Catapults on the Grafham Cat Open
by Stuart Ede 22 Oct 02:32 EST
14-15 October 2023
Gareth Ede completed the season in emphatic fashion with six wins out of six at Grafham Water Sailing Club’s Medium Handicap Catamaran Open occasion, which cemented his declare on the 2023 Jon Montgomery Travellers Trophy.
Sparkling situations of sunshine and a Force 3 to 4 wind over the weekend of 14-15 October made for an awesome hull-flying end to the 2023 Catapult TT and Personal Handicap Series for the six Catapults who made the journey to Grafham. Nigel Denchfield, the Race Officer, packed in 4 races on the primary day to benefit from the situations, particularly because the wind forecast for Day Two was not so promising. It meant there needed to be a fast turn-around between races, and because of environment friendly race administration that was achieved. All the races have been run over three laps of a sq. course.
Race 1
Gareth trapezed his means the entrance up the primary beat, however the remainder of the fleet was scorching on his heels with John Terry rounding the windward mark second forward of George Evans, Stuart Ede, Chris Phillips and Syd Gage. However, Gareth acquired properly away by going proper up the beat of the second lap, and behind him the fleet stretched out, although Chris continued to harry Stuart all the way in which to the end.
Race 2
Gareth went proper straight after the beginning, and shortly George peeled off to go extra rightward, which proved to be the correct alternative, as a result of large gaps opened up between Gareth and George and between George and the remainder of the fleet. Going proper did not go well with John, although, who rounded the windward mark in fourth place simply behind Stuart who had gone left up the beat. He quickly overtook Stuart on the following attain, although, and steadily drew away. On the final beat Stuart tacked too early for the windward mark, whereas Chris acquired it proper and moved into fourth place which he held to the end.
Race 3
By now a lot of the fleet had cottoned on that going proper up the beat paid off. However, Stuart had noticed extra stress on the left, and he rounded the windward mark simply behind Gareth and John and a little bit means forward of George and Chris. Down the following run George attacked Stuart and managed to get previous by the underside mark. He then held off Stuart’s challenges for the rest of the race. Meanwhile Chris and Syd have been engaged in a duel, which Chris ultimately gained by a minute on the end.
Race 4
Gareth once more took the lead by the windward mark, however for as soon as the remainder of the fleet did not want binoculars to see him – properly for the primary couple of laps a minimum of. John had ensconced himself in second place a little bit means forward of George, Stuart and Chris. These latter three have been inside placing distance of each other approaching the final windward mark, however George managed to get to the mark first to chase John who managed to carry him off by simply 13 seconds on the end. Meanwhile Chris had been caught on port by a proper of means Dart 15 and needed to throw in a few tacks that allow Stuart safe fourth place.
Race 5
Day 2 was nowhere as dire because the forecast with extra sunshine and a superb breeze on supply, although it could show extra testing because the morning wore on.
John Terry was first to the windward mark, however Gareth was scorching on his heels with George a number of boat lengths additional again. Gareth harried John all the way in which down the run and overtook on the underside attain. As the main three tacked to get via the gate the wind swung massively. Gareth discovered he might lay the windward mark nearly with out tacking, opening up a lead over John and George who then suffered a reverse swing as they approached the highest mark. By now Gareth’s lead was unassailable, which additionally earned him first place within the Medium Handicap fleet. Stuart and Chris noticed little profit from the unique swing and needed to battle numerous giant shifts with Chris overtaking Stuart by going left up the final beat whereas Stuart went proper.
Race 6
Chris banged the left nook of the primary beat, and he got here in quick to the highest mark tucking in carefully behind Gareth and John who had gone extra rightwards. George had additionally gone proper, however misplaced out on the strategy to the mark enabling Stuart to slide into fourth place. Out in entrance Gareth was going like a practice and claimed his second win within the Medium Handicap fleet, whereas the remainder of the fleet stretched out behind him. The solely actual contest was between Stuart and George who duelled all the way in which spherical for fourth place. Tactics on the final beat have been the deciding issue. George went left hoping to emulate Chris’s success in Lap 1, whereas Stuart went up the center tacking on the shifts, which proved to be the higher technique.
Jon Montgomery Travellers Trophy outcomes
The Grafham Cat Open was the final occasion within the Catapult 2023 Series. Gareth already had a wholesome lead over second placed John Terry within the Series, and his six wins out of six at Grafham emphatically sealed his declare on the Trophy. The Blue Pennant for the occasion win and the Yellow Pennant as chief of the TT Series have gotten fixtures on his forestay. The different podium locations within the Series went to John Terry (2nd) and George Evans (third).
Gareth’s two wins within the Medium Handicap Fleet additionally secured him third place total for which he obtained a pair of Gill sun shades as his prize.
Overall Results:
| Pos | Helm | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gareth Ede | ‑1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 |
| 2 | John Terry | 2 | ‑3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 10 |
| 3 | George Evans | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | ‑5 | 14 |
| 4 | Chris Phillips | ‑5 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 19 |
| 5 | Stuart Ede | 4 | ‑5 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 19 |
| 6 | Syd Gage | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | (DNC) | DNC | 31 |
Alastair Forrest Personal Handicap Series
The Catapult Class Association runs a Personal Handicap Series in parallel with its TT Series. George Evans had gained on handicap each occasion he had attended this 12 months and appeared set so as to add one other win to his scoreline. However, Chris Phillips who had not sailed with the fleet for a 12 months proved to be a wildcard. His two race wins and a succession of seconds put him some extent forward of George, so he shall be flying the Lilac Pennant as occasion winner at first of subsequent season.
George, although, already had an unassailable lead within the Series, so he wins the Alastair Forrest Trophy and shall be flying the Magenta Pennant at first of subsequent season.
Honourable point out goes to Syd Gage, who like Chris and George had two race wins to his identify, nonetheless he needed to accept third as a result of sickness stopped him competing on the second day. Fortunately it was nonetheless sufficient to elevate him into second place within the Personal Handicap Series forward of Gareth Ede who regardless of a punishing score managed to assert the remaining podium place.
Alastair Forrest Personal Handicap Series Results:
| Pos | Helm | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chris Phillips | 1 | 2 | 2 | ‑4 | 2 | 1 | 8 |
| 2 | George Evans | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | ‑5 | 9 |
| 3 | Syd Gage | 3 | 5 | 1 | 1 | (DNC) | DNC | 17 |
| 4 | Gareth Ede | 5.5 | 3 | ‑6 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 18.5 |
| 5 | Stuart Ede | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | ‑5 | 4 | 19 |
| 6 | John Terry | 5.5 | ‑6 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 23.5 |
