ISO Nationals - Eastbourne Sovereign SC (Date?)
Forty two ISO's converged upon Eastbourne Sovereign Sailing Club for the 1999 National Championship with boats coming as far a field as Scotland, Wales and Israel! The ten-race championship was held over four days incorporating the Bank Holiday weekend, primarily consisting of windward/leeward courses and the unpredictable 'P' courses on one day.
Mike Speller and Rob Burridge sailing Rob Burridge Racing Clinic (RBRC) stamped their authority on the Championship from day one convincingly, becoming National Champions at their fourth attempt with six firsts and two seconds to count. Extremely close racing ensued between the next four boats with second to fifth positions being decided on the last day. Alistair Clarke and Pete Lindley sailing 'Team RWO' at their first ISO National Championship came good in the last race and showing good speed throughout the week in the lighter conditions to finish second overall. David Giles and Ricky Chadburn sailing B A Staff Flying Association who was consistent throughout the varied conditions closely followed them. Jeremy Newman and Geoff Gritton sailing Integrated Electronic Systems showed good speed in the heavier winds winning race three and finishing fourth overall ahead of locals Mick Whitmore and Sarah Smith who used their local knowledge in the lighter winds to obtain some good results. Veteran ISO campaigners, John Caig and Andy Watson came out of hibernation after wintering in South Africa and finished a credible sixth in their first open event of the season. Star results were also obtained by David & Susanne McClay, being the only ones to spot a shortened course in race one and sail the right number of laps in race nine, giving them two firsts and an overall thirteenth. Andrew Gould and Vicky Lewis took the "lead out of their socks" and came good in the lighter winds towards the end of the weekend. Team One to One', Rob Langton and Simon Hadley enjoyed the windy conditions at the beginning of the week although suffered as the wind faded on the Tuesday. The racing throughout this long weekend proved extremely tight with not much separating the top twenty boats.
On the social side, Eastbourne Sovereign lived up to it's reputation and provided excellent social events, including a curry evening, two live bands and the ever-popular games night which was enjoyed not only by the ISO fleet but also the Buzz, Boss and Spice fleets who were also competing for their National Championships at the same venue. It was reported that? Barrels of beer had been consumed over the long weekend, which proved an excellent tune-up regatta both on the racecourse and the bar for the main event of the season, the ISO World Championships to be held in La Baule, France during the last week of August. Let's hope Speller and Burridge have not peaked too soon! Al Clarke & myself (Team RWO) hope they have! Sorry to interrupt the flow Geoff, now what were you saying?
Dave Giles won the "Mr popular" competition after his antics on the start line and at various marks, with his boat being placed on the beach 12 hours early, so keen were his fellow competitors to see him out on the water.
BSBS - (There you go Geoff, I let it on the website!)
