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Grafham Water Catamaran Open 26 Oct 2009

Grafham is a well attended season finale and the weekends conditions rarely disappoint! This year was no exception..

With Alan now at University in Bristol, I invited Sam Caslin to come and try out catamaran racing. Sam is a long time friend of Alan Morgan my crew of the past 18 months and came highly recommended as ‘a Kite Surfer, Tri-Athlete and Cool guy who likes to compete’. I rate Ali’s opinion highly and Sam turned out to be all that Ali promised!

Saturdays racing took place in 10 – 13 knots, twin trapezing with typically shifty inland lake winds from the South West. Unfortunately on the way to the start our outhaul snapped and we started late after Sam, with some quick thinking made a temporary repair, which lasted the days sailing! Well done Sam. The 16ftViper sailed by Chris Sproat and Tornado sailed by Kevin Turner established themselves as the boats to beat taking 1st and 2nd.

Race 2 Sam and I had a great start leading the fleet to the left side of the course, taking the windward mark first at the top of the course. We hoisted the kite and an unlucky stumble saw Sam slipping across the boat with a swim to follow. Our righting line then broke too! So we needed a rescue boat to help us back up, forcing a retirement! Sure enough the Viper and Tornado took the top 2 spots strengthening their positions at the top of the leader board! That night we paid attention to boat maintenance!!

In race 3 we were beginning to gel better (not bad with this as our 2nd time sailing together) and put in a solid race finishing 2nd. Phew! A nice end to a lovely day on the water!

Saturday night we all nipped off to the Wheatsheaf pub for the customary knees up! Its just at the end of the road and they do a nice Steak Pie and pint!

Sundays big breeze forecast sounded like a perfect opportunity to show Sam just how exciting big cat racing can be!

Race 4, 5 & 6 on Sunday started in 15 knots and the wind built steadily through the first race with 4 boats retiring as the wind broke through the 20knot barrier.

By the end of race 5 the breeze was up to 25knots with the wind chill and fatigue becoming real factors. There were 2 more retirements including Kevin Turner on his Tornado.

Race 6, started with 24 knots reported from the start boat and by the time the gun had gone it was over 30knots! It was becoming a war of attrition with gear failure and fatigue leaving just us and the Viper left on the start line! The Hurricane SX was in its element with all of its systems working perfectly and sailing well within its limits. We were flying downwind in the big 30knot puffs, with the bow no where near its limits! The boat didn’t need to be nursed, so we pushed it!!

However Sam and I were not sailing well upwind, Sam was struggling with the huge and unfamiliar mainsheet loads.! Even in this much breeze the main has to come in hard and has to be played with a familiarity with the boat that a new crew will always struggle to find.

Chris Sproat and Lewis Crawford in their Viper lead for 2 laps, however the conditions finally beat them, with the 16ft Viper just underneath the water for long periods of time! So the Hurricane cruised to its first victory of the weekend!

We had a great weekend missing the top spot by just one point, well done Kevin! The conditions provided a perfect end to the season! Thanks Sam, I hope your arms are feeling better!!!

Final Regatta Positions

1stFast DoubleTornado Spi (+ kite)408Kevin TurnerCuffyIsland YC0.9352.02.03.01.01.0(11.0 DNC)20.09.0

2ndFast DoubleHurricane 5.9SX (+ kite)423John ReadyAlan MorganStone SC1.0073.0(11.0 DNF)2.02.02.01.021.010.0

3rdFast DoubleHurricane 5.9SX (+ kite)374Mark WoodJames HeysIsland YC1.0075.04.04.04.03.0(11.0 DNC)31.020.0

4thFast DoubleViper Cat8Chris SproatGeorgina BurkeStokes Bay SC1.0411.01.01.0(11.0 RTD)11.0 RTD11.0 DNC36.025.0

5thFast DoubleHurricane 5.9SX (+ kite)436Mark MawdittAaron LowtherIsland YC1.0074.03.0(11.0 RTD)3.011.0 DNC11.0 DNC43.032.0

Thanks to Grafham water sailing club, and the rest of the regatta organisers.

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