PRO’s notes of races in 2008 Squib inlands
General
Forecast for the weekend had been one of contrasts - for southerly winds, strong on Saturday and almost none, but heavy rain, on Sunday.
Some parts turned out to be true.
Saturday
50 boats took part, and were generally well behaved with all starts under a P prep flag.
Race 1
Wind started at 20 knots, SSW. Triangle and sausage course. Clean start, though Aspinall/Briggs were T-boned and holed by an inside boat with no water at the Committeee Boat.
Dyson/Saltonstall led for the first 2 laps closely chased by Hogan/Hogan and Evans/Richards. But before the second reach of the 3rd lap Dyson/Saltonstall had decided to drop the spinnaker, rather than gybe and carry it on the next reach. Behind them Hogan/Hogan realised this, gybed the kite and sailed below Dyson/Saltonstall to overtake them. Hogan/Hogan held on to their lead to the end with Dyson/Saltonstall and Evans/Richards behind them.
Race 2
The PRO stretched out the course for the next race, and the wind strengthened slightly.
Proved to be a master display by Hogan/Hogan who pulled out a one-leg lead as they planed downwind. White/Ballam and Hutchings /Ramsey featured behind them for a couple of laps On the last reach the wind veered and strengthened which meant that no boat raised its kite. Hogan/Hogan finished 3 minutes clear of the rest, with Grogan/Grogan having pulled up to second and Dyson/Saltonstall third.
The wind was steadily strengthening and many boats decided to call it a day after the hard 2 races.
Race 3
With the wind now reading 26-28 knots the final race of the day proved a challenging test for many. But not only the heavyweights shone.
The race leaders proved to be defending Inland Champions and husband and (slender) wife team Brian and Jenny Riley. They absolutely flew offwind and fought to hold on to their lead upwind. Behind them there were several incidents with a couple of dismastings and broaches which kept the excellent safety crews well occupied. The Rileys were unfortunately overtaken by Dyson/Saltonstall on the last beat, but they managed to hold off in third Hogan/Hogan who had made ground after a poor first lap.
Sunday
The day opened with cold torrential rain, but with steady Force 4 winds from the East.
31 boats came to the start line, the others were either tired, hung-over from the fleet dinner the night before, or were still needing repairs.
And the starts proved different.
Race 4
The PRO was able to set a large course with a one-mile beat. The fleet got away on the second start, under a black flag. Hogan/Hogan again showed formidable boat speed when allowed clear air and they led from start to finish with a half-leg lead at the end. Johnson/Garlick led the following group who tussled for the next places for all the race, until overtaken by Dyson/Saltonstall on the final lap.
Race 5
The start of this, final, race proved the most exciting of the Championship.
Dyson/Saltonstall decided to try to force the Hogans over the line. In doing so they, the Hogans and Johnson/Garlick were all black-flagged. This left the rest of the fleet to make a very cautious start over the windward/leeward course.
Class Association chairman David Wines, with Anthony Proctor, took control of the race and were initially followed by previous chairman Peter Marchant with Paul Austin. But Coyle/Titmus managed to intervene between these Chairpersons to take second place, as the rain finally stopped.