ALBACORE INLAND CHAMPIONSHIPS AT COVENHAM

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What a terrific sight to see 24 Albacores taking part in the Inland Championships held on the open waters of Covenham Reservoir in st1:city>Lincolnshire.  Not only was the sailing good but it was a great social gathering with boats from as far south as Poole and as far north as Strathclyde Lock and Fife.

There were several newer faces as well as those more familiar; Matt Burge and Barry Cambert, Howard Winfield and Ian Morrison, Sam Mason and Sally Smith and Scorpion ace Nigel Potter helming Mark Fowler’s boat.

Mike Holmes teamed up with Colin Smith and Paul and Simon McNamara borrowed Mike Mac’s boat for the weekend.

Covenham’s recently redeveloped facilities, together with warm hospitality and good food, provided an excellent base for a truly enjoyable weekend.

On the water it was for some, a weekend of mixed fortunes with four different winners of the five races.

Race 1 in light winds witnessed Mike Holmes and Colin Smith take an early lead.  Together with David and Nick Hammond, Mike and Colin lead throughout only to be overhauled on the final beat by the David and Nick with a strongly improving Judy and Paul Armstrong third.

In Race 2, Neville Herbert and Steve Penfold were the early leaders but were passed by Mike and Colin who steadily pulled clear and opened up quite a gap.  The Armstrongs had a good final beat and overtook Neville to take second place.

Day Two saw bright blue skies and a freshening force 2/3 breeze provided much closer racing than the previous day.  After overtaking early leaders Crawford Reid and Izzy Martin, Mike Holmes and Colin Smith went on to win holding off the challenge of Peter and Deborah Snowdon and Paul and Simon McNamara.

Following two general recalls due to a somewhat indifferent start line, the start line being altered and the black flag being raised and some disqualifications! Rupert Green and Tony Weatherall and Jean and Derek Simmons were fast up the first beat in

Race 4, which saw the steady improvement of Paul and Simon McNamara and Mike Holmes and Colin Smith.  The Simmons held the lead to the finish with McNamara second and Green third.

In Race 5, a course of sausages and squares had been set as in Race 4, however, the leaders, Neville Herbert and Steve Penfold took several boats with them off to the wrong mark at the start of the square.  Nigel Potter and Mark Fowler, Judy and Paul Armstrong and the McNamaras took full advantage, Potter holding the lead to the finish with Paul and Simon who together with Judy and Paul Armstrong had had a consistent day’s sailing, second and third respectively.

Overall Results

1^st        7155    Mike Holmes/Colin Smith (Grimsby & Cleethorpes SC) - 8 pts

2^nd        6695    Paul McNamara/Simon McNamara (Covenham SC) – 12 pts

3^rd        7518    Judy Armstrong/Paul Armstrong (Scaling Dam SC) – 13 pts

4^th        7416    Peter Snowdon/Deborah Snowdon (Scaling Dam SC) – 18 pts

5^th        6439    Jean Simmons/Derek Simmons (South Cerney SC) – 19 pts

6^th        6825    Neville Herbert/Steve Penfold (Datchet Water SC) – 21 pts

Report compiled from the Sin Bin!

David Hammond

Head Honcho 7920

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