Nationals rescheduled!
07/06/2008The Nationals at Stone at the end of May were not valid as only 2 races could be held due to lack of wind; the Nationals will therefore now be held again at Stone on the 27/28th September...
As the 41 entrants for the 2008 Blaze National Championships cruised down their respective motorways/welsh dirt roads, many with the recent memory of the windless Bala open fresh in their minds, a lot of fingers must have been crossed. The forecast, light and shifting, the prospect of consistent sunshine (and thus a fine sea breeze) less than likely. It could be safely said that they were in for another light wind nationals.
That said, Friday's racing came off reasonably well, a light breeze that on occasion blew up to a staggering 8-10 knots before dropping off again, propelled competitors to the start line and got them off it in good order for two races. Fickle wind meant the fleet spread out rapidly and the leaders off the windward mark in many cases, weren't first to the finish, there was a lot to gain and lose on the beat.
Any hope though, of another days racing rapidly dwindled in the face of the forecast. Saturday morning saw the fleet drift out to the start line…and pass it, struggling to stand against the tide, the wise among them mooring to safety boats and marks on their way out to sea. Worse was yet to come though. After suffering the depression of being towed ashore and getting ready to settle in for dinner, the elusive sea breeze finally showed up, blowing in a steady F4 at around six o'clock that allowed three die-hards to at least have some exciting sailing.
Sunday's forecast proved accurate and racing was finally abandoned at 11, by that point most of the fleet was already despondently packing up.
All was not doom and gloom however, the real event of the weekend was the entertainment. A Commodore's reception hosted on Friday night served the respectable gentlemen of the Blaze fleet and James Dyson's DJ set the following night served the rest. The spirit of (friendly) competition survived intact and found release in a series of drunken events including a kind of human Jenga to keep those Abdominal muscles taught and a bizarre boat-winding contest.
After 2 races, Nick Miller in 740 was leading, but without a third to make a championship the event was canned. After much debate on a fall-back venue, the class association voted to return to Stone SC, the 2008 Nationals will be held there again on September 27/28, where the Blazes look forward to being Stoned again.
See you there!
Jon Saunders (611)