Police Sport UK -
National Dinghy Sailing Championships, 2007

2007

 

NATIONAL POLICE LASER and
DINGHY SAILING CHAMPIONSHIPS
Lasers - Wednesday, 13th June, 2007
All Dinghies - Thursday/Friday, 14th-15th June, 2007
Venue: Poole Y.C.
Hosts: Dorset Police

 

Rob Jones secures both the Laser & Dinghy Championships


POLICE SPORT UK
NATIONAL
LASER SAILING CHAMPIONSHIP 2007

Thirteen competitors faced winds Force 2-3, varying SE to SW, for the three races sailed 'back-to-back' to avoid finishing the day in conditions of extreme low tide. 'Olympic' courses were set for all three races.

After a delayed start as the course was set in shifting wind, the fleet got away for Race One. Dick Sivers (Northants) lead the fleet approaching the windward mark only to told he had been adjudged OCS and he retired from the race. Rob Jones (Hampshire) also OCS had restarted and pursued the fleet. Boats became stretched out but Simon Hawkes (Avon & Somerset), last year's champion established a clear lead early on. At the finish line, whilst Hawkes was first, Jones had made his way through the rest of the Lasers to gain second place with Andy Taverner (Met), third.

Race Two was a much tighter affair with six-odd boats vying for the lead. As the race progressed Hawkes was superior on the beats, Jones on the reaches and Sivers on the downwind legs. At the finish line, it was Sivers who crossed first with Hawkes, then Jones, only a few seconds behind.

The wind increased slightly for Race Three and the rain set in. There was quite a flow on the ebbing tide and it became crucial to find the best way up the beats. The wave-chop was never going to suit Lasers and in such conditions the fleet became stretched out, but apart from the odd missed toe strap no-one succumbed to a serious capsize. Jones made the best of the conditions and finished an easy first, with Hawkes second and Taverner another excellent third place.
 

Click Here to view Pictures of the Laser Day
Pictures of the Event



Police Sport UK
National
Dinghy Sailing Championships, 2007....

 

A total of 32 boats representing 13 UK Police Forces competed in the 2007 Police National Championship held at Poole Yacht Club. The racing, on Olympic style courses in Poole Harbour, was held over the two days 14 – 15 June and featured line-starts from Committee boat “Alchemist”.

A shifting south-easterly Force 2 caused race officer John Yonwin to change marks during Race 1, the conditions suiting former champion Alan Husk in his Phantom who registered a win, followed by former champion Pete Walters 2nd in the Flying Fifteen and the defending champion Frances Gifford in the National 12 in third place.

The wind steadied for Race 2 and remained a southerly Force 2-3 throughout. A course with much longer legs was set bringing the fleet across the main tidal channel for the wing mark. The larger course allowed competitors to work on their boat-speed and Rob Jones in his RS400 held an impressive lead on the water. At the finish on handicap Jones retained 1st with Husk in 2nd and Walters 3rd.

Race 3 was strongly affected by a building ebb tide that disadvantaged the slower handicap boats who found it difficult to make ground. Rob Jones in his RS400 was again impressive on the water building a significant lead and was the eventual race winner from Walters in 2nd and Husk in 3rd.

Positions after Day 1 could hardly have been closer with the leading 3 boats being separated by only 1 point.

Day 2 brought a stronger breeze, southerly Force 3-4 which at times began to stretch the boat handling skills of the fleet. In race 4 the Osprey of Andy Welch and Rob Gillespie started to perform on home waters, but also former champion Frances Gifford found conditions to her liking, as did Graham Cook in his Laser. But it was Rob Jones in his RS400 who again showed the way on the water revelling in the windier conditions and with his asymmetric spinnaker building an impregnable lead. Gifford finished in 2nd with Walters in 3rd.

The final race was held after a wind shift to the southwest and a relayed course. Rob Jones led off from the start line pursued by Gifford in the N12 and the Laser of Graham Cook. The Osprey lead at the windward mark but Jones soon established a lead on the reaches and never looked like relinquishing 1st place. As the wind dropped to a Force 3, Alan Husk in his Phantom sailed consistently into 2nd place and stayed ahead of Gifford in the N12 in 3rd with Walters taking 4th.

After all results were in and 1 discard allowed, it was Rob Jones and John Woodfield in the RS400 from Hampshire who took the 2007 Championship, with an outstanding performance in both light and medium winds. Former champion Alan Husk from Essex in his Phantom finished 2nd overall with Pete Walters and John Allen in the Flying Fifteen in 3rd place.

Dorset Chief Constable’s staff officer Superintendent Mick Rogers and Poole YC Commodore Colin Rainback joined the competitors for the official prize-giving where race officer John Yonwin and his team were congratulated and thanked for setting excellent courses and completing all scheduled races.
Event organiser Rob Gillespie said “It’s been an absolute pleasure to work with the Poole Yacht Club team. All the competitors enjoyed the fantastic sailing conditions and the first class facilities at the club and will take home fond memories of their visit to Poole.”

Commodore Colin Rainback congratulated the new National Champions Rob Jones and John Woodfield sailing their RS400 commenting “You are worthy champions, having proven your skills in a range of wind strengths”. Superintendent Mick Rogers closed the event by thanking all the competitors for travelling to Dorset, and on behalf of the Chief Constable and the Dorset Police Sailing Section offered his thanks to Poole YC for staging a memorable Championship.

 

 
 


Organiser: Rob Gillespie, PSUK Sailing, Eastern Division Police HQ, Ameysford Road, Ferndown, Dorset BH22 9HQ. Tel 01202 226210 rob.gillespie@dorset.pnn.police.uk or from Poole Yacht Club, New Harbour Road West, Hamworthy, Poole, Dorset Tel 01202 672687 www.pooleyc.co.uk

 

 


The PSUK National Dinghy Sailing Championships, 2008 will be held at Northampton Sailing Club, Pitsford Reservoir, near Brixworth, Northants on Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday, 10th, 11th, 12th June, 2008.
Organiser/Contact: steve.middleditch@northants.pnn.police.uk

 


2006

Click Here to view Report, Results & Pictures of:

NATIONAL POLICE LASER and PSUK DINGHY SAILING CHAMPIONSHIPS 2006
at Notts County S.C.

 

Laser logo
Police Nationals

 


2005

Click Here to view Report, Results & Pictures of:

NATIONAL POLICE LASER and PSUK DINGHY SAILING CHAMPIONSHIPS 2005
at
Scaling Dam S.C.,
 

Laser logo
Police Nationals

 


2004

Click Here to view Report, Results & Pictures of:

NATIONAL POLICE LASER and PSUK DINGHY SAILING CHAMPIONSHIPS 2004
 

Laser logo
Police Nationals

 


2003

PAA Dinghy Championships

Click Here to view Report, Results & Pictures of:

NATIONAL POLICE LASER and PAA DINGHY SAILING CHAMPIONSHIPS 2003
 

Laser logo
Police Nationals

 

 


2002

 

Pictures of the event
Pictures of the event

Avon & Somerset organiser for PAA Dinghy Champs, 2002:
Pete Franklyn

 

    Results in Stats Section....

 


 

Results from previous National Dinghy regattas can be viewed in the 'Stats' Section