2021 Catapult TT Series, Grafham SC

A howling wind and forbidding forecast greeted the sailors in the 2021 Grafham Cat Open. However, as the time came to launch it eased enough to provide an exciting and thoroughly enjoyable sail.

 In the first race Mike Gough got a cracking start at the Committee Boat end closely followed by Chris Phillips. Chris was first to the windward mark. However Gareth Ede forged his way to the front on the next run. As Gareth drew away on successive legs to be 2 minutes ahead at the finish, a three way fight developed between Chris, Mike and George Evans. Eventually it became a close duel between George and Mike, so close in fact that it was virtually a photo finish with George claiming second place by only 2 seconds.

Mike again nailed the start of Race 2, but Gareth came through at full speed to be close on Mike's tail with George and Chris on their heels. Gareth overtook Mike on the run to stay in front for the remaining two laps. Meanwhile George broke away from the chasing pack to hunt down Gareth, finishing a minute behind the leader. The fight for third place was hard fought with Chris crossing the line only 9 seconds ahead of Mike.

Both Chris and Mike beat Gareth to the windward mark in Race 3. Yet again Gareth used his superior downwind speed to catch them on the first run. However Mike was still very close on Gareth's tail on the bottom reach. On the second beat Mike, Chris and George got a large lift enabling them to catch up with Gareth. Mike rounded the windward mark in front, and Chris was right behind Gareth. Yet again Gareth's superior boatspeed downwind enabled him to overtake Mike and draw away over the third lap to finish a minute ahead. Meanwhile Chris managed to hold off a challenge from George to take the remaining podium position

Unfortunately the gale that stopped many people travelling by train to COP26 also put paid to any hopes of racing on Day 2 of the Cat Open, so the event was decided on the basis of the three races sailed on the Saturday. Gareth was not only the runaway winner in the Catapult fleet with three first places, but he also claimed first prize in the Grafham Cat Open's Medium Handicap Fleet with two wins and a second. Mike also won a bottle of wine for coming fourth in the Medium Handicap fleet as second placed Catapult, but when the Catapult fleet results were extracted it was George who was second, one point ahead of Mike with Chris a further point behind in fourth.

In the Personal Handicap Series it was Chris who took a well deserved first place, but all eyes were on George and Mike who had been vying with each other throughout the season. Would George's second place be enough to take back the top spot on the leader board? Unfortunately for him, no. Mike, who competed at every single event this season took the Alastair Forrest Personal Handicap Trophy by 29 points to George's 34, the third time his name will have appeared on the trophy since it was first started 6 years ago

Mike also prevailed over close rival George in the race for second place in the TT Series. However, the runaway winner of the series was John Terry who, despite not being able to attend Grafham, still finished 20 points clear to take the Jon Montgomery Travellers Trophy

RESULTS

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