K1 Nationals 2011
28/09/11 12:28
The first K1 Nationals held at Burton Sailing Club over the weekend was a resounding success with 21 boats enjoying close racing and ideal sailing conditions.
The event began on Friday afternoon with a rigging, tuning and training session and practice races which revealed that Wiclif McCready from Strangford Lough Yacht Club in Northern Ireland clearly knew how to make a K1 go very well.
Saturday’s racing started in a variable breeze of around 10 knots and the first race saw the light blue hulls of Simon Hawkes of Wimbleball SC and Wiclif finding their way to the front, which was to become a familiar sight. At the finish Simon lead from Wiclif with Peter Crossley of Pennine SC third after a close tussle with Chris Swallow of the host club which cost Chris and allowed Paul Handley of Chipstead SC through to fourth.
The second race saw the wind freshen slightly and a four-horse race at the front with only a few boat lengths throughout the race between Simon, Wiclif, Jeff Vander-Borght of Lyme Regis SC and Matthew French, Olton Mere SC. Simon crossed first with Jeff second, Wiclif third and Matthew fourth.
After a break for lunch ashore racing resumed in much the same wind conditions and again Simon and Wiclif locked horns at the front pursued closely by the pack. Simon stayed just ahead to score his third win with Wiclif second, Paul Handley third and Matthew French fourth.
Racing on Sunday began in a good breeze with some solid gusts and sudden windshifts, conditions which saw the K1s planing offwind in the gusts whilst enjoying the security of the keel upwind. The Simon and Wiclif show resumed at the front pursued closely by Matthew French. This time Wiclif got the better of the Simon to take his first win, so with two races left to go the race for the title was still on.
In the next race Simon and Wiclif were close enough to be match racing all the way round but Simon held his nerve to finish a few boat lengths ahead and with that take the overall win. Wiclif was followed over the line by Matthew with Rodney Cobb of Bosham SC fourth.
The final race was held after a lunch break and in shifty conditions Wiclif got to the front again followed by Matthew second, Jeff third and Chris Swallow forth.
Simon Hawkes was the first to be presented with the K1 National Champion Cup at the prize giving and all got to share a special K1 Nationals cake made by Burton Sailing Club. Many thanks go to the club for running the event.
Overall Top 5 Results: (weblink to full sailwave results here )
1st Simon Hawkes Wimbleball SC
2nd Wiclif McCready Strangford Lough YC
3rd Matthew French Olton Mere SC
4th Peter Crossley Pennine SC
5th Chris Swallow Burton SC
The event began on Friday afternoon with a rigging, tuning and training session and practice races which revealed that Wiclif McCready from Strangford Lough Yacht Club in Northern Ireland clearly knew how to make a K1 go very well.
Saturday’s racing started in a variable breeze of around 10 knots and the first race saw the light blue hulls of Simon Hawkes of Wimbleball SC and Wiclif finding their way to the front, which was to become a familiar sight. At the finish Simon lead from Wiclif with Peter Crossley of Pennine SC third after a close tussle with Chris Swallow of the host club which cost Chris and allowed Paul Handley of Chipstead SC through to fourth.
The second race saw the wind freshen slightly and a four-horse race at the front with only a few boat lengths throughout the race between Simon, Wiclif, Jeff Vander-Borght of Lyme Regis SC and Matthew French, Olton Mere SC. Simon crossed first with Jeff second, Wiclif third and Matthew fourth.
After a break for lunch ashore racing resumed in much the same wind conditions and again Simon and Wiclif locked horns at the front pursued closely by the pack. Simon stayed just ahead to score his third win with Wiclif second, Paul Handley third and Matthew French fourth.
Racing on Sunday began in a good breeze with some solid gusts and sudden windshifts, conditions which saw the K1s planing offwind in the gusts whilst enjoying the security of the keel upwind. The Simon and Wiclif show resumed at the front pursued closely by Matthew French. This time Wiclif got the better of the Simon to take his first win, so with two races left to go the race for the title was still on.
In the next race Simon and Wiclif were close enough to be match racing all the way round but Simon held his nerve to finish a few boat lengths ahead and with that take the overall win. Wiclif was followed over the line by Matthew with Rodney Cobb of Bosham SC fourth.
The final race was held after a lunch break and in shifty conditions Wiclif got to the front again followed by Matthew second, Jeff third and Chris Swallow forth.
Simon Hawkes was the first to be presented with the K1 National Champion Cup at the prize giving and all got to share a special K1 Nationals cake made by Burton Sailing Club. Many thanks go to the club for running the event.
Overall Top 5 Results: (weblink to full sailwave results here )
1st Simon Hawkes Wimbleball SC
2nd Wiclif McCready Strangford Lough YC
3rd Matthew French Olton Mere SC
4th Peter Crossley Pennine SC
5th Chris Swallow Burton SC