Dart 18 Inland Championships at Datchet Water Sailing Club

A pleasant late November saw the return of the Dart 18 Fleet to Datchet Water SC for the re-run of the Inland National Championships. This was the second attempt at the competition after a lack of natural propulsion forced the abandonment nearly two months before. Event one was notable for the quality of gamesmanship in the Orca Travel inter-county water polo and true to form for Datchet a top class social. It was hoped event two would generate some sailing.

Despite light airs race one was got under way after a short postponement. Defending Champions, the Lloyds aboard Team Typhoon were quick to show off the line, but with an excellent first beat from Multiple Inland Champion Snell and crew Roberts, this was not going to be a stroll in the reservoir. Manganelli/Downer, Davies/Rogers and the Kernicks made up the interest in the chasing pack. Snell managed to lead for most of the proceedings but the Lloyds gave him a scare re-passing on the downwind leg when Snell appeared to be trying to sail the wrong course. Snell showed superior boat speed and re-passed to take line honours from Lloyd and then Manganelli, Davies and Kernick.

The wind had marginally increased for race two. This time local hero Barry Peters and Hayley Smith were to take make the early running, showing good local understanding and excellent boat speed (coupled with charm and good looks?). The Lloyds were there again and chasing hard. Felixstowe boat Hutchinson and Topping had high hopes, featuring in the leading contingent, but those hopes would be dashed having been OCS at the start. Peters would in time succumb to Typhoon, but held a solid second, with Davies finishing third. Meanwhile it was a tight finish for the remaining top six places with Farthing/Moss (Team Birketts) getting inside Robertson/Robinson on the run into the final mark to take fourth and Wakelin/Baker (Fluid) stealing in behind to take fifth, Robertson finished sixth. Race one winner Snell/Roberts took seventh.

So that ended day one's sailing. The evening party heavily featuring wine, generously donated from sponsor Ernest & Guliano and Chilli and a Buffet from the fine ladies of Datchet Water SC. The Guest Musical artist for the evening soon staked his claim for a place in next Years Fame Academy, although some doubt was cast over his lyrical knowledge after his scatological remix of a recent Kylie hit. The end of season trophies were then dispensed, firstly to Grand Prix series winners Dan Norman and Sally Atkinson via Satellite link and then to Simon Farthing for Most Improved Helm. Much merriment was made.

Day Two

Some wind had arrived and it was bringing its friends. Race three started in a four to five, but with some big gusts to keep competitors on their toes. The Kernicks showed excellent early pace followed by the Bartletts, Richardson/Harvey and Azzopardi/Derville, making yet another excellent start and determined this time to reap the rewards. Outgoing Fixtures Secr etary Lloyd was chasing down incoming Fixtures Secretary Farthing keeping title hopes alive and kicking. Lloyd's progression through the fleet was to be uninterrupted to second, but the Kernicks stormed away for their first win of the event from Lloyd, Bartlett, Richardson, Azzopardi and Peters.

As the morning's club racing had now started in extreme proximity to the Open, a course change was negotiated avoiding the exciting potential of Dart Dodgems. After a lengthy postponement, race four started in an excellent force four with sunny conditions. The Lloyds made the early running from Race three winners the Kernicks. In the chasing pack the Bartletts were fast closing in, followed by Farthing, Azzopardi and Richardson. A luffing battle between Richardson and Farthing was to give Azzopardi the chance to steal through to leeward and join the chase. The Bartletts and Lloyds were then forced into stiff battle with the Bartletts, coming out the eventual winners from Lloyds second and the Kernicks third. A strong final beat saw Richardson retain fourth. Peters and Wakelin had now displaced Farthing and were hunting Azzopardi with Snell in close attendance. Azzopardi was to hold off for fifth with Snell taking sixth followed in by Farthing who had stormed back past Wakelin and Peters.

The final race saw the first attempt at a start canned. By the second attempt several competitors could smell mince pies and warm tea and were heading for the shore. With gusts of 38 knots being recorded the insane remained for one final joust. This time it was Wakelin who was to show the way around the course with the Kernicks once again at the front to take second, Lloyd third and Snell fourth, Hillier fifth and Taylor sixth. Azzopardi pitchpoled. Peters created a four hulled two mastered monster. Race winner Wakelin capped the event (and took the Titanic award) for capsizing as he attempted to land back on the shore.

So the final damage was Llloyd & Llloyd (1), Kernick & Kernick (2), Bartlett & Bartlett (3), Snell and Roberts (4) Wakelin and Baker (5), Peters and Smith (6) Davies and Rogers (7) Manganelli and Downer (8) Azzopardi and Derville (9) and Farthing and Moss (10). The Handicap winners were (1) Phil (Datchet Hurricane Hero) Marks and Catherine (Chairlady Shearwater) Howland (2) Azzopardi and Derville (3) Farthing and Moss.

Overall Results:

Results generated and submitted using Sailwave - completely free Windows sailing scoring software