Flying Dutchman National Championship 20021-3 June 2002 The Flying Dutchman Class held their National Championships during the Whitstable Yacht Club Regatta over the Bank Holiday weekend 1 –3 June.
The club, which was the home of the first UK FD fleet, gave its usual very warm welcome to the FD class who are celebrating their 50th anniversary this year.
The event was a great success with superb sunny conditions and a mixture of winds giving some excellent racing conditions and great social events were laid on each evening.
Race one, on Saturday afternoon, started in 18-20 knots of wind. Julian Bridges crewed by his wife Cathy braved a decisive port tack start. They crossed the whole fleet to take an early lead. By the first, Peter and Andy Weeks led John Best/James Cole, and Peter Doran/Richard Phillips who were all within 4 boat lengths. On the reach Doran passed Best to be second at the gybe behind Weeks. Up the next beat Best took the lead. On the run Doran passed Weeks. These three by this time had pulled well away from the rest of the fleet. On the next beat Weeks passed Doran and these two held their position behind Best for the next three laps to the finish.
Sunday’s two races saw sunny conditions in 6-10 knots of easterly wind. Race 2 started with a general recall. After a clean second start the fleet split with half going towards the shore and the other half going seaward. At the first mark Weeks was just ahead of Tony Lyall crewed by Colin Burns. After the two reaches Lyall took the lead from Weeks who was now just in front of Hartmut Wesemueller crewed by his son Hannes, who had travelled from Germany for the event. Behind these three there was close racing with many place changes. On the last lap the fleet closed on the leaders whilst Weeks and Lyall had a luffing match. At the finish Best had pulled through to within 2 boat lengths of Weeks followed by Doran, Lyall and Wesemueller.
Race three started after a short lunch break, during which the wind became very shifty 4-6 knots from the south west. At the first mark Best was in front of Weeks closely followed by Lyall and then Wesemueller. As the race progressed, the wind shifted to the Southeast making the last two legs into two tight reaches. On the last leg Weeks went high and managed to carry his spinnaker for the last 100 yds into the finish to beat Best by 20 yds. Lyall finished third.
Monday was overcast. Race 4 started in 8-10 knots from the Southwest. Best and Wesemueller went right while the rest of the fleet went left. At the windward mark Best and Wesemueller had a significant lead. They were followed by Bridges and Lyall. These positions remained until the final beat when Weeks pulled through to come second to Best. Third was Wesemueller then Lyall.
The two leaders Best and Weeks now had equal points. In 12-15 knots, Best made a good start at the committee boat end and went up the middle of the course. Weeks went to the right. At the windward mark Best had a commanding lead. Few places changed in this race. The wind dropped to 8-10 knots and shifted slightly making the beat rather one sided. At the finish Best/Cole were worthy winners followed by Weeks/Weeks. Wesemueller was third making him 5th overall and winner of the magnificent Wooden Boat Trophy.
|
