Queen Mary SC played host to the 3rd Grand Prix event of the series. PRO Andrew Craig briefed the fleet and the sailors headed out for 3 races in light, shifty conditions. Race 1 saw local sailors Joe Slipper and Tea Sirolla break away from the fleet to take an impressive lead and race 1 win. Tom Storey (Yorkshire Dales SC) and Rupert Jameson (HISC) battled their way from mid fleet to take 2nd place and Burnham SC sailors Caitlin Morley and Joe Blaker finished in 3rd.
Race 2 saw the introduction of the U flag, the sailors exercising a little caution but Ethan Gerrell (Queen Mary SC) and Tom Barns (Royal Torbay YC) fell victim to have to count a UFD on the score line. It was newly crowned World Champions Ben Hutton Penman and Abi Jayasekara who broke away to take big lead and the race win. Another 2nd for Tom Storey and Rupert Jameson and 3rd went to locals Joe Slipper and Tea Sirolla.
Race 3 and the conditions continued to challenge the fleet with its shifty and pretty frustrating conditions. Tom Ahlheid and Tom Stratton-Brown (Frensham Pond SC) where the winners of race 3, consistency was the name of the game for Tom Storey and Rupert Jameson with another 2nd and 3rd went to Alice Davis and Alastair Brown from Great Moor Sailing Club.
Sundays racing kicked off in a great northerly breeze. The 4th race leader of 4 races was Angus Kilpatrick and Freddie Fisher (HISC) taking the win by half a boat length, 2nd place was a hard fought battle between Ben Hutton Penman and Abi Jayasekara in 2nd and Tom Storey and Rupert Jameson in 3rd.
Race 5 Tom And Rupert and Angus and Freddie decided to check out opposite sides of the course and it was Tom and Rupert who came out on top, Angus and Freddie finished in 2nd and Tom and Tom
(Frensham pond SC) took third.
Race 6 and the wind was increasing with some pretty hefty gusts. The top of the fleet changed throughout with a different leader in each round. The race for the finish saw a tight battle between Tom and Rupert and Ben and Abi. Ben and Abi having to take a penalty turn due to not giving room to Tom and Rupert on the leeward gate heading for the finish. Tom and Rupert then took an unfortunate swim resulting in Angus and Freddie flying past to take their 2nd win of the day, Ben and Abi came in 2nd and Tom and Rupert recovered to get a 3rd.
Overall winners of the weekend with a very consistent scoreline was Tom Storey and Rupert Jameson, Ben and Abi finished in 2nd and 3rd was Tom Ahlheid and Tom Stratton Brown. First girls was Ching Wong and Elinor O’Leary (Island Barn SC). A special award went to Abby Hire and Tom Wharmby for never giving up despite a few capsizes in the very cold conditions.
Queen Mary SC where the perfect hosts, PRO Andrew Craig organised great courses making some superb racing in varied conditions. Our Thanks goes to the team of helpers from the team in the office, safety and those helping with the launching.