Rutland Formula Report
22 June 2011
Whitwell, 18-19th June
The UK formula fleet arrived at Rutland water for round thee of the UKWA inland series, forecast for the weekend was looking mixed with light winds for Saturday and wind increasing on Sunday, gusting to 30 - 35 knots. Saturday arrived with light winds and flags where put up early much to the surprise of most of the fleet who where getting ready for a social morning sitting on the beach, race one was held in light and tricky winds but Jason Clarke sailed well, finding what wind there was planning all the way around the course for the first win of the weekend, most sailors where struggling to keep going in the light wind and a protest from Tim Gibson to bin the race was dismissed.
Next race was the Rutland marathon with winds forecast tobe light a decision was made to race and not count it as a counting race, as soon as it had been made and the flags had gone up for the start the wind filled in gusting up to around 20 knots Tim Gibson was first to take the lead but this was short lived as Chris Bond had a storming first leg to take the lead by the tower, how ever this was about to change as having missed the briefing and not knowing the course decided to take a rest and let the fleet catch up with a dip...och, Dave Coles had a good down wind leg and claimed the lead by the turn of the lake which he held until the next beatbut unable to move his outhaul struggled to cope with the strong wind Tim Gibson then took over the lead for a short while until Dave Coles claimed it back on the next down wind leg how ever Tim was to claim it back on the short beat to the line to take the win followed by Dave Coles and a wet Chris Bond in third.
Sunday dawned with very little wind but this soon started to increase and with the forecast of strong wind sailors where unsure of what to rigwhich meant the fleet was on rigs ranging from 9 to 12 metres,five racers where held in very wet and windy conditions, racing was close all day but Jason Clarke sailed very consistently through out the day to take the overall win followed by Dave Coles then Tim Gibson in third,first youth and first national 11 was Simon Jam who sailed well in the windy conditions
Overall results
- Jason Clark Exocet/Severne
- Dave Coles Starboard/Severne
- Tim Gibson Gaastra/North
1st youth and national 11: Simon Jam Starboard/Severne