ISO Nationals - Paignton SC (23rd - 25th August)
Sponsored by Cousin Trestec & RWO
This year the ISO National Championships were held as part of BMW Torbay Week. The sailing was run by Paignton Sailing Club. 16 ISOs shared the race area with the Tasers and Buzzes.
There were three races scheduled for Saturday and a reasonable forecast predicting the conditions to deteriorate as the day went on. Luckily the 33mph winds expected late on never arrived.
After the briefing by race officer Ken Falcon we all headed out towards Brixham for race one. Lloyd Walker and Katie Keam-George in 1185 Superspars lead round the windward mark narrowly ahead of the ISO nationals debutants Neil Ashby and Sam Proctor in 1195. At the end of the first down wind Superspars headed for the yellow buoy mentioned at the briefing while the others in the chasing pack went for the red buoy by the committee boat. There was a moment of doubt in Superspars but when the others dropped their kites and started to fetch for the yellow mark you could almost hear the relief. Unfortunately for 1185 this was short lived as they were now on a collision course with Pete and Annie Lindley in RWO 1013. RWO were on starboard and Superspars left it too late to see if they could cross; a crash tack! A capsize! A torn batten pocket and a 720 turn left them in last place. For a while Lyndon Gomersall and Gareth Sellors lead but Jonny Wells and Graham Sexton sailing Neil Pryde 1184 went on to win with 1195 second and Bob Ladell and Luke Draper in Cousin Trestec 814 third.
Neil Pryde went on to take the second race with Cousin Trestec second.
Race three and a shock result! Chairman Bob took the honours and a lot of people remembered pledges about taking up gardening!
Sunday morning dawned Sunny and warm but soon clouded over to the familiar grey skies and chilly offshore wind as the boats headed out to the race area.
In Races four and six RWO took two bullets with 1195 spoiling their fun taking race five.
In the evening there was a barbeque and music in the marquee but in the end the cool evening drove most back into the club house for a drink and discussions about the next days racing. It was all to play for as 1195 was winning by two points from Chairman Bob and the next two were tied for third only one point ahead of Superspars. In theory, at least, five teams could still win overall.
The forecast for day three was similar to the previous two days but this time it was already blowing over twenty knots out at sea and the news was of gusts nearer thirty. The heavy weights made grunting noises and flexed their muscles whilst the lighter crews were more concerned. Out at the race area it didn't seem too bad in the lee of the land but it was going to be very gusty and shifty.
The first race got underway and Superspars lead from the start to the third lap. RWO were laying second with a big gap to third. A dodgy gybe and Superspars were swimming at the leeward mark with RWO closing in fast. Superspars just managed to recover and round ahead but couldn't hold off RWO on the next downwind. Funny it was two of the lightest crews, both girls, who came out on top!
The final race was all to play for with Cousin Trestec, RWO and 1195 all in the chase. 1195 showed they were the masters in these winds after all with a good display of speed but it wasn't over until the last gybe. Farter and Chunder laying second gybed and capsized; Cousin Trestec gybed and capsized; 1195 dropped their kite gybed and reached to the finish to take the gun and the championships. Cousin Trestec managed to right their battleship and just pip RWO to the final leeward mark and in turn the finish line leaving RWO to take third place and second overall. Neil Pryde retired and slipped to fifth behind Superspars.
And so finished one of the most exciting ISO nationals for a long time; great racing and very competitive with close battles for 6th and 7th and other mini battles taking place. Well organised and very competitive! Well done to Neil and Sam.
Next event to look forward to is the Inlands at Rutland in three weeks time.
