Autumn 2002 News Letter
Message from the Hon. Secretary
Here is the Autumn 2002 news from the Redwing Association.
This Newsletter is mainly given over to the report on the main Redwing
event of the year, namely the National Championships held at Tenby in
August. Congratulations to Bud Coote who, crewed by Dave Darlington this
year kept the title for another year. Well done both.
Next year we are back in Fishguard and despite a few problems they have
promised to welcome us for the week 24th to 29th August. I have included
a brief summary of the interesting bits of the AGM discussions from the
meeting held at TSC during the champs. Colin Crabb has kindly taken on
the task of actively seeking out Scillonian SC as a 2004 championship
venue. Comments from the sailmakers are still awaited after they had been
contacted on the NRDA's behalf. Pictures in this issue courtesy of Gareth
Davies and Helen Williams.
Best wishes and happy redwinging.
Bill
National Championships Report - Tenby Sailing Club August 25th to
31st 2002
Take a look at the photo gallery...
The 2002 Redwing Championships week kicked off on Sunday 25th August
at Tenby with the fleet being invited to take part in the Round Caldey Island
race organised by neighbouring Saundersfoot SC as the finale to their
annual regatta.
Round Caldey Island
Seven Redwings took part and local knowledge shone through as Rolly
Squibbs and Tim Brace got fourth place overall and first Redwing home,
winning the Tenby Sailing Club Commodore's Trophy, followed by Mike
Stace and Deanna Morton, second and Bill Dowell and Nan D'Ortez third,
all Tenby boats.
Monday - Races One and Two
The Redwing Championships proper started on Monday 26th with the first
points race being delayed for an hour until a steady force 3 northerly had
settled in. Ben Crabb and Chris Jackman took an early lead, which they
held, from start to finish. In second was current Champions Bud Coote and
Dave Darlington with local lads Rolly Squibbs and Tim Brace in third.
The second race was held back-to back with the first and by the start the
wind had increased slightly to a steady force 4. The first incident of the
week occurred just after the start of the second race when Squibbs/Brace
took an early bath when they were caught on starboard by Crabb/Jackman
and took most of the beat to empty out. With the wind increasing to about
25 knots the Principal Race Officer decided to shorten the race, this then
gave the current 'Father of the Fleet' Roger Hocking, with his son Michael,
line honours. Second placed was father and son Colin and Jon Crabb with
Crabb/Jackman third all wishing that a full race had been sailed.
A downwind leg on one of the Monday championships races at Tenby SC
in August
Tuesday - Race Three
Tuesday's Race 3 was started in a steady 15-knot northerly wind.
Coote/Darlington took up an early lead however by the third beat they had
been overtaken by Gareth Shaw/David Jackman. With the wind easing for
the final beat Coote/Darlington managed to regain the lead and hold on till
the finishing gun. Second was Shaw/Jackman with Squibbs/Brace third.
Wednesday - Race Four
After a three-hour postponement the PRO got the fleet on the water for the
start of race 4 on Wednesday afternoon. However with seconds to go
before the first gun, a 90-degree wind shift set in and the course had to be
re-laid. At the end of the first beat Squibbs/Brace led with Cecil
DuValle/Francis Marshall in second. Wind and tide combination made for a
race of changing fortunes and by the end of the second beat
Squibbs/Brace were still leading but with Crabb/Crabb only just behind in
second. Coote/Darlington were in third with Shaw/Jackman close in forth.
Up the third beat positions changed again this time with Crabb/Crabb
leading, Coote/Darlington second and Shaw/Jackman third. Yet another
wind shift made the final beat only a short hitch to the finishing line.
Crabb/Crabb did everything possible to cover Coote/Darlington but with the
wind still swinging the eventual winner was Coote/Darlington by a whisker
from Shaw/Jackman with Crabb/Crabb finishing third.
Thursday - Race Five
For the fifth race on Thursday the day started with misty conditions, but
after a short delay the fleet were called out as the mist appeared to be
clearing. However within minutes visibility decreased and the race was
postponed for three hours.
Congratulations to Bud Coote (Right) and Dave Darlinton. Redwing
National Champions 2002
On the second attempt conditions improved and a steady force 3 settled in.
At the start of the race all overall positions were still wide open and after
the first beat Hocking/Hocking took an early lead with a strong pack close
on their heels including Coote/Darlington, Squibbs/Brace, Shaw/Jackman
and Crabb/Jackman. The second to fourth place continuously changed
hands for the next two rounds, and at the start of the final beat
Hocking/Hocking were leading from Coote/Darlington, Shaw/Jackman and
Squibbs/Brace. At this stage the wind lightened and Hocking/Hocking
gradually lost position until at the finishing line the final positions were
Coote/Darlington, Squibbs/Brace, Shaw/Jackman and Hocking/Hocking in
fourth place. After this, their third victory, it meant that Coote/Darlington had
retained their championship, however minor places were still very open
with only three points separating the next three positions.
Friday - Race Six
Friday morning and the last day of the Championships saw a tremendous
change in the weather with a steady 25 knot south west wind blowing.
Race Officer Blake Shaw decided to let the fleet go, however only eleven
boats ventured onto the water. After a few mishaps on the way to the start
line only eight boats managed to start. Up the first beat two more boats
retired and at the first mark the top four boats held the top positions. Both
Crabb/Jackman and Squibbs/Brace had capsizes on the downwind legs
and as the leaders started the second beat wind speeds of 30 knots were
recorded and a decision was made to shorten. First across the line were
Shaw/Jackman giving them second overall with Coote/Darlington second
and Crabb/Jackman third.
Thanks
Many thanks to the officers, members and helpers at Tenby SC who made
this year's championships enjoyable for the participants.
Results Table
Pos. No. Name
Club
1 242 Clifford
Looe
2 212 Jackatoo
Looe
3 224 Maid Marion Looe
4 244 Dragon
Tenby
5 243 Celtic Warrior Looe
6 246 Shy Talk
Looe
7 195 Sallyforth
Tenby
8 183 Chough
Looe
9 246 Nightingale Looe
10 228 Pintail
Tenby
11 226 Dreadnought Looe
Helm/Crew
B Coote/D Darlington
G Shaw/D Jackman
B Crabb/C Jackman
R Squibbs/T Brace
R & M Hocking
C & J Crabb
M Stace/D Morton
C & G Godbolt
C DuValle/F Marshall
W Dowell/N D’Ortez
T Shaw/R Vasey
1 2 3 4 5 6 Tot.
2 4 1 1 1 2
7
4 5 2 2 3 1 12
1 3 4 7 5 3 16
3 9 3 4 2 4 16
5 1 6 6 4 18 22
7 2 7 3 6 18 25
6 8 5 10 8 6 33
9 7 8 5 11 5 34
6 6 10 8 9 18 41
10 10 9 9 10 18 48
11 11 11 11 7 18 51
12 219 Rosie
13 174 Flotsam
14 201 Condor
15 202 Melody
16 178 Venus
17 202 Melody
Tenby A & R MacDonald
12 12 12 12 12 18
N Devon M Hick/F Goodwin
14 14 13 14 13 18
Looe
M & S Cole
16 18 14 13 14 18
Tenby B Shaw/Kevin Williams 13 13 18 18 18 18
Tenby D Bowen/H Williams
15 18 15 15 18 18
Tenby Kevin/Christine Williams 18 18 18 18 18 18
60
68
75
80
81
90
AGM Summary
At the 2002 NRDA Annual General Meeting there was concern voiced over
the durability and 'age' of the sails design. MacNamara was to be contacted
to discuss the prospect of updating the sails. On spars there had been
incidents of more than expected breakages and Super Spars were to be
contacted, also.
Championships venues were discussed: The 2003 Championship will take
place at Fishguard from 24th to 29th August.
The 2004 venue was open to discussion and apart from Looe there was a
proposal that a venue on the Isles of Scilly could be used. This is to be
actively sought for a late August week as normal. An alternative venue at
Instow in N. Devon will also be investigated.
REDWING MARKETPLACE
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R119 "Sabre", Lying Middlesex
R161 "Mistral", Lying South Devon
Contact NRDA Hon. Sec. Bill Dowell for owner's contact details.