This year the Chipstead Open meeting excelled itself - with superb racing, excellent weather and great hospitality. The competition was fierce with 16 twelves making the starting line with the trophy completely up for grabs until the final race and then still changing hands up until the final lap.

The first race kicked off promptly catching many of the fleet unaware. Mike Hoyle and Harry Saville led from the start and proceeded to pull away from the fleet. Dave and Fiona Greening, in Annie Apple, were hot on his heals showing consistently good speed. Meanwhile the new Bim Daser design boats demonstrated their immense speed in the conditions: John and Mandy Thornton sailing up through the fleet to eventually squeeze past Dave and into second. Bim Daser and Zoë Ballantyne having started some 10 minutes late also came through with apparent ease to take fourth.

The breeze increased slightly as the day drew on, as did its gustyness and ability to arrive from any direction. The fleet was much keener at the second start, arriving with plenty of time. This race turned out to be extremely closely contended between Geoff Camm and Amelia Hall in their new Chapter, Bim Daser and Zoë Ballantyne, and John and Mandy Thornton (subsequently finishing in this order). The leaders exchanged place almost every lap with intense frequency. The conditions were trying with the added dimension of boats racing from other classes providing further obstacles and numerous incidents.

So the scene was set for the decider - Birthday cake was consumed on the shore before taking to the water. Some five boats were in contention for the trophy, and the wind was as shifty as ever. A tricky first short beat led to a busy windward mark, where Geoff and Amelia proceeded round in first followed a bit too closely by Andy Pickrell and Jonathan White. Mike and Harry followed round in third and started the pursuit. The 5-lap course allowed plenty of time and opportunity to catch up. The first 3 laps saw Geoff and Amelia pull out an apparently comfortable lead. Place changing and tussling for position behind saw Dave and Fiona pull up to a close third. Disaster struck for Geoff and Amelia as on the 4th lap both Mike and Dave found wind from behind and came planing up to close the gap. Mike carried on and over Geoff into first, turning the tables. For a moment it looked as though Dave might sniddle past them both but it was not to be. Mike then led with Geoff clipping at his heels. It was only on the final beat when the wind strengthed that Geoff and Amelia were able to break past and retake the lead, which they held to the finish to take the trophy.

Results

1st Geoff Camm and Amelia Hall N3464 "Transmogrifier"
2nd Mike Hoyle and Harry Saville N3438 "Lola"
3rd John and Mandy Thornton N3468 "Pillow Fight"
4th Bim Daser and Zoe Ballantyne N3469 "Thanks for all the fish"
5th Dave and Fiona Greening N3461 "Annie Apple"