| 21 Jul |
Many congratulations to our new 2008 XOD Central Solent Champions.
In a closely fought series races held in brisk conditions this weekend, Felix’s results – two 1st , a 2nd and a 5th were good enough to beat Cowes Division entrant Neil Payne’s Quest by one point. Another point behind was Itchenor’s X101 Thora (Ted Roose, Chris Blevins and David Priscott) who held off a late challenge from last year’s Central Solent Champion and Captain’s Cup winner, Simon Russell. |
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| 20 Jul |
The only people to get wet in Warnemunde today were Archie Massey and Matt Noble, after they were thrown in the water for becoming the new International 14 World Champions. Other teams just below Massey and Noble on the leaderboard were hoping the race officer would send the 90-boat fleet out for one last race, but with the westerly breeze gusting in excess of 30 knots, that was never a sensible option. After waiting in vain for the wind to abate, the last race was cancelled and the championship was complete.
So the Anglo-American Massey-Noble duo were crowned World Champions, thanks to a superlative performance in the strong winds that swept across the Baltic Sea this week, where they won three of the six races. Anglo-Australian partnership Jarrod Simpson and Grant Rollerson took second overall, just edging out Australians Dave Alexander and Cameron McDonald on countback.
With the fleet experimenting with ultra-lightweight PBO rigging in place of the customary stainless steel wire, along with developments in T-foil rudder technology and square-top mainsails, success this week was running the balance between ultimate speed and reliability. Even Massey came dangerously close to losing his grip on the championship when his new rudder gave way, forcing him to complete the week with a borrowed replacement.
For boats that measure just 14ft long and 6ft wide, the modern International 14 is capable of immense speeds, in excess of 12 knots upwind and over 20 knots downwind. The T-foil rudders enable them to be driven harder and faster downwind than more powerful skiffs, and this heady mix of technology and adrenalin is what is driving new sailors into the fleet.
Even some of Britain’s Olympic sailors tried their hand at 14 sailing for the first time this week, with Dave Evans and Simon Hiscocks gradually getting to grips with the quirks of the International 14 to finish 11th overall.
While the top places were dominated by British and Australian teams, the biggest nation in numerical terms is the fast-growing German fleet. Best of the Germans were Olly Voss and Jens Holscher who finished in 12th place. After 17 years competing in the 14, Voss was contemplating retirement into family cruising, but he has been tempted to postpone delivery of the X-99 yacht until after the next Worlds.
Warnemunde turned on a spectacular, high-thrills week of racing in strong wind and big waves. Now the fleet’s attention turns towards the next World Championship will take place on Sydney Harbour in January 2010. With the last two World titles having gone to American and British teams, the Aussies will be working hard to ensure a home victory in their famous harbour.
Final top six results overall
1. Archie Massey/Matt Noble (GBR), 15 points
2. Jarrod Simpson/ Grant Rollerson (GBR), 19
3. Dave Alexander/Cameron McDonald (AUS), 19
4. Roger Blasse/Andrew Gilligan (AUS), 25
5. Mike Lennon/ Andy Rice (GBR), 27
6. Martin & Neale Jones (GBR), 34 |
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We've bitten the bullet and posted a Member's Racing Rules Forum, hosted by Richard Thompson, where you can post and exchange views on Racing Rules. By way of background, Richard Thompson needs no introduction to most members of ISC. He is amply qualified to host this forum. He is a RYA National Judge and Umpire and a member of both ISAF and RYA Racing Rules Committees. He is a valuable member of the ISC experts panel which advises the Rear Commodore Sailing on our Sailing Instructions.
I do hope that members will take advantage of the forum. If you have any questions or arguments over the RRS or a particular incident has caused a discussion in the bar, why not ask Richard and get your answer?
Steve Hammett, RCS
Please click here to go to the Forum area. You will need to Register, be a Member of Itchenor Sailing Club, and please abide by the rules of the Forum. There will be a short delay between registration and your ability to post as we will vet each application to eliminate spam. Any remarks not seen to be in the spirit of this Rules Forum will be removed. |
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| 18 Jul |
 Many congratulations to Edward and his helm, James Peters, on their Gold Medal in the 29er boys fleet at the ISAF Youth Worlds. You can link to the site by clicking here
Please click on the image to make it larger |
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| 15 Jul |
Congratulations to our Mirror sailors who did very well at last weekend's Westerns.
Last weekend three ISC Mirrors made the trip down to Restronguet for the Mirror Nationwide Series (Westerns) and the Mirror Youth and Junior Championships. In a beautiful location all three Itchenor boats were in the top 6 of the fleet. With lighter winds than for the most recent Mirror events the racing was less about survival but still fiercely competitive with the top four boats only 2 points apart. Congratulations to Izzy Fitzgerald and Lisa McDanell who were 6th overall and 3rd in the Youth championships, to Charlotte Fitzgerald and Annie Sibthorp - 4th overall and 2nd Juniors and to Hugo Sloper and Aidan McCarthy who were 3rd overall and Junior Champions. Hugo and Aidan ended the series on the same points as Charlotte and Annie and only shaded it by dint of two race wins to Charlotte's one. Both boats beat this year's National champions into 5th place !!
All three crews are off to Sweden for the Europeans in a fortnight where they will be joined by Emma Spruce and Lucy Ford. |
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| 7 Jul |
Hampshire County Council is issuing an urgent warning to leisure users of the county's coastline, after the discovery of a defective brand of lifejacket.
Trading Standards officers are urging any boat owners using the Seago 150 and 175 Newton lifejackets including junior lifejackets should check the product immediately. The lifejackets have a potential defect, which could result in serious injury, and the manufacturer has issued a recall notice.
The Seago and Newton lifejackets are marked with a manufacture date in Roman numerals, for instance the last quarter of 2005 is shown IV/05. The quarters affected are:
IV/05
I/06
II/06
III/06
IV/06
I/07
Owners of Seago 150 or 175 Newton Lifejackets including junior lifejackets are asked to check the manufacture date and if the lifejacket is one of those affected, stop using it immediately, remove the gas cylinder from the inflation system and return the lifejacket to Seago Yachting Ltd, Mullany Business Park, Golden Cross, Hailsham, East Sussex, BN27 3RP with full contact details. A replacement lifejacket will then be issued.
The lifejackets in question were sold in chandlery shops, marine retail outlets and marine web sites throughout the UK.
Leader of Hampshire County Council, Cllr Ken Thornber said: "Trading Standards Officers have been swift to contact chandlers and marine retail outlets across Hampshire to raise awareness of this issue. There are concerns however, that this important safety warning may not have reached all boat owners and other leisure users of our coastline."
Queries should be directed to Seago Yachting Ltd on 01825 873632. Anyone with concerns can also ring Hampshire County Council Trading Standards on 01962 833620.
Looking after Hampshire, looking out for you www.hants.gov.uk/mediacentre Issued by: Suzie Southgate, Media Communications Officer, on 01962 847367 |
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| 1 Jul |
Itchenor was well represented at last weekend's RS200 Youth Championship event - with Ed Fitzgerald crewing his way to 2nd overall, George Yeoman and Georgie Akin-Smith 3rd and Andy Shaw 5th. Please click here to link to the results
Racing was much closer in the 12 strong 200 fleet, with many place changes and some spectacular capsizes downwind. James Peters and Ed Fitzgerald finished the day on top with two firsts and a third, however, they were hotly pursued by Ben Saxton and Kate McGregor with a sixth, a first and a second. George Yeoman and Georgie Akin-Smith and Dicken Maclean and Nicola Groves were pushing hard for a top three ranking along with Andrew Shaw and William Kalderan.
On Sunday three more back-to-back races were held in East Hayling Bay. Frances and Ollie took two more impressive firsts in the 500’s and were able to sit out race six. Competition for second overall was fierce between Matt and Tom and Nathan and James each having a second and a third in the first two races of the day. In the end Matt and Tom won race six after Nathan suffered a major wipe out chasing Matt downwind in the building waves and wind.
In the 200’s Ben and Kate were dominant on the day, with three solid firsts to win the event. Overnight leaders, James and Ed fought hard achieving two seconds and a fifth, finishing in second place overall. George and Georgie narrowly held onto third after a strong second day from Dicken and Nicola who counted a second and third but finished fourth overall and Andrew Shaw crewed by Jeremy Williamson also had a good second day finishing fifth. |
