In contrast to the forecast of an almost windless weekend, conditions
turned out almost perfect for the Inland Championships. Draycote water SC
did an excellent job in coping with the constantly shifting breese, and
laid on five good races over the two days.

The first race was also the lightest, and it was Graham Camm and Nicola
Bass who read the shifts on the first beat best. Camm and Bass lead for
the rest of the race, establishing a commanding lead as the rest of the
fleet battled for the minor places. John and James Whithead finished a
comfortable second, with Tom Stewart and Liz Ross pulling through to third
on the last beat. The second race on Saturday was won by Jon and Charlotte
Ibbotson, who pulled clear of Chris Mayhew and Helen Hilditch in second.

Sunday dawned on the campsite with an unexpectedly strong breeze, and the
expected strong sunshine. In almost perfect conditions the fleet was led
off in race three by Stewart and Ross. Having led for the vast bulk of the
race a severe case of the wobbles on the final run let Antony Gifford and
Rich Bailey through to win. Steve Sallis and Jo Brown also got through the
wobbling (but not falling over) Stewart and Ross. Stewart and Ross
returned to form in race four, sneaking past the Ibbotsons on the final
beat for a cruicial race win. Race five was led initially by Andy Pickrell
and Amelia Hall, but it was Stewart and Ross who got through to lead, and
covered Gifford and Bailey home to win the Inland Championship trophies.

1st Tom Stewart & Liz Ross, 3448, Royal Harwich YC
2nd Antony Gifford & Rich Bailey, 3431, Aldeburgh YC
3rd Jon & Charlotte Ibbotson, 3445, RHYC
4th Steve Sallis & Jo Brown, 3426, Hykeham SC