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iShares Cup goes Dutch for nail-biting final in the 2008 Series

posted 2 months ago

In brief
- Grand finale of the iShares Cup kicks off tomorrow in Amsterdam
- Dutch Olympic medalists join the fleet for today’s practice racing
- Joint leaders TEAMORIGIN and Alinghi currently tied on equal points
- Two Dutch boats and 10 Dutch crew members race on home waters in the IJ-Haven canal, just inches off Java Island

In detail
The iShares Cup fleet had their final shakedown before the final of the 2008 series today, with three practice races before the serious business of deciding the overall champions begins tomorrow.

The 10 Extreme 40s took to the IJ-Haven canal, a narrow strip of water just a few minutes away from Amsterdam city centre, off Java Island. Cheered on by scores of school children who lined the dockside to marvel at the Extreme 40s whizzing past just inches away, the iShares Cup skippers all put on a show by flying a hull and waving to the cheering spectators.

Some of the Dutch crew taking part in the iShares Cup at Amsterdam (l-r): Mark van Gelderen, Gerhard van Geest, Mischa Heemskerk, Sander Speet, Pieter Van Neiuwenhuyzen and Ed van Lierde.
© Sander van der Borch/iShares

The home crowd had plenty of local sailing stars to cheer for – with ten Dutch sailors on board the Extreme 40s, a quarter of the top quality fleet are from the host nation. Herbert Dercksen skippers the all-Dutch Volvo Ocean Race crew, and helped develop the Extreme 40 class specifically for this kind of sailing in the city. “It’s great that you can fly a hull in such a small space, it’s really good, just what the boats are designed for. It’s all excitement, we had an entire school on the side of the canal cheering for you and they even know the team names – what more you could you want!”

“We hope to do really well here, and put in a good performance. It’s going to be a great venue, a lot can happen. If you’re last then you could still be first, and if you’re first then you could suddenly be last, so a lot could happen!” he added.

The iShares Cup fleet were joined today by four Dutch Olympic medalists for the informal afternoon of racing. Marcelien de Koning, silver medalist in the 470 class crewed onboard iShares, whilst Herbert Dercksen stepped aside from his usual position on the helm of the Volvo Ocean Race Extreme 40, as the team were joined by Mandy Mulder, Annemieke Bes and Merel Witteveen, who have just returned from winning silver in the Yngling sailing class at Beijing.

“I had to do the hard job!” joked Herb, as he moved from the tiller onto the mainsheet winch. “I had two of the Yngling girls who won a silver medal at the Olympic Games, they steered the whole day and did a fantastic job. Mandy’s ready for helming one of the 40s that’s for sure.”

“It was really, really cool! We weren’t the fastest, we have to practice a little, but we need a girls’ boat next time!” said Merel after racing. “It was wonderful sailing,” added Mandy, who helmed for the day – including a tricky spinnaker start. “The downwind start was a bit difficult to begin with – there were boats everywhere and Herbert was saying ‘Go between them!’ and we were saying ‘No, we can’t!’.”

Dutch Olympic silver medallist Marcelien de Koning joined the iShares Extreme 40 (helmed by Hugh Styles) at Amsterdam
© Sander van der Borch/iShares

There was plenty more Dutch interest in the fleet as Olympic sailor Marcelien de Koning joined the iShares catamaran for the day’s racing, having won a silver medal at Beijing in the 470 class. “What an awesome experience. I’ve heard a lot about these boats, but have never been on one, so to have the chance to sail today with iShares in Amsterdam was too good an opportunity to miss. I’ve had such a great time, I hope to come back over the weekend and cheer the team on.”

The bright orange Holmatro catamaran is also flying the flag for the home country. Skipper Andreas Hagara was looking forward to having plenty of supporters at the iShares Cup final: “We are going to be really busy with a lot of guests because Holmatro is a Dutch company and half our crew is Dutch.

“Amsterdam is a fantastic place to have the final. Racing this close to the harbour walls will be exhilarating for both the teams and the spectators. I can’t wait for the first start tomorrow.”

Tommy Hilfiger racing at Amsterdam prior to the 2008 iShares Cup final
© Sander van der Borch/iShares

Tommy Hilfiger have also got strong connections with the Netherlands, “Tommy Hilfiger is a Dutch-owned company and the American image of Tommy Hilfiger fits perfectly with the US team, it’s a really good match,” said skipper Randy Smyth. Randy and his team got things off to a good start today by winning the final practice race, while Shirley Robertson on JPMorgan Asset Management again showed her skill in light and shifty winds to take the first of today’s races.

The Amsterdam venue could well be one of the trickiest so far, with light winds, sudden puffs and shifts, and an ultra-small racecourse to contend with, but it didn’t phase Randy Smyth. “Actually we kind of like this stuff, it’s like we have a really short attention span!” he joked about the continually changing places.

“It’s funny, last year we had eight boats and it was kind of crowded, but this year there’s 10 boats on the same sized body of water but what you can really see is that we’re all sailing the boats better. All the teams are experienced and they can predict each others’ moves, so it’s not as hair-raising.”

Racing takes place tomorrow from 1.00pm, with a parade of sail along Java Island before races in the IJ-Haven, Amsterdam.

Team Styles and Piggott claim a podium position at Dutch f18 Nationals

posted 2 months ago

Here are more images of of Team Styles and Piggot’s fantastic performance at the Dutch f18 Nationals

Team Styles and Piggott claim a podium position at Dutch f18 Nationals

posted 2 months ago

2nd overall at the Dutch Nats was a great way to end the international 2008 F18 racing season, after a great worlds in Spain earlier this year coming 5th.

Hugh Styles and Adam Piggott reaffirmed their winning ways in the breeze as they claimed 2 of the 7 races as out right victories over the rest of a strong 50 fleet of F18’s sailing from Medemblik Holland.

Racing was this weekend Saturday and Sunday. With the wind Easterly at between 13 and 20 knots,it provided some great conditions for sailing F18’s. With brilliant blue sky, sun and windy conditions, both days were near perfect for the event.

The team won the 1st and last races and, but for some bad luck they would have been even closer to nailing the title for the overall event.

This is the last of the international events which the team will do this season and it was great to finish on a high note.

Hugh commented” its been a great season sailing with Adam, we’e shown some blistering speed in the windier conditions. We had a few mistakes this weekend because we were a little rusty. Not having sailed since the f18 worlds in July. But the high’s like winning the races were really fantastic.”

There is one event left in the UK calendar in October the inlands. Other than that Hugh will be in Aus over the winter and will be doing some F18 racing down there.

Team Styles and Piggott want to thank all of their sponsors and supporters. Without their help this success would not have been possible.
Tacktick
Nacra Europe
Fat Face
Gill
Marlow Ropes
Sailing Networks

Eight top quality teams signed-up so far for 2008 iShares Cup

posted 7 months ago

With the Extreme 40 catamaran fleet now numbering 14 boats, there is potential that even more will make the start line of the five iShares Cup events, which begin in Lugano, Switzerland, on May 30.

The entry list reads like a Who’s Who of sailing, bursting with the very best skippers and crews in the sport. America’s Cup sailors will be lining up against Olympic medallists, ocean racers, and world champions, all coming together on the unique iShares Cup sailing circuit.

With the next America’s Cup looking set to take place in multi-hulls, the Swiss Defender Alinghi will be putting their cat-sailing skills to the test in this year’s iShares Cup. America’s Cup-winning helmsman Ed Baird has been putting in plenty of training in the Extreme 40 with the Alinghi crew in Valencia. Even this multiple world champion admitted that the powerful catamarans can be pretty challenging: “It was hard at first – going down from 17 to just four crew, but after the initial learning curve it got to be pretty exciting!” He compared the spectator-friendly iShares Cup city courses to recent America’s Cup racing close to the shore in Valencia, saying: “It’s a good kind of racing for the sport to have, as the shorter the race the more evenly matched the boats are.”

TEAMORIGIN, the British Challenger for the next multi-challenger America’s Cup, will also be lining up in the series. Current iShares Cup champion Robert Greenhalgh, who skippered the winning boat on last year’s circuit, leads the team. Rob is joined by his brother Peter, a top skiff sailor and part of the 2007 winning Extreme 40 crew, as well as other key members of the British Cup squad.

This year’s series has also drawn double Olympic gold medallist Shirley Robertson back to the Extreme 40, having competed in two events at last year’s iShares Cup. “Last year really whetted my appetite, but this year’s going to be a bit different with the pro teams really upping the ante,” she explained. “I love the boats and am really looking forward to going sailing on them again.” Shirley will once again take the helm of JPMorgan Asset Management, showing her mettle as the sole female skipper on the circuit.

Also making a return to the circuit following a successful season in 2007 is the Dutch Holmatro team, who finished runners-up last year. Austrian multiple cat racing champion Andreas Hagara will helm the distinctive orange boat, while their mastman Gerd Habermuller is a former Olympic bobsleigh crew – well suited to the acceleration of an Extreme 40!

Another largely Dutch crew looking for a big finish at the series finale in Amsterdam is the Volvo Ocean Race team. Crew Gerd-Jan Poortman, Simeon Tienpont and Arend van Bergeijk have plenty of miles under their belts, each having completed gruelling Volvo Ocean Race or Whitbread Round the World Races, while skipper Herbert Dercksen is a three-times catamaran world champion.

There’s more ocean racing talent on board the BT Extreme 40, which is skippered by solo and record-breaking round the world sailor Nick Moloney. The Aussie helm will be joined by a top-quality crew including British Olympian Steve Mitchell, who competed at the Games in the tough Star class.

There’s a strong Kiwi contingent on board Team Aqua, with former Team New Zealand America’s Cup sailor Cameron Appleton taking on the role of skipper and joined by fellow countryman Andrew Estcourt. Brit Alister Richardson, who took part in the very first Extreme 40 races two years ago, will drive Team Aqua and is looking forward to the bigger and better 2008 iShares Cup: “I raced during the first season when we had five boats out, so 10 boats will certainly make it exciting!”

This season will also see title partner iShares host a team in the iShares Cup for the first time. iShares will be skippered by British former Olympic Tornado sailor Hugh Styles and consist of a core talented crew. The team will be joined by famous local sailors as guest crew, or celebrities taking the role of ‘fifth man’, at each stop on the circuit. With plenty of followers at each of the five events on the calendar, the iShares team can look forward to vocal support from the spectators!

The 2008 iShares Cup Extreme 40 Sailing Series takes in five European venues, each chosen for their fantastic sailing and viewing opportunities – from the spectacular Swiss lake of Lugano, to the bustling centre of UK sailing at Skandia Cowes Week, before bringing high speed sailing action right into the heart of the city at the event finale in Amsterdam.

2008 iShares Cup official team entries as at 02.04.08:
Team name / skipper name
Alinghi / Ed Baird
BT / Nick Moloney
Holmatro / Andreas Hagara
iShares / Hugh Styles
JPMorgan Asset Management / Shirley Robertson
Team Aqua / Cameron Appleton
TEAMORIGIN / Rob Greenhalgh
Volvo Ocean Race / Herbert Dercksen

2008 iShares Cup Extreme 40 Sailing Series venues:
Switzerland, Lugano: 30 May-1 June
France, venue tbc: 13-15 June
UK at Skandia Cowes Week: 2-4 August
Germany, venue tbc: 29-31 August
Netherlands, Amsterdam: 19-21 September

Nacra win all trophies at Weston sailing club cat open

posted about 1 year ago

The Weston Catamaran Open meeting was the final event in the 2007 catamaran sailing calendar.

The event was plagued with light winds which eventually came in with as an offshore breeze in the mid morning on Saturday. After a slight delay to the start time three races were held.

The first race started with a north westerly breeze off the Southampton docks. Quite a few of the fleet were too premature in the first start and had to return. The wind was very unstable as the UK had a massive high pressure system over the top of the country. This meant that we had big holes in the wind and many opportunities to gain and loose places around the race course. Hugh Styles sailing with Richard Glover and Grant Piggott were a little premature off the start line and had to return. This was a bit of a setback but Hugh and Richard caught up to the leading A class sailor Chris Field and were tussling with him for the lead. The F18 boys made big gains on the downwind and extended their lead to the finish. A little farther behind on the Nacra 570 sailed by Peter Findlay and daughter Jess were being sailed very well. They had a great race and the Nacra 570 was certainly showing some great form in this light wind conditions.

The second race had the wind was a lot further to the north and this became even more shifty. Hugh and Richard lead off the start line at the starboard end. But half way up the beat the pressure died on the right side and the group from the left made gains. Hugh and Grant rounded just in the top ten but with some work to do. The pressure kept coming and going and Hugh & Richard and Grant Piggott with Greg Windle managed to get back in contention and then pass John Worthington. But this was not to be as down the last run Hugh’s lead was cut with the wind coming in from behind. John Worthington finished first with Styles second and Piggott third on the water. Peter Findlay had sailed a blinding race benefiting from the breeze filling in from behind however and finished only a few metres behind the F18’s to collect the victory.

The third race saw a start line dominated by the tide, which was pushing the fleet swiftly up and over the line. 90% of the fleet were over but only a very few of the competitors went back, this included Grant Piggott, Hugh Styles and one of the A Classes. Three laps of the race and much place changing ensued. Two tornados finishing first and second on the water with Styles third over the line and vying very closely for the lead. The Nacra 570 again surging through and finished on a surge.

A great Saturday nights entertainment with a fireworks party at Weston club later that evening. Then on the Sunday morning the weather dawned light and glassy. A little wind came up from the North East around 11ish, but it was was not to be and with only zephyrs coming off the land the racing had to be abandoned.

This made excellent news for the Nacra team with an all Nacra finishing line up:
1st Peter and Jessica Findlay, Nacra 570
2nd Hugh Styles and Richard Glover, Nacra Infusion Formula 18
3rd John Worthington and Ollie, Nacra Infusion Formula 18

Silver Medal for Styles and Crawford at F18 Europeans

posted about 1 year ago

Dervio on the edge of Lake Como in North Eastern Italy was the location for the best Formula 18 regatta in its history to date. Some 150 Formula 18 teams competed in the regatta, which was held from the 9th to the 13th july.

The size of the fleet necessitated a qualification and then finals fleet racing. Monday the 9th was scheduled to be the first day of the two-day qualification series of six races. The Monday was a very fickle affair as a result of a storm hanging over the mountain ranges around the lake. Eventually after a lengthy postponement racing was abandoned for the day.

Racing began on Tuesday in a fickle northerly wind which was associated with the storms of the day before. The days racing was close faught with different crews having moments of glory in the changing pressure. The wind died through the afternoon and gave way to some 180 degree wind shifts at times. It was the Nacra Infusion teams of Mischa Heemskerk (NED) and Hugh Styles (GBR) towards the top of the fleet after the three races of the day. Heemskerk 1st, John Christoph Mourniac 2nd and Styles very close in 3rd.

Wednesday dawned with more standard conditions for the last 3 races of the qualification series. Styles stepped up best to the task with individual race results of 1, 2, 2 which confirmed Styles leading going into the final series. Heemskerk only a point behind in second overall and Mourniac in third but with several points gap to the leading two boats.

Finals racing began Thursday with 4 races in the normal southerly breeze. The racecourse in the southerly wind became a right hand side dominated affair with the wind compressed along the western shore of the lake. This made for very tactical racing short tacking up the beach. Again it was Styles who mastered the conditions the best on this the first day of the finals scoring (7, 4, 2, 2) with Heemskerk (1, 2, 3, 16), in the overalls it was nip and tuck between these two. Mourniac still in third with (2, 3, 1, 17) and in fourth Remko Kenbeek a distance back from the top 3.

All to play for going into the last day, Heemskerk leading one point in front of Styles and then Mourniac third. The day was a windier affair from the south again but direction slightly more down the middle of the lake. This presented opportunities for some of the other British teams to shine in individual races, with Leo Farrow (GBR) and Stuart Gummer (GBR) both winning a race each.

Heemskerk really showed the way home on the last day with all results in the top 4 confirming the overall victory. For Styles it was a tougher day, finding the windier conditions more difficult. However they sailed solidly and secured 2nd overall in front of Mourniac’s French team who had a similarly tough day.

The final standings ended:
1st Heemskerk and Tentij – Nacra Infusion
2nd Styles and Crawford – Nacra Infusion
3rd Mourniac and Citeau – Hobie Tiger
4th Goodall and Goodall – Capricorn
5th Vaireaux and Petit – Hobie Tiger

The regatta was an excellent event for the sailing conditions and the organisation fantastic. Each evening we were provided with food after racing and social events too.

For Team Styles and Crawford the regatta has been the highlight of the year to date, a great result in a fantastic venue and with good competition. The team would like to thank their sponsors for their great support. To Nacra Europe and Nacra UK for making it all possible. To Fat Face, Mardon Marine, Gill and Marlow Ropes, Tacktick, and Holt for their equipment and service provision. Finally to friends and family for helping make it all happen.

It's the big one! Sailing Networks Abersoch Dinghy Week July 21-27

posted about 1 year ago

It’s the big one! Get ready for the fabulous Grand Draw at
Sailing Networks Abersoch Dinghy Week July 21-27

To coincide with its expansion into the dinghy market, Abersoch Dinghy Week, the largest regatta of its kind held in the UK, is being sponsored for the first time this year by Sailing Networks, the company behind the largest global social networking site for sailors, www.sailingnetworks.com.

Up to 450 boats are expected at this year’s regatta which runs from July 21st to 27th with over 700 competitors racing in 25 different classes. Jeremy Pocock, a Director of Sailing Networks, will be competing in the new Laser Bahia kindly loaned by Laser, alongside one of Sailing Network’s ambassadors, Hugh Styles, who will hopefully bring his winning formula to bear where it counts!

A fabulous Grand Draw will be held on the evening of Wednesday 25th July. This year the prize is a real stunner – an all-inclusive one week beach activity holiday for two people, courtesy of Neilson Holidays, at the Aeolian Village Beachplus Club in Lesvos, Greece. The prize includes your sailing, wake boarding, windsurfing and RYA tuition. Everyone purchasing the Sailing Networks Abersoch Dinghy Week T-Shirt gets a free draw entry and the lucky winner’s name will be drawn by Hugh Styles.

Anyone attending the Sailing Networks Abersoch Dinghy Week and who signs up to Sailing Networks and Blogs about their preparation for the Event gets a chance of winning a free half day’s coaching session with Hugh Styles during the Event itself.

Entries for this year’s regatta are still coming in thick and fast and it looks set to be a real humdinger of a regatta

Team Styles score another win at Eastbourne F18 TT

posted about 1 year ago

This weekend saw a windy Formula 18 regatta at Eastbourne Sovereign Sailing Club. Rain and wind were not to deter the hardy souls who braved the elements on Saturday 30 June for three of the best racing conditions so far this year.

Hugh was sailing with Adam Piggott after the tooth injury at Texel to normal crew Ryan Crawford. It was a good match and the pair gelled quickly through the first race of the day winning from Grant Piggott by a comfortable margin, and also placing first on handicap.

The second race was marginally windier and Styles and Piggott had a good battle with Piggott and Windle till Styles departed the boat unexpectedly. Dropping the pair a couple of places. That race was won by Piggott and Windle from Kevin Cooper and Luke Butler in second.

The third race and the last of the weekend due to increasing winds on the Sunday went as the first race of the day with Styles and Piggott first, Piggott and Windle second and Cooper and Butler third.

The results in this race mirrored the overall results and after a windy and blustery weekend the competitors were all pleased not to have to brave the big surf of the Eastbourne beach on the Sunday and risk breaking their boats before going off to the F18 Europeans next week at Dervio Lake Como.

Team Styles would like to thank the following supporters:
Nacra Europe
Fat Face
Mardon Marine
Gill
Marlow Ropes
Tacktick
Holt Performance Hardware

Fat Face team Styles and Crawford win Texel Dutch Open Championships

posted about 1 year ago

Friday saw the conclusion of the Texel Dutch Open run over three days off the beach of the island of Texel North West of Amsterdam on the Dutch coast. Hugh Styles and Ryan Crawford sailing a Nacra Infusion won the regatta from fellow Nacra team mates Mischa Heemskerk and Sebastian Tentijl after three days of exciting and close racing.

The racing was divided into 2 fleets C1 (F18 and larger) And C2 (slower than F18). The series of races were sailed in a variety of conditions, with Wednesday the first day a windy wavy challenge with big rolling waves blowing in with the South Westerly wind. Hugh and Ryan started the first day well with two bullets with team mate Heemskerk in hot pursuit with two 2nd places finishes.

Thursday dawned far lighter and racing was postponed for a couple of hours as some rain fronts came over head through the morning. The wind swung through 360 degrees and eventually settled in a westerly direction. It was another close faught affair with Heemskerk winning the first race with Styles and Crawford third behind Wouter Samama second. The last race of the day was the toughest with a dying breeze and an increasing current. Sander Pols (M20) lead round the windward mark closely followed by Styles and Crawford, it was then a sail / drift back to the shore to get out of the foul tide with the wind dying to nothing, only seven boats finished the race with Styles and Crawford winning from the German Gosche father and son team, with Heemskerk in 5th.

Thus going into Friday it was between Styles and Heemskerk for overall line honours. Vincent Huntleman won the first race, and Styles and Heemskerk fighting tooth and nail with Heemskerk nipping into second with Styles third equal with Sander Pols (M20). Going into the last race it was tight in the overall standings, Koen De Koning (Nacra Infusion) lead the race by a good margin, a margin too much for Heemskerk to overhaul. Styles didn’t need to count the final result and secured the victory overall from Heemskerk, with Stuart Gummer from the UK finishing on a late charge in third overall.

The round Texel race on Saturday started with 500 or so boats and a 50 mile lap of the island of Texel to complete. With the wind in the South West at about 10 knots the fleet got away well with the top class F18 sailors leading the charge from the beach end of the starting line. Styles and Crawford were the leading British boat going round the first and second turning marks until disaster struck when they started to hit the bottom and Ryan went down to lift the centreboard. Just as he did that the boat hit harder stopping the boat in its tracks, Ryan’s momentum flung him forward and he hit his face on the front beam knocking out 2 of his teeth. The medics were hailed and he was rushed to the shore where he received emergency dental treatment. But in typical Ryan mode he was back to the beach later to help load the boats for the departure back to the UK that evening.

As the race unfolded the M20’s gained distance on the fleet, with Line honours going to Sander Pols (M20 GTI), 2nd Herbert Dercksen (M20), 3rd (Eagle 20).

In the overalls the top 3 finishers were:

1st Darren Bundock and Glen Ashby (Hobie Tiger)
2nd Mischa Heemskerk and Bastian Tentijl (Nacra Infusion)
3rd J C Mourniac and Franck Citeau (Hobie Tiger)

Team Styles and Crawford would like to thank the following supporters:
Nacra Europe
Fat Face
Mardon Marine
Gill
Marlow Ropes
Tacktick
Holt Performance Hardware
Sailing Networks

Pevensey Bay Cat Open throws a wild variety of conditions for the sailors

posted about 1 year ago

Pevensey Bay cat Open was held over the weekend of 26th-28th May. There were two days of course racing consisting of 6 races, and a long distance race on Bank holiday monday. There were two major fleets, F18’s and a mixed handicap fleet.

Racing on saturday was held in light/medium shifty breezes with race leaders constantly changing. The first race was led most of the way by Rob Garka sailing with Ryan Crawford on a borrowed Infusion, but towards the end of the race they managed to miss the upwind gate and had to sail back for it leaving James Power, Capricorn, to win the race. The 2nd race was lead on the water start to finish by Peter Finlay sailing a Nacra 20, but 1st F18 was Paul Butler Nacra Infusion, who won by a large distance. The 3rd race was won by yet another boat Rob Garka, Nacra Infusion who managed to pick the correct side of most beats.

In The handicap fleet, consisting of Hobie 16’s, some with kites and some without, plus Dart16’s and Dragoons, the Nacra 500 sailed by Luke Butler convincingly won every race by a large margin.

On Sunday, there was a much stronger breeze, hitting 20 knots plus at times, with large waves building by the end of the day. In the first race Grant Piggott and Greg Windle, Nacra Infusion, rounded the top mark first, and lead until the next beat when they also missed the gate and let Stuart Gummer and James Power past them, this race was won by Stuart Gummer. The second race of the day was lead start to finish by James Power, Capricorn, who sailed an excellent race to win with a convincing lead. The 3rd race of the day was held in much stronger wind with a large sea building, lots of boats experiencing launching of the waves upwind. The course became skewed round which meant you could nearly get to the windward mark in one tack, and you could lay the downwind leg without a gybe. Grant Piggott , Nacra Infusion, lead the race from start to finish pushed hard by Stuart Gummer , Capricorn.

In the handicap fleet the racing again was dominated by Luke Butler in the Nacra 500 who won the first 2 races and didn’t need to compete in the last race. The Nacra showed superb pace, particularly downwind, where it matched the speed of theF18’s boat for boat.

F18 results:
1st Stuart Gummer, Helen Forshaw
2nd James Power, Gillian Power
3rd Grant Piggott , Greg Windle

Slow Handicap:
1st Luke Butler Nacra 500

On Bank holiday Monday, Pevensey Bay hold their long distance race, with a forcast of force 8 plus, a short course was set around the Bay, racing started in 25 knots and by the time the race finished there were gusts of 30 or more. Only 4 cats finished with most retiring. Stuart Gummer won by a convincing margin, showing the other cat sailors his superior reaching in strong winds technique.

1st Stuart Gummer F18 capricorn
2nd Chris Sproat Spitfire
3rd Grant Piggott F18 Nacra Infusion.

Many Thanks to all at Pevensey Bay who organised a very enjoyable weekend. The next event is at Worthing on the 15 and 16 June for F18, then Eastbourne at the end of June prior to going out to Italy for the Europeans in the beginning of July.