for the remaining places was resolved in favour of Caroline Martin & Sophie Mackley in 3rd and then Steve Sallis & Jenny James in 4th and then Tim Knight in 5th.
Admirals Cup (for older boats) hot shots Kevin Iles & Jane Jones had the honour of being pathfinder - after a 10th place finish in race 2 - although they were never able to get back into contention from the right hand side of the first beat,
1 N3441 Ian & Alex Gore, Feeling Foolish
2 N3476 Tom Stewart & Liz Ross, Feeling Foolish
3 N3455 Caroline Martin & Sophie Mackley, Feeling Foolish
4 N3436 Steve Sallis & Jenny James, Feeling Foolish
5 N3478 Tim & Knight, Annie Apple
6 N3473 John & Katy Meadowcroft, Final Chapter
This means that overall Stewart & Ross lead the championship with an impressive score of 2.2.1 from the Gores who have 7.2.1. Chris Mayhew & Nicole McKenna maintained their consistent series of top ten finishes.
Was sailed Friday. A Force 2-3 which built throughout and a sloppy chop were the conditions provided.
Early leaders Derek & Hazel Mayhew found joy on the right hand side of the first beat, but unluckily found Tom Stewart & Liz Ross a few lengths behind as they went down the first reach. Stewart & Ross then proceeded to lead around all the remaining marks to take the Burton Cup.
Frances Gifford and Guy Johnson took up the chase only to be overhauled on the final beat as the wind swung left significantly, generally increased in strength and holes appeared all over the course. Richard Williams & Stella Brown won the race for second from Ian & Alex Gore, Mike Cooke & Helen Hunt and then Gifford & Johnson. John & Katy Meadowcroft appeared out of nowhere to snatch sixth at the finish ahead of Chris Mayhew & Nicole McKenna.
In the Admirals Cup competition for older boats, Tim Laws & Emma Wilkins won the Beeston Goblet for the first boat home in the Burton.
Sir William Burton Cup
1 N3476 Tom Stewart & Liz Ross, Feeling
Foolish
2 N3450 Richard Williams & Stella Brown, Final Chapter
3 N3441 Ian & Alex Gore, Feeling Foolish
4 N3472 Mike Cooke & Helen Hunt, Big Issue
5 N3431 Frances Gifford & Guy Johnson, Feeling Foolish
6 N3473 John & Katy Meadowcroft, Final Chapter
Yachting World Silver National Points Trophy
1 N3476 Tom Stewart & Liz Ross, Feeling
Foolish
2 N3469 Graham Camm & Zoe Ballantyne, Numinous
3 N3441 Ian & Alex Gore, Feeling Foolish
4 N3443 Chris Mayhew & Nicole McKenna, Final Chapter
5 N3472 Mike Cooke & Helen Hunt, Big Issue
6 N3473 John & Katy Meadowcroft, Final Chapter
The course posted was the traditional 4 lap triangle Burton course but inevitably there was not going to be enough time to sail the full course, so when the race was shortened after two laps the prizes for the next race rather than the Burton were awarded.
The race officer waited for the excuse of a sea breeze to completely be killed of by the land breeze before sending the fleet out. Those heading right on the first beat were favoured by less tide and more breeze, which caught out many of the leading contenders for the overall points.
Pathfinders Chris Bishop and Pip, led round the windward mark chased by Mike Hoyle and Henry Johnson and Geoff Camm and Amelia Hall. Moving quick through the fleet on the first set of reaches were Graham Camm and Zoe Ballantyne.
By the second windward mark, Hoyle & Johnson held a small lead from Camm & Ballantyne. They were unable to hold the lead for long though, and Camm & Ballantyne were leading by the gybe mark. On the second reach the wind flicked forward. The race officer quickly reorientated the beat and shortened the course after the leeward mark.
Camm & Ballantyne held on to win by a short distance from Camm & Hall.
1 N3469 Graham Camm & Zoe Ballantyne
- Numinous
2 N3464 Geoff Camm & Amelia Hall - Final Chapter
3 N3438 Mike Hoyle & Henry Johnson - Feeling Foolish
4 N3443 Chris Mayhew & Nicole McKenna - Final Chapter
5 N3449 Steve & Jonathan Adshead - Final Chapter
6 N3482 Dare Barry & Lucy Horsley - Steam Pudding
Pathfinders were Ian & Alex Gore, and their proven pace in light airs encouraged many late starters. However, it was the early starters who took the left handside of the first beat, led by Chris Bishop and Pip Jefferies and Brian and George Kitching, who had the advantage at the first mark. As ever there was a great variety in pressure across the course as well as big enough shifts to encourage no one to ever give up!
These two lighter weight combinations held on to the leading spots for the first two triangles. On the second lap, the wind dropped further and shifted to starboard causing the course to be reorientated. There was much confusion at the leeward mark as numerous boats failed to hear and/or acknowledge the positioning of the new windward mark. The leading two boats sailed off towards the old windward mark, whilst others in the leading pack made the correct decision to sail for the newly laid replacement windward mark.
Tim & Mayumi Knight got the best of the beat as the wind dropped and the race team shortened course, winning the race from Tom Stewart & Liz Ross, Phil & Jo Bush and then John & Mandy Thornton. Bishop and Jefferies finished xth; The Kitchings xth. There were many requests for redress in respect of the procedure for the replacement mark. All requests were subsequently refused.
1 N3478 Tim & Mayumi Knight, Annie Apple
2 N3472 Mike Cooke & Helen Hunt, Big Issue
3 N3476 Tom Stewart & Liz Ross, Feeling Foolish
4 N3468 John & Mandy Thornton, Numinous
5 N3469 Graham Camm & Zoe Ballantyne, Numinous
6 N3438 Mike Hoyle & Henry Johnson, Feeling Foolish
Would this be the Burton? No. On the second reach of the first triangle the wind died as Graham Camm & Zoe Ballantyne hit the front with Tom Stewart & Liz Ross and then Chris Mayhew & Nicole McKenna in hot pursuit. A few legs of reaching then ensued as the Race Team reorientated the course.
It looked good for a Burton as a decent on-shore breeze filled in as the fleet sailed upwind towards the old windward mark. Camm & Ballantyne in a mock comedy of the previous races confusion about replacement marks, failed to realized that the course for the new windward mark was to continuing beating past the old windward mark, giving the lead to Stewart & Ross. They however could not hold on, being passed by Mayhew & McKenna. The Race Team shortened at the windward mark.
1 N3443 Chris Mayhew & Nicole McKenna,
Final Chapter
2 N3476 Tom Stewart & Liz Ross, Feeling Foolish
3 N3469 Graham Camm & Zoe Ballantyne, Numinous
4 N3477 Bruce & Clare Johnson, Final Chapter
5 N3450 Richard Williams & Stella Brown, Final Chapter
6 N3461 David & Josie Greening, Annie Apple
Still not the Burton. Still a triangular course.
The pathfinders Caroline Martin & Sophie Mackley struggled as they sailed into the fleet with the faintest of breezes over a sloppy chop. Only the earliest starters were able to get away, and while many were still anticipating the start to be abandoned, it was Gavin & Jasmin Willis in their Admirals Cup boat (who says you can't be competitive?) who led round a Burton Week windward mark for the second time in 2 years. Answers on a postcard naming anyone else who has had this honour twice in the last two years.......
The chase was taken up by Bruce & Clare Johnson and Phil & Jo Bush, but at the leeward mark it was the Willis' who had stretched their advantage.
The wind was still light on the second beat and it was not surprising to hear the shortened course signal. The Johnsons attacked the right hand side of the course whilst the Willis' tried to sail their own race and kept to the middle of the course. The Johnsons found enough pressure to take the race win, ahead of the Willises and then Bushes. Again numerous protests for redress were filed in relation to the light air start. Pathfinders Martin & Mackley were found to have hit the Guard Boat, and were offered redress of average points. No other redress was given to other competitors.
Tom Stewart & Liz Ross finished 10th, but with the outcome of the various protests they were able to discard this result and the claim the weeks points with a race to spare, evidence of their remarkably consistent series.
1 N3477 Bruce & Clare Johnson, Final
Chapter
2 N3389 Gavin & Jasmin Willis, Baggy Trousers 2
3 N3467 Phil & Jo Bush, Feeling Foolish
4 N3426 David Peacock & Tricia Wood, Feeling Foolish
5 N3478 Tim & Mayumi Knight, Annie Apple
6 N3469 Graham Camm & Zoe Ballantyne, Numinous