2021 Catapult TT Series, Kielder SC

Catapult TT at Kielder

The Kielder Water Sailing Club's Annual Regatta provided the Catapult fleet with its first foray into Northumberland in many years. The first day's racing round a triangle and sausage course took place in a stiff breeze reaching Force 5.

In Race 1 Mike Gough spotted the port bias to the line and went for a port tack start. A late shift reinforced the bias, and Stuart Ede and John Terry found they couldn't get off the line on starboard. Neither could they tack, because Gareth Ede came trapezing up at speed behind and to windward of them. Mike quickly established a good lead and went right up the beat, but Gareth found the left side was better and just tucked in ahead of Mike at the windward mark. George Evans rounded third while Stuart and John and were left trailing. The field stretched out behind Gareth. As John rounded the leeward mark his trapeze adjuster failed, and he capsized putting him out of the race. On the last beat Stuart overtook George to take third behind Gareth and Mike.

For Race 2 most of the fleet started on port. Gareth went left again, but found it didn't pay this time, so at the windward mark it was John, George, Mike, Gareth. On the reach Gareth overtook Mike and George, but on the next beat they got ahead again, only for Gareth to overtake all three on the run. He built up a fair lead to the finish followed by John, Mike and George.

In Race 3 the fleet went for a port tack start again. John led off the line with Stuart, Mike and Gareth hot on his heels up the right side of the beat. John (with a broken tiller and no trapeze after his capsize) went high while Gareth freed off and went for speed. John rounded the windward mark first followed by Gareth, but on the reach he mistakenly headed for the wrong mark allowing Gareth to get ahead and Stuart to close up on his tail. Gareth stretched out his lead on the next laps. On the last run Mike closed up on Stuart, and on the last beat he overtook him by sailing fast and free while Stuart sailed high, trying but failing to make it round the windward mark without tacking. So Mike claimed third behind Gareth and John.

The next day the contrast in the weather could not have been more marked as the regatta competitors waited patiently for enough breeze to run a race. However, it was not to be, and the race officer announced an abandonment at lunchtime. The event was therefore decided on the three races sailed on Saturday, one of which, the sailing instructions specified, could be discarded. So Gareth claimed victory with three firsts followed by John with two seconds to count. In third place was Mike. The strong winds clearly suited Mike who claimed three firsts on handicap, which moved him even closer to Handicap Series leader George with just 4 points separating them.

Waiting for the wind on Sunday morning.

RESULTS

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