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.