Hayling Island 2006 Nationals

Hayling Island Sailing Club welcomed the Buzz fleet in their splendid clubhouse for their 12th National Championship over the May bank holiday weekend. With 15 knots forecast from the southwest and no space for the fleet inside Chichester harbour racing was to be outside the harbour in open waters. Saturday afternoon started with the ebb tide flowing against the wind, which had picked up to around 25 knots, making the sea conditions very dangerous. Numerous capsizes before the first start close to the sand bar left three of the fleet with broken masts and Buzz 414 written off on the beach following the rescue of its crew. With the wind continuing to build, the race officer decided to send the fleet home.

Some sunshine and a 10 knot breeze welcomed the fleet on Sunday morning to try again. Wind and tide in the same direction made for much smoother water and pleasant sailing conditions. Following a fifth overall in last years championship, Simon Cory and Penny Jordon got off to a good start with a win in the first race. Ed and Sarah Styles taking 2nd with John Cass and Julia Brazil in 3rd.

Race 2 saw Gary and Steve Aiken lead from the first mark in marginal planing conditions with Ed and Sarah taking another 2nd and Chris Dutton and Martin Wyman in 3rd place.

Race 3 saw Simon and Penny leading the pack again closely pursued by Ian Foxwell and Zoë Noble and the Aikens in 3rd.

Chris and Martin made it to the front in race 4 with Stewart Bailey and Hannah Packman in 2nd.

Bank holiday Monday saw a forecast of 15 to 20 knots from the northwest with the offshore wind lulling the competitors into a false sense of security and a feeling that the sea state would calm. An interesting day was anticipated with some wind variation coming off the land. Unfortunately by starting time at eleven o'clock the wind had freshened with some gusts coming through at around 28 knots. The gusts played havoc with the ISO fleet, who were sharing the same racecourse, and whilst the Buzz fleet were, on the whole, coping well with the conditions, enjoying fast downwind planing and few capsizes, the race was abandoned. Having been sent back into the harbour it was hoped that at least one race could be run within the harbour but it was not to be with the wind topping 30 knots.

Report by - Gary Aiken Buzz 1004

Results

Full Results