Blaze Nationals – Warsash 23-25 June 2006
The Blaze class returned to Warsash after a three year gap for its 2006 championships. The light winds forecast did not look promising but warmth and sunshine plus a moderate sea breeze giving great conditions on the first two days is how the 2006 nationals will be remembered.
48 competitors from no less than 19 clubs came to the line this time. They included most of the usual suspects, but also a growing band of highly competitive newcomers from some of the more recently formed fleets.
Race 1 was led away by previous champion and Warsash local Chris Coleman (669). QMSC’s Martin Preston (722) led a chasing group that eventually closed on Coleman at the first leeward mark. When they arrived Mike Lyons (720) got the inside track after Coleman clipped the mark and powered away chased by lightweights Christian Smart (723) and Tim Davison (731). At the finish it was Lyons, Davison, Smart and an improving Nick Miller (700).
Race 2 was held in a rising F3 allowing some of the other heavier helms to get into the race a bit earlier. This time Lyons was joined by David Angwin (710), plus Preston and Miller again. Angwin got closest but the gaps grew rapidly as interaction with Finns enjoying their Masters championship became a factor.
Day 2. Race officer Peter Knight sent the fleet out more in hope of wind than any certainty and for some it took over an hour to reach the race area against the tide. A couple of postponements later a very light southerly sea breeze established itself and racing commenced. This time the RO set up an outer loop course for the Blazes to separate the two fleets. The same leading group from the previous day emerged near the front but for most of the race Dutchman Rien Zivold (400) led. A veritable Burghfield Blaze ‘armada’, followed just behind demonstrating their flat water prowess chasing the leaders. Lyons eventually just squeezed past Zilvold in the closing stages. Unfortunately for Smart, who had been very close behind as well, he was recorded as OCS. The wind then swung round to the south west and increased to make races 4 and 5 a delight. Lyons quickly went away in both races but was chased by Simon Beddows (570) and Smart who alternated second and third positions. Peter Barlow (733) came through to 4th in the first of these races and Miller took the same position in the fifth.
The fleet returned late in the afternoon tired, sunburnt and in good spirits. Unfortunately in the melee of Finns and Blazes anxious to recover their boats from the launching area Tim Davison had his hand badly crushed between two boats surging around. He was rapidly taken off to hospital to have it sorted out, his championship obviously over. The evening was then spent enjoying the Loddon Brewery’s free ‘Blaze Ale’ while local band ‘Too drunk to dance’ livened things up. Many who witnessed the proceedings were greatly impressed by the ‘full on’ commitment and energy apparently required to be a real ‘fleet dancer’ ! The abundance of Blaze Ale even meant that the Finns and race team were soon invited to enjoy it as well and it did not last the night which was probably just as well.
Day 3. The RO quickly decided that a reduced programme was the only option in the exceptionally light conditions. A single race was run close to the river entrance, very welcome for those still looking to drop a result even if the sailing was less enjoyable than the previous day. The wind was at best slight and tide helped to produce a general recall. The black flag was then imposed and one victim was caught on the restart. Preston got away early chased by Smart who eventually pulled through to win followed by Beddows and Miller.
The shortened programme meant that non sailing Tim Davison still won a well deserved Grand Masters title. Notably class secretary and Masters winner Mike Lyons finally got to win the Blaze Nationals …. Having been second on no less than 5 previous occasions to a variety of others ! The association would like to thank all its sponsors again and the host club who went out of their way to ensure the competitors thoroughly enjoyed their visit to Warsash in 2006.
Results:
1st Mike Lyons 720 Burghfield SC 5 points
2nd Christian Smart 723 Pembrokeshire YC 13 points
3rd Martin Preston 722 QMSC 21 points
4th Nick Miller 700 Glasson SC 22 points
5th Simon Beddows 570 Burghfield SC 25 points
6th David Angwin 710 Burghfield SC 35 points
7th Tim Davison 731 Royal Thames YC 37 points
8th Paul Hemsley 732 Burghfield SC 48 points
9th Ross Prytherch 693 Pembrokeshire YC 56 points
10th Rien Zilvold 400 Whitstable SC 57 points
Masters
1st Mike Lyons, Burghfield (5)
2nd Simon Beddows, Burghfield (25)
Grand Masters
1st Tim Davison, Royal Thames (37)