PSUK NATIONAL DINGHY CHAMPIONSHIPS 2013
Monday, 16th – Wednesday, 18th September

Day One - The Laser & Singlehanded regatta:
Instead of the usual 'Lasers only' day of previous years, this was the first time that PSUK had run a combined Laser and Single-handed regatta and this attracted 16 entries. Thus the competition was on a handicap basis for all competitors.

The forecast for the Monday had always been ominous and so it turned out. It was cold and wet with winds a constant 20-25mph, eventually gusting over 43mph in the afternoon, there was no disgrace in deciding to preserve life & limb plus boat by opting out of the day's sailing. As in all regattas, a decision has to be made that crew and boat are fit for the conditions prevailing; there is no other criteria more important. Considering the conditions, some Race Officers might well have decided to abandon races but certainly, with the two excellent Rescue Boats' personnel, no-one was left alone for long and three action-filled races were run.

Race One start was delayed for an hour in the hope that the wind would relent. It did not. With a WNW prevailing wind a start line was prepared for a beat between buoys 1 & 4. Course: 4 3 8 1 - comprising two gybe marks.. - it was going to be quite a test. There were early retirements including diminutive Vicky Rose, the lightest competitor in the whole of the championships who unsurprisingly, found coping with her Laser Radial just a bit too much in conditions which had kept many competitors staying on the shore. Throughout the race there were numerous capsizes particularly at the gybe marks but at least wearing round was an option which all boats took advantage of at some time. The Phantoms lead the fleet round with Simon Hawkes leading and Nick Mason close behind. On corrected time Hawkes won by 33 seconds from Mason with Ash Johnston (Laser) nearly four minutes behind. Nine boats had set off from the shore; six finished the race.

Race Two after lunch; same course. This time 10 competitors braved the elements; conditions were no better and the gusts were catching out the odd helm who found themselves experiencing the South Staffordshire waters. With Hawkes capsizing at a gybe mark on the first lap, this time it was Mason who finished first, winning by a similar distance as the winner in Race One, from Hawkes with Paul Heath (Solo) third. West Midlands host Ian Ingram was always going to find conditions difficult flying the gennaker on his RS Vario and was obliged to give it best along with Tony Hyland sailing a full rig Laser. The weather looked set for the day.

After two races Hawkes and Mason had one win each; the third race result could decide the winner. All competitors bar one had come ashore. If the Race Officer had any doubts about running the third race, Simon remained afloat in the break showing just how easy it all was (not!).

As boats left the shore for Race Three the winds threatened to be worse and just 7 helms started; some of whom still needed to get a second result. The Course: 4 3 8 Y 1. Would that be three gybe marks?.. The wind had backed enough to provide a hint of a port bias and Sean Moore tried squeezing his Laser through at the port end of the start line causing consternation. Hawkes to end up starting his race in last position. But not for long. As the race developed, the wind dropped enough for capsizes no longer to be an issue. Hawkes had some catching up to do and as he got closer to Mason, he used the wind-shifts to advantage whereas Mason committed himself to longer tacks and eventually found himself being overtaken. At the finish it was Hawkes clear ahead of Mason with this time, Andy Taverner (Laser) third. Due credit to local Staffs Laser helm Keith Walker who quietly went about his business and completed all three races whilst many never got their feet wet all day.

Congratulations to Simon Hawkes; a worthy winner.

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Pictures from Day One

See below for picture galleries of Days Two & Three

Days Two & Three: The PSUK National Dinghy Championship:
There were 29 Entries for these Championships which included a number of competitors new to PSUK sailing. No doubt the Race Officer Bill Watson and his ODD Margaret Boyson were hoping for warmer weather than the previous day. The day started with a reasonable breeze, 10-15mph and showers were forecast throughout the day. It was cold.

Race One. Course: 3 2 8 4 7 5 6 1. The Committee Boat was situated in a spot similar to Day One; the wind from the south-west making a start line between buoys 1 & 3. Hopefully everyone had the means to write down the course..
The fleet got away cleanly on time and competitors settled in for a long race in a comfortable breeze. On the first lap, anyone in the vicinity of buoy 4 would have heard a nasty sound as a dinghy carved its way through the sail of Andy Cuddon's capsized Laser. The wind was light enough for Andy to continue without further damage to the 40cm rip in the sail. By and large, the faster rated boats were stretching out with Frances Gifford in her Merlin Rocket leading, but closely pursued by the Phantoms of Simon Hawkes, Nick Mason and John Oldham. Then came a number of Lasers in close competition with Geoff Norman's Contender and the Blaze of Andy Williams. The wind was up and down throughout the race resulting in the odd capsize. At the finish Gifford was first on corrected time by 30 odd seconds ahead of Hawkes with Mason third. The first Laser was Ash Johnston (5th). The first West Midlands boat was Ian Ingram with Marie Bond as crew in an Enterprise (12th).

Race Two. Course: 3 2 8 4 W 1 - a slight variation on the course as the wind was still from the same direction. The start had some breeze but thereafter it began to lessen as the race went on. Johnston remained the Laser to beat throughout the championship but the drop in wind strength made for a change of fortune for many competitors. Tony Onions & Geoff Ford in their RS 400 were better off in the easier conditions but fast handicap boats, Andy Williams (Blaze) and Geoff Norman (Contender) both struggled to maintain a good position. The weather remained bleak for most of the race as the wind slowly dropped and started to change direction. No problem for Hawkes, a clear winner by over 2 minutes on corrected time ahead of Gifford with Johnston third just ahead of a number of Phantoms who had found conditions to their liking. For other boats finishing, the wind strength became less and less.

Race Three run back-to-back. The Committee Boat moved location to make the course: 2 1 7 - a simple triangle The wind had now backed to make the beat from buoy 7 to 2. The pleasant perfume emanating from the power station at Rugeley wafted gently over reservoir - and it was still cold in the fine rain which continued on and off throughout the race. Hawkes made an excellent start at the port end of the line whereas Gifford did not. Together with Mason the three contestants led the fleet round the course. Ingram's Enterprise and Ken Daniels (Phantom) were having an excellent afternoon in the light wind. As the race continued the wind died almost to nothing and back markers struggled in finishing. After half an hour's racing and just two laps completed the Race Officer flew the shortened course flag giving Hawkes another win, this time with Mason second and Gifford third. The last boat finished almost 30 minutes later. Everyone was glad to get ashore in the miserable conditions.

Race Four. The following day heralded in a gentle Force 2 but the Race Officer mentioned that stronger wind was forecast. He was right.. With the wind in the west, the course was set: 5 3 8 Y 1; a good long beat and promising a dead run from buoy 5 to 3. The wind slowly increased but all competitors started; it was important to finish 4 races to complete the series. A good, clean start again with the main contenders timing the start perfectly - on a starboard tack at the port end of the line - faster rated are always able to tack off ahead of the fleet. With such a long beat tacking on the wind shifts was important and positions changed constantly in the group of Lasers as Tony Hyland, Roger Glass and Sean Moore had their best result of the series in this race. The wind was on the increase and capsizes were becoming common. Frances & Pete, last year's champions needed to win in order to stand any chance of winning again but Simon was over a minute ahead on corrected time at the finish with Nick Mason third. Top Laser was Tony Hyland (4th); Ash Johnston losing out for the one and only time.

Race Five back-to-back. Course: W 4 3 8 Y 1. The wind was slowly increasing. The last race is usually light on numbers, nevertheless 28 of the 29 entries remained afloat to start the last race so conditions were manageable; that is, not as grim as Day One. There were a number of capsizes as the race developed and there was some concern to see an RS 500 floating upside-down apparently unattended by 'Y' buoy. The crew had in fact been taken ashore. Some stayed upright - Andy Williams (Blaze), Steve Tatton with Martin Cole snug on the Flying Fifteen, Dick Sivers using a handkerchief, all had their best result. In the conditions the leaders were taking around 10 minutes per lap and were finished at the end of lap three. Some boats only managed two laps before finishing and the rest had gone ashore having retired during the race. Hawkes was the clear winner on corrected time but unusually, points were equally shared between Mason & Johnston, the 2nd and 3rd places - both ending up on the same time. Gifford & Walker were 4th.

It had been a highly successful regatta, in no small measure due to the hosts, West Midlands Police Sailing Section and Blithfield Sailing Club together with all the volunteers who had made the event run so smoothly.

Congratulations to the winner, Simon Hawkes with 4 wins and a 2nd place -  and the runners-up, Frances Gifford & Pete Walker who could well be seeking their revenge next year...

After the event, trophies and prizes were presented by Gary Cann, the ACC Operations, WMP and the Chair of the West Midlands Police Sports & Social Club.

View Pictures of the PSUK Dinghy Champs - Part 1

View Pictures of the PSUK Dinghy Champs - Part 2.