Results / Northern Championship, Lord Birkett Ullswater YC - 05/07/2014

CONGRATULATIONS TO TIM KEEN THE NEW RS300 NORTHERN CHAMPION!

Northerners / Lord Birkett Trophy 5-6 July

5 300's turned up to the last round on the RS300 circuit before the National Championships in Prestwick.

With the sun out and a good breeze we set sail for a long distance race.  At the 3rd attempt the 1st race got under way with 210 boats fighting  for position and a bit a clean air Dave Jenkins took and early lead (in the RS300 fleet) while Matt Jenkins was ashore trying to lash together his rudder stock to the back of the boat!! Tim Keen managed to pass Dave Jenkins with Matt Jenkins in hot pursuit and passing Dave by the second island turning point. First timer Alex Sharp led Mark Henman but with Sharp's boat trying to do an impression of a submarine by taking on a few buckets of water the fly weight Henman passed him, and to rub salt into the wound Sharp forgot to sign on so received a DNS.

Glorious sunshine and light wind again made it a 3rd time lucky for the start of race 2. Matt Jenkins marched out to a 5 minute + lead at the 2nd island turning point over Tim Keen, Dave Jenkins, Alex Sharp and Mark Henman. On the way to the 2nd island the wind conditions were changeable, from becalmed to F3. Overnight unsuccessfully a few tubes of stickerflex were applied to Sharp's boat to try and stop it becoming a submarine which as on Saturday allowed Henman to pass. With slightly more breeze filling in from behind Keen was able to close the gap to Matt Jenkins but was not able to pass as the wind swung 180 degrease close to end of the second leg. Matt Jenkins took victory by about 10 seconds after 4 hours of racing.

Final Lord Birkett placing
Position. Name.            R1.    R2.
18th        Tim Keen       33.    26
30th.       Matt Jenkins  48.    24
66th.       Dave Jenkins 62.    77
154th.    Mark Henman 163.  141
181st.     Alex Sharp      DNS. 143

Out of a total of 210 boats!

Report and results thanks to Tim Keen the new RS300 Northern Champion. 

See the complete event results at: http://www.ullswateryachtclub.org/Portals/0/RacingResults/Lord%20Birkett%202014.htm

Update on the Grand Prix results after Lord Birkett at: http://uk.rs300sailing.org/indexdetail.asp?selection=ResultsDetail&rid=3138
 
Despite Tim and Matt looking like running away with the Grand Prix title, with only 3 events to count, the likes of Steve Bolland, Harry McVicar, Phil Bishop, Dave Acres and James Cowlishaw can still win it by braving the formidable waters of Aldenham and Grafham - you can bet that Tim will be there! 

This is getting very exciting!  Grand Prix results thanks to Pete Ellis.