Gul Series - Burton
Week 2017
The Gul sponsored
National 12
championship ended
with only 3 points
separating the first
three boats in the
most competitive
event for some
years.
Day 1
The sail to the
start area was quick
and relatively easy,
but a number of the
older boats decided
to stay in the
dinghy park. The
first race was
sailed in 20 knots
with strong gusts
but relatively flat
water. It was in
this race that the
fleet suffered the
two broken masts,
but 22 boats did
have a fantastic
sail.
The
race was dominated
by John and Ollie
Meadowcroft who led
at the first mark
and sailed away.
Place changes behind
were few with Kevin
Iles and Jo Gifford
a clear second ahead
of Graham Camm and
Zoe Ballantyne.
Race two was sailed
in very similar
conditions, but with
over half the fleet
over the line on the
first start, the OOD
decided in was time
to bring out the
black flag to make
the fleet behave.
Unfortunately six
boats were caught
out on the second
start and were sent
for an early shower.
At the third attempt
the fleet were
cleanly away and it
was Nick Copsey and
Emma Pearson who led
at the first mark
followed by Tom and
Robert Stewart with
John and Ollie and
Graham and Zoe close
behind. Nick and
Emma held the lead
for the next lap but
on the dead run were
overtaken by Tom and
Robert. At the start
of the last lap it
was Tom/Robert
leading, Nick/Emma
second and
Graham/Zoe third.
Just behind these
three were John and
Ollie but a capsize
ended their
challenge.
Graham/Zoe got
passed Nick/Emma at
the start of the
beat but the
positions were
reversed back by the
end of the beat.
Tom/Robert were
confident enough in
their lead to wear
round the gybe mark
allowing Nick/Emma
to close the gap but
not overtake.
Day 2
On day two of the
championship we had
the iconic Burton
Cup race. This 13
mile race is a test
of fitness as well
as ability though
the light to
moderate conditions
made it easier than
many years and 27
boats recorded a
finish.
The
race was initially
led by John and
Ollie Meadowcroft
closely followed by
Ian and Alex Gore
with Graham Camm and
Zoe Ballantyne in
third. As the wind
dropped Graham and
Zoe took advantage
of their superior
speed in those
conditions to take
the lead and open up
a gap which looked
comfortable. This
turned out not to be
the case as a
determined effort
from John and Ollie
closed down the
leaders and had the
spectators on the
edge of their seats
as the last beat
began.
With
Graham and Zoe
choosing not to
cover it was
difficult to see
which boat was ahead
but Graham and Zoe
had done enough to
cross just ahead and
put in a covering
tack to the line in
one of the closest
Burton race
finishes.
Day 3
Day three was
another light wind
day and it was the
2016 champions Tom
and Robert Stewart
who led for most of
the race with Graham
and Zoe and Jon
Ibbotson sailing
with Jack Gore in
hot pursuit.
On the run to the
final mark it was
Jon and Jack who
managed to take the
lead and held on for
the short leg to the
finish, ahead of Tom
and Robert and
Graham and Zoe.
Jack is the
youngest crew to win
a championship race.
It was also his
first championship
race! - He'll expect
the same when he
starts crewing for
his Dad - no
pressure Ian!
The second race of
the day saw return
to form for John and
Ollie after a 17th
in race one and they
were the nearest
challengers to
Graham and Zoe who
won with Tom and
Robert in third.
Going into the final
day Graham and Zoe
led with 8 points
with Tom and Robert
on 9 and John and
Ollie on 12.
Day 4
With a much windier
day in the offering
would Graham and Zoe
be able to hold onto
their lead. The
first race of the
day saw Nick Copsey
and Emma Pearson
lead at the first
mark but it was
Steve Sallis and
Katy Meadowcroft who
led at the start of
lap two and sailed
away for a
comfortable win with
Graham and Zoe
winning the battle
of the title
contenders to finish
second and with it
secure the
championships.
The last race saw
John and Ollie
arrive first at the
windward mark and
although they did
lose the lead to
Nick and Emma on the
first reach it was
not long before they
regained the lead
and were not headed
again. Steve and
Katie came in second
ahead of Tom and
Robert with Graham
and Zoe discarding
their 4th place
finish.
Graham and Zoe are
once again national
champions with John
and Ollie claiming
second ahead of Tom
and Robert as a
result of their last
race win.
Nigel and Chris
White were first
non-foiling boat.
Dave Peacock and
Lesley Iles were
first Admirals cup
and vintage boat.
Any idea what is
going on here?
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