ISO Inlands & Gala - King George SC (14th & 15th October 2006)
King George SC opened their gates for their first open event since returning in January to the ISO, Buzz and Spices for the annual Inlands Championship, with the delights of shifty Easterlies. The well travelled challengers from Bartley, Calshot, Emsworth and Draycote joined those from the closer waters of Essex, Minnis Bay and King George.
Starting in a light F2-3 the fleet rolled the dice and rapidly split each side of the beat with RWO, Farter n Chunder and Neil Pryde contesting the first mark. Places continued to change all the way round as everyone began to learn the shifts. Cousin Trestec worked their way through the fleet to 6th after a mis-timed start saw them last across the line.
The wind freshened a little for race 2 and Cousin Trestec was away cleanly to lead the pack around the first 3 laps by a modest margin. Approaching the windward mark for the 4th time and three of the visitors found a lift up the wall to come through. 1st to 4th in one easy move! Mistakes were clearly going to be punished !! Undaunted, Cousin Trestec pushed on to recover a place over Concept Sails for 3rd behind Neil Pryde and Wet n Windy.
For the final race of the day the wind died away, remaining light and shifty all the way. The leaders continued to out play the shifts with Neil Pryde building an impressive lead leaving Wet & Windy and Cousin Trestec to change places several times to fight it out for 2nd and 3rd and Team Veitch showing their hand in 4th.
The evening social at the KGSC Club House was well attended an eat as much as you like BBQ, Space Hopper racing, treasure hunt and picking up Maltesers with a straw being won by Buzz sailor, Josh Preater. Being able to sit outside in shirt sleeves in mid October was a rare treat.
An early start Sunday morning got the visitors out on the water ahead of Club racing in the stiffening, but still very shifty and now gusty breeze. It was going to be another day for throwing the dice to pick the side of the course.
Cousin Trestec got away cleanly making a good showing against Farter n Chunder and Wet n Windy with Yellow Peril in the running. A lot more shifts and lucky gusts later and Team Veitch came through to take 2nd from Wet n Windy with very close racing throughout the fleet seeing a lot of boat on boat action. Farter n Chunder just managed to grab 4th from Cousin Trestec on the final beat to the line. Exciting stuff !
The wind stiffened again for race 5. Neil Pryde took full advantage and romped away to take the championship. Wet n Windy were in hot contest for 2nd place with Team Veitch, just managing to keep Cousin Trestec at bay, with Farter n Chunder in turn snapping at their heels all the way. Racing remained very close through the fleet with no room for lapses of concentration.
Final race and the champs retired to the bar leaving the tiring fleet to battle out the remaining places. Wet n Windy, already assured of 2nd place, continued to give competition to Farter n Chunder who regained their composure to win the last race by a modest margin. Concept Sails had a really good start to hold off Cousin Trestec and Team Veitch who continued their joust with several place changes to finish the series on equal points. The RO awarded 3rd to Team Veitch on count back.
Everyone agreed that it had been a superb close to a very wide, varied and exciting season with some excellent sailing at different venues, including La Rochelle which delivered the best sailing of the year.
Many thanks to all at KGSC who made the 2006 Inlands an event to remember with such challenging conditions, good organisation on and off the water - and the excitement of close racing. An excellent re-opening of the KGSC waters to open events.
Hope to see you at some of the Winter events and next years Dinghy Show with a new Licencee and a host of news about the ISO.
