2024 IOM Ranking 2 Report and Results
IOM Ranking – 2 at Eastbourne & District MYC 14th April 2024
Thirty-nine sailors arrived at Eastbourne & District MYC home water at Princes Park to contest the second ranking event of 2024. Some who had sailed the previous day also were a little bit sun burnt. Sunday however was overcast and somewhat chilly with the breeze definitely in the rig-1 range.
Registration was opened at 08:00 whilst the race team configured a course into the Westerly breeze was oscillating significantly.
Three fleets would be racing with seeding once again based on the ranking list at the start of 2024.
EDMYC commadore Jeremy Collier welcomed the competitors and then handed over to PRO Dave Allinson for the briefing. All the usual topics were covered along with a few words relating to race etiquette from RYA Judge Rob Owens.
Racing commenced just after 09:30am with C fleet on the water.
Brad Gibson started continued his previous days form taking first place in C fleet seeding race from Dorian Crease and Rob Dyer. There was a small delay to realign the course to the shifting breeze. B fleet started with close racing on the windward leg. David Lindsay slipped into a small lead from Josh King and Terry Connell. Once again there was a delay whilst the course was realigned. The A fleet started, with Craig Richards dominating the race from James Hadden and Tim Hand.
The breeze now moved to the South West but was oscillating through 90 degrees. After a delay, an attempt to run the C fleet was abandoned when boats from either end of the start line laid the windward mark without tacking. This prompted a 30 minute postponement until 11:30 to be announced. A South Westerly immediately kicked in initiating several comments from sailors. Fortunately it disappeared as quickly as it had arrived. An early lunch was taken during this delay in the hope of consistent racing being possible later on. At 11:25 a very small but promising South Westerly slowly spread across the lake. Anticipation that racing would be able to recommence soon began to spread through the competitors.
At 11:35 C fleet was called to the water. Jeremy Collier took a commanding lead at the windward mark which he comfortably held to the finish. Nigel Brown came home in second place from Simon Fairman.
With the breeze now settled, B fleet sailed immediately with Darin Ballington leading Rob Wilson and Bob Connor home. A fleet were quickly into action with Brad leading from Mark Dennis who was working hard to hold off Craig.
In Race 3A the first beat was very competitive with Brad taking a slender lead at the windward mark which in a moment of misjudgement he hooked. Several starboard tack boats tangled with his stationery boat whilst others slightly further back managed to sail around the incident. James Hadden took the win from Craig and Tony Edwards. Those involved in the tangle, once free, struggled to catch up and faced demotion. In race 4B three of them returned to the A fleet along with Derek Priestley who had sailed straight up from C fleet. In the 4A fleet race Craig continued his good form finishing a few meters in front of Brad. David Donin was next, pursued by the ever-improving Josh King.
Brad and Craig both had wins in the next two races with the other taking second place. Graham Bantock was third in both races with Josh demonstrating his consistency with two fourth places.
Three more races were accomplished as the cut off time of 16:30 approached. As race 7A came to the water at 16:10 hopes were high that it would complete in time to allow for another race round to commence before the deadline. These were dashed as numerous boats broached the line too early necessitating a general recall. The race commenced on the second attempt with very close racing up the windward leg. The run was close combat with numerous boats spread out across the course. Back upwind the close racing continued. There was barely a metre between the boats with Craig just in front of Brad, Peter Stollery, Josh, Dorian Crease, Peter Baldwin and Nigel Barrow. Down the final run they spread out seeking an advantage. Peter Stollery found a tiny extra bit of breeze to slip through into the lead with Brad and Craig right behind him. Josh was right behind them still pursued by Dorian, Peter and Nigel.
At the finish Peter won by half a metre from Craig who was similarly in front of Brad. Barely a couple of metres separated the next four boats with Josh Dorian, Peter and Nigel just pipping Rob Dyer in eight place. What an amazing race to finish the day.
Racing concluded just after 16:35 after seven races had been accomplished. Race equipment was packed away and race results processed.
Craig and Brad had fought hard throughout the day in A fleet with the winner only decided in the final race. Josh had consolidated on his previous days racing demonstrating excellent consistency to take a well-deserved third place. Peter Stollery despite seeming to struggle to find his form all day came good in the last race to finish fourth overall.
Vice Commadore John Mursell presented the prizes.
First Junior – Oliver Stollery
First Lady – Tracey Ballington
First club boat – Jes Collier
Prizes were then awarded to the top eight sailors.
Summary:
Thank you again to the excellent race team from the home club giving their time to deliver such a good event.
Thank you to the competitors for bearing with me as the wind played with us during the morning. We were rewarded with a good consistent wind all afternoon. Thanks also to everyone who observed during the day.
Racing today was at times very close at the head of the fleet with only a metre or so separating many of the top skippers. The café overlooking the lake had exceptional takings from people who enjoyed watching the racing during the afternoon. What a great advert for our sport.
Dave Allinson
PRO